The Ol' County Fair

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:28 am

The Ferris Wheel, the Carousel, cotten candy and candies apples, seeing all the exhibits where proud farmers had entered samples of their crops, and all the animals that would be on display. And of course the fireworks! I remember as a little girl getting so excited when the fair was in town! I remember riding in the car anxiously waiting to catch that first glimspe of all those lights from the rides appearing in the distance! And the smells OMG it always smells so good, french fries, blooming onions, popcorn! :-4

Anyway, we still have one every year around here, ours started yesterday.

I was wondering is this a regional thing? Are county fairs still popular in other parts of the country? And what about other countries, do y'all have something similar?

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:16 am

Oh how i miss county fairs, The one here in Lafayette is just a ride fest. That cost a arm and a leg. When i was a kid and young adult. Every year my friends and i looked forward to The Lake County fair. In Crown Point In. We had so much fun. I love the smells, the taste, and people watching. You always ran into someone you have not seen in years!! I always love to go to the 4H animal exhibits. Plus the arts and crafts. What GREAT times i had. Sure wish i could get back there and kind of relive those fun days of my youth. Almost makes me CRY:-1

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:36 am

Ours was in August and it was wonderful.

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:00 am

Peg;1003627 wrote: Ours was in August and it was wonderful.

yes the lake Co. fair was always in Aug. too. 2 weeks before school started again. Kids finished their summer with a heck of a lot of good clean fun:)

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:14 am

southern yankee;1003608 wrote: Oh how i miss county fairs, The one here in Lafayette is just a ride fest. That cost a arm and a leg. When i was a kid and young adult. Every year my friends and i looked forward to The Lake County fair. In Crown Point In. We had so much fun. I love the smells, the taste, and people watching. You always ran into someone you have not seen in years!! I always love to go to the 4H animal exhibits. Plus the arts and crafts. What GREAT times i had. Sure wish i could get back there and kind of relive those fun days of my youth. Almost makes me CRY:-1

yeah living out here in the middle of nowhere like we do, the fair was a major event for kids when i was growing up!

ours is still pretty much the same, except it's not as big as it used to be!

i still enjoy going to see the animals and i still ride some of the rides sometimes! :wah: but then i'm just a big kid anyway! :wah:

we always enter some stuff in the judging too so its always interesting to see if we win anything!

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:37 am

we have country fairs here also, we just went to one that was a classic car show as well, so took ours!

was great to see animals again! only ever see them on t.v

hens, chickens, roosters, cows, sheep, rabbits

hayrides, rides, booths, pumpkins in a contests, was sooooooooo much fun!

Cow Patty · Post by **Cow Patty** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:18 am

Our county fair isn't much to talk about. Its usually in early August, only for 1 weekend. Now the state fair up in Louisville is a huge event, it was last month. Its a week long, and well worth going to.

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:38 am

our school system takes the day off on fair day!

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:43 am

We just have carnivals that come for a few days. We don't go because I don't trust the rides. There's no oversight I think and the carnies are just plain weird.

But down in Ocean City, NJ they have huge fairs in the summer and are having one this fall. We might go and you can still ride the amusements on the boardwalk.

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:03 am

we also get A LOT of festivals here....blueberry, strawberry, apple, sausage.....:wah: we celebrate everything!

The slogan for Wurstfest is "the 10 day salute to sausage"

I think Floppy needs that T shirt. :wah:

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:49 am

Cow Patty;1003724 wrote: Our county fair isn't much to talk about. Its usually in early August, only for 1 weekend. Now the state fair up in Louisville is a huge event, it was last month. Its a week long, and well worth going to.

we have a state fair in Richmond, i've never been but it's much bigger and it lasts longer than our local one!

ours lasts for 5 days.

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:53 am

qsducks;1003867 wrote: We just have carnivals that come for a few days. We don't go because I don't trust the rides. There's no oversight I think and the carnies are just plain weird.

But down in Ocean City, NJ they have huge fairs in the summer and are having one this fall. We might go and you can still ride the amusements on the boardwalk.

