It’s Fair Time!
Posted by Sherry McGregor on 24 Sep 2009 | Posted in: Life After School
While I was watching TV last week, commercials for a community fair reminded me of the county fairs I grew up with. The county fair is a pretty big deal in my hometown. Everyone goes. As a kid, going to the county fair was the highlight of the fall. A day at the fair started something like this: waiting outside the exhibit hall while the judges made their decisions, rushing in the minute the doors opened, checking our projects, and making a quick ribbon count before heading over to ogle the supersize vegetables and spot the grand prize winners. The rest of the day was spent hanging out at the animal exhibits, riding carnival rides, and eating fair food. (You know—cotton candy and ice cream cones.) The fair’s not a very big part of my life now, but I wouldn’t trade the memories for anything. Is the county, regional, or state fair important to your community, to you, or to your students? I’d love to hear about it!
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My 4th grade class does a mini “fair” after we read Charlotte’s Web E.B. White. The students bring in a collection, a small pet, a craft, baked goodies, trophies etc. We set up the desks in long rows down the center of the room and they get to visit each others “booths” All the students receive a blue ribbon. We also share some fair food - usually hot dogs, chips, popcorn etc. One year the local newspaper came and took pictures!
AH, the county fair! Some of my sweetest childhood memories are centered around that wonderful event. I always went to at least 2 fairs a year with my grandmother and her friend. They let my brothers and I do everything and, when I had my own daughter, I made sure that a grandparent always came with us to the fair(s). Now I am teaching 3rd grade and we go to the fair at the beginning of the school year - more fun and more wonderful memories.
When we moved back to Michigan, every year we would drive an hour and a half to go to the Ingham County fair. My mom grew up there, and the fair was always the highlight of the year. It became the coolest thing for my brother and I growing up. We didn’t have the attachment to the community, but the “long” drive as a kid made it a little vacation. It still beats any amusement park we visited since
I grew up lovong the county and state fairs. We also love the town festivals like the strawberry fest and the apple fest. Sadly they do not seem to be to important to the kids in my classroom. I am also sad to say here in Michigan we have been hit so far with the bad economy this may be the last year for our wonderful state fair.
With so many amusements parks in reach I find the kids in my classroom are more familiar with them.
I remember going to the fair every year as a child.
I do not go as often now but I did take my children when they were little. It is wonderful to share the sights, sounds, smells, and memories with your family.
I also remember the smaller local community fairs/carnivals, I think in a way those were even better, you always saw someone you had not seen in a while wandering around.
When I moved to our small town they told me we don’t start school until after the fair–I was shocked! It is still the same and now that I have lived here for 6 years or so I understand why…it is the best part of August. It is a time when our entire village comes together and meets at the fair. It is a signal for the last days of summer, and a signal for the start of school. I love it and wouldn’t change a thing!:)
Growing up our county fair was very important, in fact we got a week off from school for the fair and they still do.
I grew up right next to the county fairgrounds. Those two weeks in August/September provided wonderful childhood memories. I no longer live there and miss being able to expereince that fair each year or my children getting to have those memories. A state fair isn’t the same as those county fairs.
As a child, the fair was also a big deal in our hometown. Our town was small (it has since doubled in size)and this was one of the biggest events all year long. For our family, it also meant setting up our cooking trailer to sell indian fry bread, setting up our booth to sell native american jewlery and artifacts, and us putting on a dancing show to teach others in our community about our culture. The fair is not as big of an affair for me anymore, but sometimes I really miss being able to feel the excitement that those 4 days would bring every year.