2025 South Florida Fair: More Thrills, Fewer Headlines

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — As one of the oldest and largest events in South Florida, the South Florida Fair is celebrating its 113th year, bringing back popular rides, carnival games, and delicious food until Feb. 2. This year’s fair includes 15 interactive exhibits and a “Sci-Fi on Ice,” show in line with its theme, “Imagine the Future.” 

As families enjoy the last few days of the fair, organizers say additional precautions and safety are bringing a stress-free and enjoyable experience. 

Last year’s fair was marred by incidents of violence. A fight involving about 200 people erupted in January 2024, resulting in two people being hospitalized. Five people, including four minors, were arrested. Approximately 150 deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office were present and used non-lethal pepper ball rounds to disperse the crowd.

A similar incident occurred the previous year, leading to the removal of several participants and the arrest of four individuals. 

Matt Wallsmith, the new president and CEO, has worked with the fair since 1998 as vice president and chief financial officer. In an interview, he explained his plan to ensure that fair-goers stay safe. He noted that the South Florida Fair has a great relationship with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and works very closely with them.

“We bring a lot of deputies out stationed around the fairground to help control the crowds. All of our staff are crowd control certified, as well as all the security guards, in addition to Palm Beach Sheriff's Office that we hire ourselves,” said Wallsmith.

Many people have concerns when it comes to bringing their family to this famous South Florida event. However, this year’s staff, assisted by Palm Beach County law enforcement, have worked to create a plan to cope with any form of disturbance.

On busier nights, like Fridays and Saturdays, minors under 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone 21 years or older, to deter inappropriate behavior. Organizers only allow four kids per chaperone as well.

“I come to the fair every year with my friends and I never feel unsafe because there are always police officers here doing their job,” said Mia Rabinowitz, a 17-year-old senior at Wellington Community High School. 

Like many other students who attend the fair, Rabinowitz is aware of the safety regulations that the fair upholds. The Honor Roll student said she wasn’t allowed to bring her pepper spray inside the grounds, which she thought was part of self-defense, but she understood the prohibitions. 

“I understand that they want to prevent any potential incidents from happening, but if something were to happen, I want to make sure me and my friends respond quickly and safely because we live in a period where harming others is a trend,” she said.

Like the partnerships with Palm Beach County deputies, the fair also secured other notable sponsorships to enhance the attendees’ experience. 

“Coca-Cola has signed year-round contracts with us to be the official beverage sponsor, K&M Electric is our community stage sponsor, and Chaney Brothers is our food purveyor,” said Theresa Agricola, the sponsorship manager at the fairgrounds.

Under her 25-year leadership, Agricola emphasized the importance of engaging with potential company sponsors and the fair’s partnership approach. 

“We kind of talk to everyone who calls and says they want to be a sponsor, and hook them up with what kind of inventory we can sell,” she said. “We first look at the sponsor, what the sponsorship level is, and put them on something that’s not just a banner hanging.”

In addition to traditional visibility, Agricola highlighted the role of media promotion in providing organizations with significant exposure on digital platforms. 

“We tag sponsors on every social media post. Some of our sponsors do radio ads announcing their participation at the fair, and our team does a fabulous job on our Instagram page with content and videos, so I believe in our viewership,” she said proudly.

The popular Historic Yesteryear Village returned this year with the popular pig races, a new carousel ride, and the agriculture and livestock program, where fair-goers can walk through and see over 2,000 exhibits from over 30 different Florida counties.

With the fair closing on February 2, families choosing to attend the fair can enjoy the amenities at different price points. The fair features rides– yearly favorites and new attractions– along with daily parades with floats from New Orleans, three stages for musical performances, and two theatrical stages.