For the first time, the annual D.C. State Fair will take place east of the Anacostia River

Hey, presidential candidates: Iowa isn’t the only place with a State Fair. The nation’s capital has one too, and it’s set to occur at the St. Elizabeths East Campus in Southeast September 8, between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The venue will be the Gateway DC pavilion, a 16,300 square-foot, open-air building at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE that features a green roof and is surrounded by a 1-acre park. This is the first time the D.C. State Fair is happening east of the Anacostia River and in Ward 8, according to its coordinators. The event is free to the public.

“While the DC State Fair is inspired by time-honored state fair traditions—growing and gardening, animal husbandry, and deep-fried foods—it also honors the things that make the District of Columbia unique,” the organizers point out in a post for the event. “This means the DC State Fair holds competitions to find the tastiest mumbo sauce, best honey, and most creative hula hoopers in the city; puts on a Pet Parade instead of a pig race; and works with local businesses and organizations that are committed to helping our community thrive.” Events DC, the city’s sports and entertainment authority, manages the Gateway DC pavilion.

The St. Elizabeths East Campus is accessible by Metro and located near the Congress Heights Metro station. Past D.C. State Fairs have taken place in Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, Shaw, NoMa, and the Southwest Waterfront. The first one was held in 2010 in Columbia Heights.