The Fair: Sept. 2009
While I was getting ready for the fair the other day...I was asked why do I still like the fair? So I thought, Why DO I still like going to the fair? I don't know many adults who admit that they still enjoy the fair, even if they really do, right? So, I began to really wonder why do I?
I don't ride anything anymore, I don't put in artwork anymore, or take animals to be judged, or put in flower arrangements, or bring in giant pumpkins or watermelons, or even put in homemade quilts in the contests at the fair. I don't have anyone participating in any competitions..yet I still love to go. Every year, I just go; at least once...I like to just walk around, check things out, maybe get something to eat, visit with old friends you always end up running into there. Thats about the extent to what I do when I go. But, I still enjoy going.
I guess I still like it, because it reminds me of those younger days...when things seemed more simple.
It was a big event in a small town where otherwise we didn't have anything much to do in the fall except go to the local football games on Friday night.
I remember as a kid, the weekend before the fair would arrive; I was so excited! My Mom or Dad or both of them, would drive us kids by the fair on Saturday or Sunday just to see what was being set up. I would make a list in my head of all the things I would do once it opened & we got to go.
Then, my family would always made a special trip down to see my grandparents on Sunday afternoon..because every year without fail, they gave us “spending money” my Grandpa called it; just especially for the fair. Grandpa making us kids promise to report back to him on what we did or saw later. They never gave us a whole lot. I remember the most being given was a five dollar bill & even being excited about that! And of course we knew Mom & Dad would chip in some more later to help out our fun.
I could ride my favorite rides & get cotton candy, or a funnel cake, maybe a slice of pizza, & lots of frozen lemonade while I was there. I never cared that I always ran out of money before my friends did. Most times, we would put all our money & tickets in together & just ride & ride. It never seemed to matter who gave how much. It was fun for us all & we just liked being there, together; having fun.
I think I always loved it at night the best. The fair seemed magical at night with the lights on the rides glowing & blinking. It was always cool to be there then. I loved the noise, the music, the rides, the smells of the food.
It was a place that was fairly safe enough back then, to be dropped off by your parents & meet up with all your friends. To ride the craziest dizzying rides until no doubt someone would always get sick after the mounds of junk food or drinks we would consume before riding.
You always knew, for the most part; what rides were going to be there & you could be pretty sure what type of show was taking place that night. It was usually the same every time...yet we went back year after year & had a blast together. Never tiring of it. I remember always wanting to ride the fastest rides as many times as we could in a row or riding the Round Up, which would spin you around endlessly it seemed. And my favorite show was always the horse show on Saturday night.
As I got older the crowds bothered me a little more & I began to learn to be a little leery of certain types of people...but it was never a really bad place to be. I even looked forward to taking my own children to the fair every year. Watching them be excited about riding the rides or seeing the animals in the big barn. Or going to look at artwork their school had put in & finding the one they had designed all by themselves.
I even carried on the tradition of driving my children by the fairgrounds as things were being set up...getting them all excited & wound up about it all before the fair would even open.
So, while I was at the fair last night...I thought about that question I was asked: Why DO I still like to go to the fair?
As I walked around with my camera in tow..not having any small children to chase or enjoy watching them ride. I was filled with many memories of my own childrens fun there, my Grandparents & how they were always excited for us to go to the fair, & of the time my friends & I had spent here. Or how Mom used to go & listen to the music & sit in the grandstands for hours just so we could run around.
I just walked & talked with my husband & took it all in. Taking a few pictures of the lights & rides every now & then. I watched the young people at the fair as friends did pretty much the same things me & mine did...thinking how the times & people; I guess, haven't changed so much.
I listened to the laughter, the high pitch screams flowing off the rides, the smiles, the smells, the people just enjoying themselves...together. Just having a nice time at the county fair. Such a simple thing, with so many memories all wrapped up in it. In a world where so much has changed so very fast,..Its nice that some things don't change so much at all. I am glad this is one past time that hasn't been lost, that its one thing that my hometown has hung on to. Maybe I am a bit silly or a little weird or sentimental...but, I guess that is why I still like going to the fair.
You can't beat the fun filled memories & good times you share with your family & the friends you grew up with at our lil' ol' Coffee County Fair.
BY: KellyRae