My daddy when i was a little girl made me promise him that i would never ride a ferris wheel, and i never have!

he was at the fair as a young man and a girl was in the ferris wheel and it stopped to put on more riders and she was at the top. She got in a panic and tried to climb down, she lost her footing and fell! she landed not to far from him!

sadly the fall killed her! He never forgot that i don't think!

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:53 am

The Pennsylvania Renasance? Faire lasts from mid August to end of September.

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:55 am

We have one too! It's fun to go and soak up the surroundings. Unfortunately I can't spend much time with the animals...allergies and asthma stop me. :-5 I do sneak a little time with them, they're all just so cute and it's so much fun to play with and feed them.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:58 am

shelbell;1004259 wrote: We have one too! It's fun to go and soak up the surroundings. Unfortunately I can't spend much time with the animals...allergies and asthma stop me. :-5 I do sneak a little time with them, they're all just so cute and it's so much fun to play with and feed them.

Tis the time for ragweed.

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:03 pm

qsducks;1004253 wrote: The Pennsylvania Renasance? Faire lasts from mid August to end of September.

owwwwww i've always wanted to go to one of those! :-6

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:34 pm

qsducks;1004263 wrote: Tis the time for ragweed.

I rub my nose so much I'm sure people must think I'm snorting something! :wah::wah:

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:38 pm

Cow Patty;1003724 wrote: Our county fair isn't much to talk about. Its usually in early August, only for 1 weekend. Now the state fair up in Louisville is a huge event, it was last month. Its a week long, and well worth going to. i lived in Louisville in the early 90's for 3 years. really liked it there.

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:38 pm

shelbell;1004345 wrote: I rub my nose so much I'm sure people must think I'm snorting something! :wah::wah:

i have awful alleriges too, it's a pain trying to mow the lawn when the pollen gets to flying! :-5

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:42 pm

Hope6;1004358 wrote: i have awful alleriges too, it's a pain trying to mow the lawn when the pollen gets to flying! :-5 you would hate cajun country. always something makes you itch and sneeze here:wah:

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:46 pm

Hope6;1004358 wrote: i have awful alleriges too, it's a pan trying to mow the lawn when the pollen gets to flying! :-5

I wear one of those mask thingys when I mow, you can get them at the drug store.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:01 pm

Hope6;1004251 wrote: My daddy when i was a little girl made me promise him that i would never ride a ferris wheel, and i never have!

he was at the fair as a young man and a girl was in the ferris wheel and it stopped to put on more riders and she was at the top. She got in a panic and tried to climb down, she lost her footing and fell! she landed not to far from him!

sadly the fall killed her! He never forgot that i don't think!

What a tragedy. I can understand your dad's concern.

Here is a safe view from the top of a ferris wheel, Hope. I took this pic myself on our vacation last month. Hope you enjoy it.

Attached files

ButterflyPrincess · Post by **ButterflyPrincess** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:07 pm

We have the Arizona State fair. But we don't go because it costs way too much for the three of us. Growing up I always went to the Illinois State fair and the Crown Point Indiana fair. (Lake County Fair -i think that's what it is called) I have a lot of great memories of my childhood going to the fairs with friends or sometimes just my family. Everyone always had a blast..

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:03 pm

Are county fairs still popular in other parts of the country? And what about other countries, do y'all have something similar?

Hi Hope. We have a county fair about an hour from here every year. I haven't been but a handful of times. I always hang out in the animal barn and make sure all the animals have adequate water and air because it gets so very hot here.

What I do go to often however, is our local Cornfest. It's a little festival deal built around what used to be our local corn farm before they sold out. They have a bunch of food booths and games for kids (not really any for adults ) and booths where you can buy handmade stuff. My favorite is the psychic. She' s been here for over 30 years and I trust her. She gave me a reading once that proved right on. It's really just an excuse to gather in a big dusty field and see and be seen.

