By SARAH HOYE
The Tampa Tribune

2:15 p.m. Walkabout…

The Fuller kids laughed all the way down the Giant Slide as they clung for dear life to their “magic carpet” burlap sacks.

“JJ” the lot man was making his rounds around the Midway making sure all of his layout plans were in working order while vendors and ride operators tried keeping out of the sun.

Crowds were low which made it easy getting around, and there was no waiting in line for rides or food.

If you’re looking for something to send home to mom, stop at the official State Fair souvenir shed and pick up a butter spreader for corn on the cob or a pig-shaped jar opener, both for $1.

Otherwise grab a foot-long corn dog, cotton candy and homemade soda and call it a wrap. 

Leftover ride tickets? Hop on the SkyGlider to watch the Fair from above and to let your feet get some rest.

1 p.m. Pig Races

Its nap time at the fair, especially after downing a roast beef sundae and some fried cheesecake.

For those in need of a seat, it was off to watch the Hollywood Racing Pigs.

That’s right folks, from miniature Vietnamese potbellied pigs to baby Yorkshires, you can watch them run in a circle. Or get stuck along the course.

12:30 p.m. Beef Sundae

Mashed potatoes. Roast beef. Gravy. Repeat. Top off with shredded cheddar cheese and a cherry tomato. Enjoy. All for the low low price of $6.

Act now and they’ll throw in a fork.

11:05 a.m. Midway

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Niko, Jada and Hayley — brother and sisters — made their way down an enclosed slide and plopped onto an inflatable landing. The slide is part of the Mighty Bluegrass Shows obstacle course for little tykes. 

“Its fun,” says 5-year-old Jada Reaves, standing in the shade of her mother, Millie Davis,. “I want to go again!”

11:30 a.m. More Midway

The smell of grilled sausage and onions drifted by the base of the newest fair ride, the Zyklon.

The magenta roller coaster had riders from St. Mary’s school in Tampa. A group of eighth graders squealed in delight. 

“That was superb,” says Kippy Castillo, 14. “It was a real thriller.”

11:50 a.m. Fried Pepsi

Oh, it’s true. Fried Pepsi is real, and actually edible.

Here’s the deal: Elephant ear-like batter with Pepsi syrup all up in it. Then bam, fry it.

Roll it in some stuff to taste good like cinnamon sugar and drizzle on some more Pepsi syrup, top off with whip cream and maraschino cherries, and voila, Fried Pepsi, baby.

The next mission: beef sundaes and deep fried Oreos, preferable in chocolate batter. 

10:24 a.m. Florida State Fair Grounds

The Florida State Fair is officially open. Small groups of students wandered through the Midway while game operators lined up prizes and wiped down counters.

Food vendors lit their grills and heated up oil for whatever tasty treat they peddled.

Bill Volz, operator of DeJon Sausage from Lebanon, Ind., was busy watching over his sizzling meats from Polish sausage to turkey legs. Tampa is his second stop along the nearly 25 state fairs his visits throughout the year.

“On a busy day I’ll go through about 100 pounds of sausage a day,” he says, stepping out from his kiosk. “The Italians go pretty fast around here, with the turkey legs next.”

Scanning the walkway for customers was Dmitriy Mokievskiy, the 21-year-old operator of the mini-basketball game.

“I like it because I like to travel and meet new friends,” says Mokievskiy, who hails from Russia. “This is fun.”

Beneath the tent covering the Cox Concessions trailer, workers were scrambling eggs, scrubbing out roasting pans and clearing off tables to keep up with the steady stream of fair workers looking for a hot breakfast.

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