The Fair

From Charlotte's Web (you may click to read book report) by E.B. White:

The night before the County Fair, everybody went to bed early. Fern and Avery were in bed by eight. Avery lay dreaming that the Ferris wheel had stopped and that he was in the top car. Fern lay dreaming that she was getting sick in the swings.

On fair day:

The children grabbed each other by the hand and danced off in the direction of the merry-go-round, toward the wonderful music and the wonderful adventure and the wonderful excitement, into the wonderful midway where there would be no parents to guard them and guide them, and where they could be happy and free and do what they pleased. Mrs. Arable stood quietly and watched them go. Then she sighed. Then she blew her nose.
"Do you really think it's all right?" she asked.
"Well, they've got to grow up some time," said Mr. Arable. "And a fair is a good place to start, I guess."

After the fair:

Miles away, at the Arables' house, the men sat around the kitchen table eating a dish of canned peaches and talking over the events of the day. Upstairs, Avery was already in bed and asleep. Mrs. Arable was tucking Fern into bed.
"Did you have a good time at the Fair?" she asked as she kissed her daughter.
Fern nodded. "I had the best time I have ever had anywhere or any time in all of my whole life."
"Well!" said Mrs. Arable. "Isn't that nice!"

Yesterday we went to the Fair with several friends. On the way up various businesses noted the annual occasion on their signs:
A business: Fair Enough
An inn: A Fair to Remember

Around Labor Day, the question on everyone's lips is "what day are you going to the Fair?" Even in these modern times, years and years after Charlotte's Web was written, it is still THE local event that ends the summer season.

Three years ago I wrote about the Fair: "Fair time is like Christmas in the way I remember all those that have gone before." And, like Christmas it can be a sad occasion if a visitor has experienced a recent loss or a divorce, as that person recalls the many fairs of happier times.

Every year it is both the same and different.

We visit the animal barns and see our own little "Wilburs."

I listened to a young boy's stories about his Polish chicken who was sleeping on his lap. We walk through the RVs and dream about traveling in such adorable homes.

The men always, always go looking at the zillions of machines for sale.

We go into the commercial hall and see everything from baskets to saddles to heating systems to homemade fudge.


We visit the arts and crafts hall and see the handmade items and garden produce which vied for those blue ribbons.



We stand by a small tent listening to a ten piece local band singing such songs as "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" bringing a tear to my eye with the exquisite harmonies, as good as any on the Grand Ole Opry .


As for the rides, I haven't gone on any since I got sick on the Tilt-a-Whirl and the swings many years ago. Today Matt told me they saw someone throw up on the Dreamcatcher and it spewed out in a mist all over everyone else. It doesn't get much grosser than that!

And then there is the food. It is junk food heaven. Anything that can be fried is on sale, from real French fries to Oreos. You can have plain fried dough or funnel cakes.



We had a perfectly wonderful time, adding the 2010 Fair to the many joyful memories of fairs past.

Could anyone look any happier?