The Fair

Every year on Labor Day weekend, the county fair comes to my hometown. When I was a kid, it was a sign that school was about to begin, so it was time to pack as much fun into the last fleeting moments of summer as possible. I looked forward to stuffing myself silly with fried cheese curds and chocolate malts, watching horse races with my grandpa and dad, and trying to win amazing prizes by popping balloons or throwing ping-pong balls into cups in the midway.

 

As I've grown older the fair has seemed to grow smaller, grittier and more expensive. But, I think it was most likely always the same, and that my childhood rose-colored glasses have just turned a slightly different shade. It is still fun to experience the wonder of it all through the eyes of younger generations, and I always get a heart-warming kick out of looking through the barns and small-town food and crafts exhibits: