Your essay, like the state fair, perfect. Now I want to find out when the Oregon State Fair is, this year (and I'm not a big fan of crowds, but there's a place for everything, and this might be it, thank you.)
One of the better version of crowds, I'd argue (though I empathize-- the core reason why my wife is not a state fair person is that she's not a crowd person)
Garrett, this impassioned post about state fairs, brought me to tears! Partly because I’ve never really loved the huge crowds, noise, the cost and have only been to a few! Mostly, because I realized that I couldn’t see the real reason for having them…The celebration of ordinary people’s lives, passions, skills, hard work, and their pride in their communities! And their stark contrast to the soul sucking Data Centers and the corporations that own them.
Oh this is super kind! One of my hopes with this essay, if I really think about it, is to give people who don't love going to fairs for all sorts of good reasons a way to share the fair vibes!
Living in a state capitol, the State Fair each October (it's finally cool enough to survive the hours on cement) is a HUGE deal. For some it's the sand sculptures and art competition buildings. For the kids it's rides, funnel cakes and a couple weeks when teachers don't even pretend to teach cuz the kids just aren't there. The smells back in the barn areas beg for nose plugs. Every year there are more fried options. The entertainment each evening brings back the best of nostalgia and ear plugs. I used to force myself to go cuz friends had entered one competition or another, cuz the fried turkey legs were awesome, but it just wasn't enough to get me through the rest of it. Yes, it brings community together, and many epic things occur, but I think some of it must be age and gender connected. Glad it still works for so many of you.
This is another thing I love about state fair season, how it loops around the country, with the Northern states going in the summer and then the Souther states following in fall. Even if I still have to wait another year for MY fair, it makes me so happy that other places can still look forward to theirs.
Having grown up in D.C.-is-not-a-state, I have no affection for or connection to state fairs. Though I did once get a hug from Arlo Guthrie after he signed my jean jacket at the MD State Fair in the 80s, which is a life highlight.
Generally, I feel about fairs the way I feel about amusement parks. No thank you to the really big ones (so exhausting). But Seabreeze, the little regional one overlooking Lake Ontario, that's both an amusement park AND a water park, that is small enough you can release your pre-teens to amuse themselves and never have to wait more than 10-15 mins in line? Yes, please.
I like a county fair. Have loved many a county fair in my day. They offer all the community aspects you celebrate here, but are better sized for my nervous system.
I’ve been meaning to upgrade to a paid subscription here and did it just now so I could comment on this! I grew up in Janesville and could hear the music from the Rock County fair from my house. One year, an escaped cow ran down our street. I was 18 years old when I discovered that you could eat a cheese curd un-fried. I freaking love fairs. Thank you so much for writing this ode to them. You’ve pinpointed so many of the reasons I continue to love the fair as an adult that I wasn’t even aware of. Thanks for your work 😊
I have not been to my MN state fair since the late 1970s (my family back there goes every year) but I can taste, right this moment, the mini donuts. And sorry Wisconsin you may have milk but you don’t have Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Carved in butter no less. My favorite thing though is all the teenage love. Something about it makes couples want to hold hands. Epic breakups, too.
"There are no pictures of data centers, because they are ugly."
Word.
I am not anticipating any complaints from people who wish I had shown the data centers.
Your essay, like the state fair, perfect. Now I want to find out when the Oregon State Fair is, this year (and I'm not a big fan of crowds, but there's a place for everything, and this might be it, thank you.)
One of the better version of crowds, I'd argue (though I empathize-- the core reason why my wife is not a state fair person is that she's not a crowd person)
Garrett, this impassioned post about state fairs, brought me to tears! Partly because I’ve never really loved the huge crowds, noise, the cost and have only been to a few! Mostly, because I realized that I couldn’t see the real reason for having them…The celebration of ordinary people’s lives, passions, skills, hard work, and their pride in their communities! And their stark contrast to the soul sucking Data Centers and the corporations that own them.
Thank You!
Oh this is super kind! One of my hopes with this essay, if I really think about it, is to give people who don't love going to fairs for all sorts of good reasons a way to share the fair vibes!
Living in a state capitol, the State Fair each October (it's finally cool enough to survive the hours on cement) is a HUGE deal. For some it's the sand sculptures and art competition buildings. For the kids it's rides, funnel cakes and a couple weeks when teachers don't even pretend to teach cuz the kids just aren't there. The smells back in the barn areas beg for nose plugs. Every year there are more fried options. The entertainment each evening brings back the best of nostalgia and ear plugs. I used to force myself to go cuz friends had entered one competition or another, cuz the fried turkey legs were awesome, but it just wasn't enough to get me through the rest of it. Yes, it brings community together, and many epic things occur, but I think some of it must be age and gender connected. Glad it still works for so many of you.
This is another thing I love about state fair season, how it loops around the country, with the Northern states going in the summer and then the Souther states following in fall. Even if I still have to wait another year for MY fair, it makes me so happy that other places can still look forward to theirs.
Having grown up in D.C.-is-not-a-state, I have no affection for or connection to state fairs. Though I did once get a hug from Arlo Guthrie after he signed my jean jacket at the MD State Fair in the 80s, which is a life highlight.
Generally, I feel about fairs the way I feel about amusement parks. No thank you to the really big ones (so exhausting). But Seabreeze, the little regional one overlooking Lake Ontario, that's both an amusement park AND a water park, that is small enough you can release your pre-teens to amuse themselves and never have to wait more than 10-15 mins in line? Yes, please.
I like a county fair. Have loved many a county fair in my day. They offer all the community aspects you celebrate here, but are better sized for my nervous system.
I’ve been meaning to upgrade to a paid subscription here and did it just now so I could comment on this! I grew up in Janesville and could hear the music from the Rock County fair from my house. One year, an escaped cow ran down our street. I was 18 years old when I discovered that you could eat a cheese curd un-fried. I freaking love fairs. Thank you so much for writing this ode to them. You’ve pinpointed so many of the reasons I continue to love the fair as an adult that I wasn’t even aware of. Thanks for your work 😊
I have not been to my MN state fair since the late 1970s (my family back there goes every year) but I can taste, right this moment, the mini donuts. And sorry Wisconsin you may have milk but you don’t have Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Carved in butter no less. My favorite thing though is all the teenage love. Something about it makes couples want to hold hands. Epic breakups, too.