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Kids love them—and so do adults! State fairs are fun, one-of-a-kind events packed with community spirit, entertainment and unforgettable memories. More than just rides and games, they’re a celebration of togetherness, making them a perfect family event. But how much do you really know about state fairs? From deep-fried corn dogs to quirky traditions, surprising stats and even celebrities who got their start in one, state fairs boast a whole lot of interesting facts . Keep reading to learn some tidbits about this slice of Americana. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more fun facts, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long. 1. There are more state fairs than you might think. The fair is coming to town! More than 1,700 county and state fairs take place in the United States each year—and all year round, though most are held in summer. More than 23 million people attended a state fair last year. That’s like the entire population of the state of Florida ....

As my plane taxied to the gate after a recent flight to Chicago, I noticed something really odd: The American flag on a nearby aircraft heading to the runway was painted backward. Then I started spotting the same thing everywhere—flags with the stars on the right instead of the left. Even more confusing , some planes had the flag displayed in its typical orientation, with stars in the upper left and stripes flowing to the right. I figured it couldn’t be a careless mistake, but I couldn’t quite figure out the reason for the flip or the lack of consistency between planes . So I turned to Corry Lane, the director of safety at Nevada-based Cirrus Aviation Services, who’s well versed in industry regulations and best practices, to get to the bottom of this mystery. Read on to find out why some airplane flags fly in reverse. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more travel, humor, tech, cleaning and fun facts all week long. Do all planes have flags on them? While I sp...

Tech-savvy jet-setters already know how much of an asset a smartphone can be when traveling. Receiving real-time itinerary updates directly from the airline, tracking luggage and storing boarding passes right on your device are just a few ways your phone can make flying a bit less stressful—and it’s about to get even better for iPhone users . Read on to find out what the new iPhone feature is, when you can start using it and its pros and cons, according to a cybersecurity expert. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more travel, tech, cleaning, humor and fun facts all week long. What new feature is Apple releasing? Soon, U.S. travelers will be able to create a digital ID in Apple Wallet using their passport as part of a TSA-approved program. Apple announced this new feature at its recent Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month. It’s part of the iOS 26 rollout, which is coming to iPhones sometime this fall (likely in September, in keeping with Apple...

As home prices and interest rates remain stubbornly high, the path to homeownership has become increasingly difficult for many Americans. (While mortgage rates have dropped some, they are still hovering near the 7% mark on average.) First-time buyers , in particular, are feeling squeezed as they are caught between limited inventory and monthly payments that could really strain their budgets. Despite these hurdles, some cities still offer relatively affordable home prices when compared with the national average, which hovered at nearly $400,000 in February 2025. In fact, a new report from Realtor.com shares 20-plus cities that have average home prices of $300,000 or less. Read on to find out which cities are great options for home buyers right now. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more money, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. What’s the methodology of the new research? To determine the most affordable metro areas across the U.S., Realtor.com ...

Medication Most medicine should be left at room temperature, and your car will rarely stay at this moderate, indoor temp unless you’re driving with the air conditioning on. And once it’s parked? Forget about it. Heat probably won’t make your drugs directly harmful, but it could make them less effective. Electronics Gadgets like laptops, cell phones and thumb drives contain information that could be easy to steal if left in your car. Plus, they’re expensive to replace! It’s also hot in your car, and that’s not good for electronics, either. If you have to leave your laptop or phone unattended in your vehicle ( which you shouldn’t do ), make sure the information contained in your electronics is encrypted. “It’s a strong layer of protection, and would need someone putting a fair amount of effort into it to view,” Velasquez says. “It’s much stronger than password protection.” Sunscreen Ironically, the active ingredients in sunscreen break down in high heat. Leaving a tube or bottle...

The concept of happiness —what it entails and how we achieve it—is highly subjective, and it’s commonly understood that what makes one person happy might not make another person happy. Factors such as religion, traditions, politics and personal history are major contributing factors. But we can all agree that where you live can make a big difference. “There are billions of factors that distinguish us and create our individual stories,” states the website for the Institute for Quality of Life, the think tank behind the Happy City Index. The Institute believes that, regardless of other circumstances, there are two major foundations for creating a happy place: building relationships , which stem from the innate need to belong and contribute to our happiness, and education, which can’t be overemphasized. Keep reading to learn more about the sixth edition of the Happy City Index and the key aspects that help a place earn a spot on the list. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsl...