Wild History of Miami-Dade Fair Includes Two-Headed Cows And Neil Sedaka Traffic Jams
Recent archival deep dives into the Miami-Dade Youth Fair & Exposition reveal a history far more chaotic than the standard corn dogs and carnival rides of today. While modern attendees might associate the phrase “Bad Blood” with pop star Taylor Swift, the fair’s most notorious “Bad Blood” incident actually occurred in 1976. That year, a scheduled performance by singer Neil Sedaka, who was riding high on his chart-topping hit “Bad Blood,” caused a traffic backup of historic proportions. Thousands of vehicles snarled traffic for miles on State Road 836, creating a gridlock that extended all the way to the toll plaza near 27th Avenue.
Critics and locals often object to the traffic surrounding the fairgrounds as a perennial nuisance, but the 1976 gridlock remains a unique benchmark in the event’s logistical history. The fair has also served as a backdrop for bizarre political and agricultural spectacles. In 1966, the Young Republicans of Dade County were forced to dismantle their booth after only three days when a Democratic County Commissioner, Tom O’Malley, objected to the use of the fair for political purposes.
The fair’s archives also highlight strange animal interactions. In 1965, County Commissioner Joe Boyd competed against light-heavyweight boxing champion Willy Pastrano in a cow-milking contest. Boyd won easily, prompting the boxer to demand a rematch. The headline-grabbing “two-headed cow” remains one of the enduring legends of the fair’s sideshow past, symbolizing the oddities that drew crowds before modern thrill rides took center stage.
Logistical failures have also plagued the event. In March 1979, strong winds downed power lines, causing a 37-minute blackout. While backup generators kept most rides moving, attendees stuck on the cable car ride suspended across the park were left stranded in the air until power was restored. These historical anecdotes provide a rich backstory to an event originally conceived by assistant county agricultural agent J. Lawrence Edwards as a fair devoted entirely to youth.
miamiherald.com
