ORLANDO, Fla. — You can put your nose up and almost smell the cotton candy and fried foods from the Central Florida Fairgrounds. For well more than a century, this fair is evolving, while staying true to its roots.
1. The Central Florida Fair has been a tradition for 114 years. It would have been 116, but – (Trivia Alert!) – World War II happened and the original fairgrounds in downtown Orlando were needed for military purposes.
2. Fast forward to 2026 and there are a bunch of brand new offerings. One is the Otter Adventure, run by a family that has been in animal education for 45 years. This includes Layne Woody, who’s running the show with his brother. He say they are the only traveling otter show/display in the U.S. “They are also one of the hardest animals I’ve ever worked with in my life.”
3. Speaking of animals, have you ever seen a Zedonk? It’s just as it sounds – a donkey with zebra “leggings.” He’s a hybrid and is greeting guests at the Turnaround Livestock & Petting Zoo attraction, a farm located just outside of Ocala. Laina Varona is first generation owner. “I was a 4H kid, so animals – all I’ve ever wanted to do my whole life.
4. The Central Florida Fair has twice the number of food vendors as last year, including pork and potato stacks shaped like sundaes, to fiery spicy candy apples.
5. The fair is running through March 8 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. Gates open at 4 p.m. on weekdays and noon this weekend.