NOVI, Mich. – The Michigan state fair has been through a lot in the last 13 years but is now back and strong after a pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, the Michigan state fair is an entirely privately funded and owned enterprise, but it didn’t start out that way. The yearly event has a venerable history, going back to the early 1900s when it began to take place on a parcel of land on Woodward Avenue and Eight Mile Rd in Detroit. There it stayed until 2009, when Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoed legislation to continue funding the activity. For the next two years there was no state fair. Enter Blair Bowman, the owner of the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, a community about 30 miles northwest of Detroit.

“It’s a beautiful facility. Blair Bowman has supported ag and the state fair all along the way,” said L.C. Scramlin, one of the chief organizers of the revived state fair. “Every time we brought something up, he was encouraging. Shriners has also been great. This is the 10th year of doing the state fair in Novi. It’s not as big as what we had at the old state fair, but it’s good and it’s growing.” According to Scramlin, 286,000 people attended the state fair in 2021, which is better than attendance was at the old state fair shortly before it was defunded. Some $4.4 million in revenues from the fair went to nonprofits in 2021, especially the Shriners. “Working with the Shriners has been great,” Scramlin said. “I used to think they were just these guys in funny hats, but they do a lot of great work.” Revenues from the fair also go to Rotaries and to help fund high school athletics.

“It was extremely hard to get the fair started again; it was a real challenge after having no state fair for two years,” Scramlin added. “We never could have done it without Mr. Bowman. My hat is off to him for his support. He really went out on a limb for this event.”

In 2021, there were no restrictions at the fair, which was held in person except, Scramlin said, people sometimes wore masks, but were not required to do so. There won’t be any COVID-related restrictions at the 2022 event, either. Scramlin noted that premiums will be paid for competitors. Also, there is something different at the Michigan state fair, something called the “supreme of supremes.” On Labor Day, the winners of the different species competitions will compete with each other to become the best of the best. It’s judged by a panel rather than just one judge and the winner will receive $1,000.

This year’s fair will feature giant pumpkins, with weights well over 1,000 pounds. The competition is under the sanction of the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth. Growers from around Michigan and the Midwest will have their pumpkins on display at the entrance to the fair. Recent winner Don Barron’s pumpkin weighed in at 1,848 pounds.

The state fair will be Sept. 1-4. Tickets for fair entry, unlimited carnival rides and circus performances, but not including parking, are $30. Tickets with parking are $42. Fair only admission is $8 and can be upgraded at any time for $23. Fair only admission for children is $6. There will be several Shrine Circus shows each day of the event. The Michigan state fair is at 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi, Mich. 48374. The phone number is 248-348-6942. Or for more information, visit the web site at https://www.michiganstatefairllc.com/.