I went to the State Fair today - that is something I have been doing for decades. I have a good time and look forward to my big day out in the fall. I parked over by the arena - it's free:
I then joined the river of humans heading to THE FAIR!:
Something new this year - the state built an underpass that allows us to cross safely under the big road - how very big city-like:
Next thing you know - you are at the fair:
There is a nice walk into the main fair grounds past a pond and some old buildings:
I stopped and visited with a friend and teacher who sets up in the Village of Yesteryear:
Tis the season, right?
There was candy!
Cute signs!
My fare was Fair food - fries and a coke:
There were crowds!
And people!
And baked goods!
This was the best loaf of bread in the whole fair and it has the ribbons to prove it:
Quilts!
Smoke from where the giant turkey legs were being barbequed over wood fires:
Giant fruits and gourds:
This year's biggest pumpkin - a mere 1551.5 pounds:
Then I turned around and walked back out the way I came in - through that throng of humanity.
A good time was had by all.
And on a completely different topic I heard this song the other day and was curious how the drum tone was changed so fluidly - it almost sounds like a traditional talking drum, but what do you know, Curtis Mayfield used a rototom.
Edit - my total hike was 4 miles - some years it has seemed like a longer journey but today I measured it with Runkeeper.
7 comments:
Every state fair I’ve ever been to is during the summer. Maybe that’s a west coast thang. Summer being peak harvest time out west? State Fair in early fall maybe makes more sense depending on when your local harvest occurs. Also why not have it late enough to catch the early a Christmas shoppers!? I just saw the first Christmas tv ad (for Disney) today. Fall is here.
Our temperature is significantly lower than it was a few days ago, and while we will have some warm days the nights are definitely cooling off. I prefer warm weather to cool. And the Christmas stuff has been on display in the local Wal*Mart since September. No couth, I tells ya!
As for when the fair is held I assume it is based on the harvest season. Tobacco has been brought in, the vegetables are just about done by now it is time to start gathering firewood. Which reminds me - I have more Bradford pear wood to haul. But I am done for now.
For the people who get one chance to sell their stuff, Christmas is when you can make it, but Christmas stuff should be restricted to after Thanksgiving.
The only exception really is a big ticket item or non-retail.
I haven't been to a state fair since the ones in Mi'waukee when I was little. I go to county fairs every year out here. I don't even know where the California State Fair is -- probably at the epicenter of disaster: Sacramento.
I used to go to the Santa Clara county fair - it was danged near as big as the State Fair here - huge! They have a race track in the middle of the fairgrounds - the San Jose Mile - a mile long flat dirt track - you haven't seen racing until you have seen motorcycles on that track.
Last time I was there I saw Ricky Nelson sing on stage - that must have been just before his plane crashed.
I went to the Maryland State fair once - it is held in Timonium. Once was enough. That fair is held over the Labor Day weekend. It's pretty far north so they have to get it over with before the snow hits.
I enjoyed your fair pictures and the crowd appears much more genteel than what I see at the local county fair.
Real fair fun, though, was being a kid in the 1950's. We'd head straight for the midway where the carnival barkers had a million tricks to get what little money me and my rube friends came with. There were the freak shows, both human and animal, rigged games of chance, and for boys going through puberty the burlesque tent. If the barker thought we were too young we'd sneak in under the tent and they'd still get our money with the grab bag trick before the girls came on.
In those days you could always spot the carny workers when they came to town. They were a rough bunch and were always getting into fights and put in jail, and oftentimes the police would shut down crooked games. These days the carny workers are more respectable and the local tatooed meth heads are the ones to watch out for. Times have changed.
As I pointed out to a friend at the fair yesterday the need for side shows is long gone now that the crowd consists of tattooed women and Two Ton Tesses waddling by. Now the carneys are slim and well groomed when compared to the attendees.
I have learned over the years to skip the midway and look only go to the arts, crafts and vegetable buildings. Life is too short to be harangued by barkers.
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