On the Radar: Florida State Fair gets loopy again Feb. 10-21

For an old-school rustic blend, Leroy Van Dyke, Jim Ed Brown, Helen Cornelius, Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley and Bobby Bare star in The Country Gold Tour on Wed., Feb. 16. Concert tickets are $10. A separate gate admission ticket is required for entrance.

Fried food is always a main attraction. Added to the cholesterol cavalcade this year is mashed potatoes and gravy on a stick. Or try if you dare the grilled meatloaf sundae or -- better yet -- the hog-wild sundae, which sports pulled pork, coleslaw and tortilla chips drizzled with a chipotle barbecue sauce and topped with jalapeno peppers. Polish it off with a maple-bacon cupcake, French toast burger and ice-cream burger, a cheeseburger stuffed with fried ice cream.

A total of 106 rides dip you down and zip you around. New to the fair: the Daytona Kiddie Ride, the Riptide roller coaster and Remix – which takes you on a high-flying spin.

Suffice it to say, ride before you eat.

Feb. 10-21, Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa, $8 admission adults, $4 children 6-11 (ages 5 and under enter for free; $24 for a sheet of 30 ride tickets; $25 for an armband; floridastatefair.com. Pepsi Armband Days: Feb. 11 and 21.