There Used To Be A West Michigan State Fair?

I grew up thinking the Michigan State Fair was always in Detroit but it turns out it wasn't always held there. I also discovered there used to be a West Michigan State Fair.

Michigan State Fair

It was a big deal when Mom and Dad would load up the car and haul my sister and me to the Michigan State Fair.

I always thought the Michigan State Fair was always held at the fairgrounds on Woodward Avenue but that ended in 2009 after budget cuts. The Michigan State Fair came back in 2012 but had moved to Novi where it has been held annually at the Suburban Collection Showplace.

The first Michigan State Fair was held in Ann Arbor in 1939 but wasn't a huge success. In 1849 the fair was moved to Detroit but was held in various cities after that year. One of those cities was in West Michigan. The fair was given a permanent home in 1905 when it moved to Woodward Avenue.

Read More: Did You Know Michigan State Fair Has Cow Made of Butter? 

There Used To Be A West Michigan State Fair

The West Michigan State Fairgrounds building above was built in the late 1800s with the first fair being held in 1886, located in Comstock Park. It wasn't covered in water but the photo taken above was in 1912 when the Grand River snowmelt caused a massive spring flood with water cresting at 16 feet. It was a remarkable building.

Above is a much better photo of the West Michigan State Fairgrounds and this photo was flood-free.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum has a solid collection of memorabilia from the West Michigan State Fair like the ticket in the photo above.

If you were lucky enough to win a West Michigan State Fair blue ribbon above is what one would look like.

Above is a 1906 souvenir token from the West Michigan State Fair.

The West Michigan State Fair used to sell heart-shaped badges as souvenirs.

If you won one of the competitions for art, craftsmanship, flowers, livestock, produce, or livestock you were presented with a West Michigan State Fair Diploma.

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You may want to check your grandparents or great-grandparents' storage for memorabilia from the West Michigan State Fair.