Summers Last Weekend

Summers last weekend and the night is noisy with the Fairs midway. Geeeee I so love hearing Nickelback blaring blocks away. I pity those living next to the grounds. Windows shut tight, earplugs in trying to lip read the latest TV reality show. Wouldn’t take much thought.

The swoosh of the Octopus ride can be heard faintly along with the kids giggling and screaming. I feel for the animals stabled as I’m sure the racket isn’t something heard every night. Cows must be lulled or the girls just say, “nope this milk store is empty for the next few days til you get me home safe in my bed of straw”.

The Fair brings back fond memories though. As kids we would work every job we could leading up to it. Never mind saving the money for silly things such as pencils and books for school. Nah, Fair weekend was our time to let loose, one more fling before our care free days ended.

Night was the best time to go. We would use one of the less frequented side gates or at least some of us would, ;) While a few would step up and pay admittance keeping the Tickie person busy, others would scramble under and over the chain link fence behind Barn 2. Sometimes the Tickie person knew our folks and would turn the other way whispering “git going”.

Every ride was ridden at least once in a night. The Tilt-A-Whirl, the Octopus, Ferris Wheel. We would stand and watch those young lovers on the Wheel acting all innocent but we knew better. Most were praying it would be stopped just one seat from the top. Hidden in the back from most eyes. Uh Hunh, we were young but not naïve.

Chip wagons, lemonade stands, fudge huts lined the way with their aroma. And those Cotton Candy makers !!! To this day I buy one. Not quite sure what it’s made of but what the hell. Picking pieces and sucking the sugar flavoured with cherry, strawberry. Ya can’t go to a Fair without having Cotton Candy.

O the lights ! Rows and rows of coloured lights lit the way, some blinking to attract us with full pockets like moths to a flame. Ring Toss, Air Rifle, all with your choice of stuffed beasties. Lucky were the ones walking away with the huge teddies, penguins, elephants. We’d giggle poking each other when the young couples walked away. She would be all gushy, hugging the beastie while he strutted along with his arm around her shoulders.

The Fantasy Farm, o yeah now you’re talking, was a must see. Bunnies as big as dogs with ears longer then their legs, roosters with such exotic feathers, wee donkeys protecting their weeer ones from onlookers, chickens, ducks, llamas, the sheep not yet shorn. That would happen next day during the Sheep Shearing Trials. We’d ooo and awww choosing the ones we wanted to have on our fantasy farm.

The Ladies Barns, mmmm. Full to the rafters of quilts recently sewn with care and imagination, baking set out for all to drool over, veggie and flower arrangements, crafts, jams, jellies, photography, even paint by numbers. That always struck me odd asking meself, soooo one gets a prize for painting inside the lines. Hhmmm, what fun is in that. Prize winners set up front with their first, second and third ribbons. Entrants were passionate as a First place prize of $10 hardly buys ingredients for a good Angel Food cake.

I could go on about the days activities such as Cow Chip Tossing, Lawn Mower Racing, Best Calf, but I feel the Fair at night is the only way to enjoy it. And so I am this night, though from a distance and a big smile on me face.