Published: August 25, 2009 08:48 am      

Fond memories of the Cumberland County Fair

It's hard to believe that August is nearly over, but before September arrives, we still have the county fair to look forward to. (And also my brother's 30th birthday... haha! Welcome to being old!)

When I was a kid, I couldn't wait for the fair to arrive in Cumberland County. My brother and I looked forward to the fair as much as we did Christmas. Perhaps it was because school had just started back, and even though we had only been stuck in class a few days at most, the coming of the fair meant a long weekend back then, not to mention the thrill of the rides and the magic of the midway.

That is how I remember the fair — a magical night of neon lights, rocking music that made the rides all the more exciting and that tasty, tasty fair food. We had our traditions. I always got the pizza slice. Dad had to have his Polish sausage; Mom, her funnel cake (which we all helped to eat, of course). After the evening was over and we'd made the complete circuit of the midway, we'd buy a bag or two of cotton candy and a candied apple to take home with us to enjoy over the next few days as a sweet reminder of the fair.

We would arrive at the fairgrounds just before dusk, the excitement levels rising as the distant sounds of the carnival rides grew louder the closer we got to the gates. Mom and Dad would never let us go straight to the midway; we always had to take time out to look at the exhibits. We were impatient, but I remember not wanting to hit the midway until it was full dark. The rides always seemed much more exciting after the sun had set, and besides, the exhibits were interesting. I remember being amazed at the size of the some the vegetables people had managed to grow, and I loved seeing the animals. One year, a painting of mine I had done while in one of Joe Hodges' art classes at Crossville Elementary had been entered, and to my surprise, I had won a ribbon! I still have the ribbon, but unfortunately, I never got the painting back.

After a tour of the exhibit buildings and animal pens, stopping at one of the booths for a bite to eat or to chat with someone Dad knew (and to us kids, it seemed he knew everybody), finally we made our way to the real reason we came to the fair — the rides!

My favorite was always the Himalaya. It was the one ride I looked forward to every year. There was just something about being slung to one side of the little sleigh car as the ride went round and round, strobe lights flashing and rock music pounding in your ears. And on a sultry summer evening, the cool breeze that blew through the ride was a welcome relief.

I also have a fond place in my heart for the Tilt-a-Whirl. Of course, you couldn't ride it alone. The more people in the car, the faster it would go!

Then there were the games. Our parents were frugal, so we only got to play one or two, but I remember being overawed at the sheer size of some of the prizes. What kid wouldn't want to win a giant teddy bear or unicorn? We never won one of those, but I still have a little stuffed bear dressed in a Scottish outfit. It's quite possibly one of the ugliest bears I've ever owned, but I loved it and kept it because my daddy won it for me playing one of those carnival games.

And what trip to the fair would be complete without a ride on the carousel? I don't care how old you are, you are never too old to ride on a wooden horse!

We never wanted the evening to end, but inevitably, it was time to go home. Mom would let us eat a little piece of the cotton candy we'd brought home with us, and then it was off to bed to dream of glittering lights and calliope music.

I haven't been to the fair in recent years. Other obligations have kept me from going, plus I don't handle the heat and the crowds as well as I did when I was a kid. But I know, every year around the end of August, children of all ages are counting the days until fair time. This week, kids from all over the county will be pulling at their parents' arms, trying to hasten them toward the midway and the magic. Parents, know that these nights at the fair will stay in your children's memories for years to come. Eat some cotton candy for me, and enjoy all that the 2009 Cumberland County Fair has to offer!