We also have a yearly bluegrass festival. I've been about four times. Saturday is traditional music day and Sunday is gospel day.

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 12:10 pm

shelbell;1004366 wrote: I wear one of those mask thingys when I mow, you can get them at the drug store. i knew there was something i liked about you Shell. My hubby says my fav. word is THINGY:wah:

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:43 pm

southern yankee;1005717 wrote: i knew there was something i liked about you Shell. My hubby says my fav. word is THINGY:wah:

Isn't that a favorite in everyones vocabulary? :wah::wah: I also use "dude" a lot. :wah::wah:

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:47 pm

We have both County Fairs, which tend to be rural affairs with ploughing contests and the like, and Statute / Charter Fairs which are in the town centre and more akin to funfairs.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:48 pm

Hope6;1004358 wrote: i have awful alleriges too, it's a pan trying to mow the lawn when the pollen gets to flying! :-5

Try a surgical mask.

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 8:56 pm

shelbell;1004366 wrote: I wear one of those mask thingys when I mow, you can get them at the drug store.

yeah i should too but i just hate wearing those things! :wah::wah:

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 8:59 pm

[QUOTE=southern yankee;1004364]you would hate cajun country. always something makes you itch and sneeze here:wah:[/QUOTE

:wah::wah: OMG!! i don't need anymore! :wah: but i always thought i would like to visit cajun country! :-6

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:01 pm

along-for-the-ride;1004566 wrote: What a tragedy. I can understand your dad's concern.

Here is a safe view from the top of a ferris wheel, Hope. I took this pic myself on our vacation last month. Hope you enjoy it.

Great picture AFTR! Thank you!!! :-4

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:03 pm

ButterflyPrincess;1004571 wrote: We have the Arizona State fair. But we don't go because it costs way too much for the three of us. Growing up I always went to the Illinois State fair and the Crown Point Indiana fair. (Lake County Fair -i think that's what it is called) I have a lot of great memories of my childhood going to the fairs with friends or sometimes just my family. Everyone always had a blast..

well ours costs $5 per adult, children 2 and under are free! tickets you can get for rides 24 for $20, rides usually take from 3 to 5!

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:07 pm

RedGlitter;1004672 wrote: Hi Hope. We have a county fair about an hour from here every year. I haven't been but a handful of times. I always hang out in the animal barn and make sure all the animals have adequate water and air because it gets so very hot here.

What I do go to often however, is our local Cornfest. It's a little festival deal built around what used to be our local corn farm before they sold out. They have a bunch of food booths and games for kids (not really any for adults ) and booths where you can buy handmade stuff. My favorite is the psychic. She' s been here for over 30 years and I trust her. She gave me a reading once that proved right on. It's really just an excuse to gather in a big dusty field and see and be seen.

We also have a yearly bluegrass festival. I've been about four times. Saturday is traditional music day and Sunday is gospel day.

we just went to our annual Harvest Festival Saturday, and we also have a cantalope festival during the summer and a heritage festival, where they have all kinds of antique tractors and equipment on display and they do all kinds of things related to tobacco and other crops!

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:09 pm

Bryn Mawr;1006049 wrote: We have both County Fairs, which tend to be rural affairs with ploughing contests and the like, and Statute / Charter Fairs which are in the town centre and more akin to funfairs.

i don't think i've ever heard of a ploughing contest!

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:31 pm

Hope6;1006315 wrote: yeah i should too but i just hate wearing those things! :wah::wah:

I do too...sometimes I'll take it off before I do the front yard so I don't feel quite as stupid. :wah::wah:

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:17 am

Hope6;1006334 wrote: i don't think i've ever heard of a ploughing contest!

The Dorset show last year :-

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:32 am

Bryn Mawr;1006424 wrote: The Dorset show last year :-

Wow! my parents always talked about how everybody ploughed with horses when they were younger, but i've never actually seen it!

Thanks Bryn!

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:33 am

shelbell;1006381 wrote: I do too...sometimes I'll take it off before I do the front yard so I don't feel quite as stupid. :wah::wah:

:wah::wah: yeah thats me i feel silly wearing the thing!

