The Fair

by Bebbi

Summer brings many things but the end of summer brings a fantastic and wonderful specific thing! THE FAIR! When I was young, it was the Delaware County fair. It has demolition derbies, band contests, the midway, the barkers, the games (with the people that try so hard to get you to come and try!), the food, the music, the booths and the animals. I have been to so many festivals including The Indiana State Fair, The Portland Steam Engine Show, The Czech Fest, and other miscellaneous city and county fairs. Nowadays, I go to the Kentucky State Fair.



The Kentucky State Fair has probably the same things as other state fairs but it seems unique in many ways! It has food, quilts, cakes, tobacco (of course), ugly lamps, photos, doll houses and many more contests that people can enter their items. Walking around these displays gives me a glimpse of the unique and creative people who live in this state. I love going to the different county booths and filling out the contests slips to win the prize basket or the trip to the bed and breakfast in the county it represents. Also, I love all the rulers, pencils, and free stuff that fill up my bag! I know that 99% of it will go in the garbage, but for some reason I just still have to have it! Another area has the animals with mamas with their baby piglets, pigeons, rabbits, roosters, cows, horses and so much more. Also, there is the vendor section that sells everything from toys to hot tubs!


If you get bored of all that you can take in a pig race, talent contest, concerts (many locals bands, national bands)or a bite to eat and drink. The smells and sights are incredible! When I walk around and smell the pungent aroma of the onions and peppers for the Italian sausage sandwiches or the sweet and rich smell of the funnel cakes or fried snickers bars, or the tangy and mouthy watering smell of the pork barbecue, I feel like I am in my Utopia! The coco nutty tropical drinks, roasted corn on a stick, strawberries dipped in chocolate..it seems like everything is on a stick or comes in a long tall fancy cup! I love to watch the people. Some have too many beers and they are squatted down, trying to feel better while a worried loved one leans over to help them. Young people holding hands with their girlfriends/boyfriends, people waiting in line excited to go on a thrill ride. Also it is nice to see the older people walking with family, talking and having fun.


Kids can draw, have their teeth cleaned, learn about safety, get in a police car or helicopter and so many more things. I think it is interesting to watch the children that come from small towns and bring their livestock. They will play corn hole, sit around and chat with family, walk around and look at things. It must be a very exciting time of year for them. The animal smell that is so pungent and strong to me, but it is probably not even noticeable to them.

As I was walking around the fair last night, I wanted so much for each and every one of you to get to enjoy this to the level that I do. The moon was full, the weather was perfect, the midway was packed with people and the smells were out of this world. I really wish you could have been there!


My parents met at the Delaware County Fair. My mom and dad went to a Sock Hop and from that night they went on to get married and have three kids, the middle one was me! No wonder I love fairs!