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:53 pm

Hope6;1006334 wrote: i don't think i've ever heard of a ploughing contest!

me either??

hoxtonchris · Post by **hoxtonchris** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:59 pm

country fairs in england are a right old riot!dwile flonkin in cornwall where blokes run riot trying to hit a bit of old rag,morris dancers ,where dodgey blokes wearing even dodgier clothes and bells dance around waving bits of old rag,maypole dancing,where dodgey blokes and dodgey girls run round a pole whilst tied to a rope until they all get tangled up,,,,,,,,,,thinks!must move to siberia where its a bit more exiting.

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:16 pm

hoxtonchris;1007394 wrote: country fairs in england are a right old riot!dwile flonkin in cornwall where blokes run riot trying to hit a bit of old rag,morris dancers ,where dodgey blokes wearing even dodgier clothes and bells dance around waving bits of old rag,maypole dancing,where dodgey blokes and dodgey girls run round a pole whilst tied to a rope until they all get tangled up,,,,,,,,,,thinks!must move to siberia where its a bit more exiting.

that sounds very interesting, and quite a bit different from our country fairs! :wah:

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 11:31 am

i love the games too. Only really Won once. A huge Purple Dog:wah:

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:55 pm

we carried Jacob to the fair Saturday afternoon, he rode the carousel twice and loved it, and he played one of the games and won a stuffed bear. and we saw chickens, cows, sheep, goats, and horses. They had an emu and a couple of llamas too!

and i was a big kid myself :wah: i rode several rides too, it was fun! i hadn't ridden anything at the fair in years! :wah::wah:

my mom and i entered some things in the judging, i got a blue ribbon for my cake and a 2nd place red ribbon for my peanut butter cookies, mom got a blue ribbon for some peach preserves and a red ribbon for some pear preserves and some pear pickle. and we got a blue ribbon for our Irish potatoes!

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:50 am

Hope6;1010964 wrote: we carried Jacob to the fair Saturday afternoon, he rode the carousel twice and loved it, and he played one of the games and won a stuffed bear. and we saw chickens, cows, sheep, goats, and horses. They had an emu and a couple of llamas too!

and i was a big kid myself :wah: i rode several rides too, it was fun! i hadn't ridden anything at the fair in years! :wah::wah:

my mom and i entered some things in the judging, i got a blue ribbon for my cake and a 2nd place red ribbon for my peanut butter cookies, mom got a blue ribbon for some peach preserves and a red ribbon for some pear preserves and some pear pickle. and we got a blue ribbon for our Irish potatoes!

Wow, you women sure can cook!! Yum!

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:14 pm

shelbell;1011311 wrote: Wow, you women sure can cook!! Yum!

:wah::wah: hey we southern women know how to cook! :wah:

Omni_Skittles · Post by **Omni_Skittles** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:18 pm

we have state and county fairs... which i haven't been to one in Texas... oh we also have rodeos here... I liked new mexico better for that...

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:22 pm

Omni_Skittles;1012191 wrote: we have state and county fairs... which i haven't been to one in Texas... oh we also have rodeos here... I liked new mexico better for that...

i've been to a rodeo once but it was a small one, i would love to go to one of the bigger ones, they have one here every year in a city a couple hours drive from here but i've never been!

Omni_Skittles · Post by **Omni_Skittles** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:23 pm

Hope6;1012194 wrote: i've been to a rodeo once but it was a small one, i would love to go to one of the bigger ones, they have one here every year in a city a couple hours drive from here but i've never been!I used to go to a rodeo that involved like 5 states... it was amazing...

Hope6 · Post by **Hope6** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:27 pm

Omni_Skittles;1012195 wrote: I used to go to a rodeo that involved like 5 states... it was amazing...

i bet that was amazing, i know when you see rodeos on tv and movies and stuff they look really great.

:wah::wah: when i was a little girl i always wanted to be a barrel racer! :wah: