Folks arriving at the California State Fair.
Where else can you share your day with a prize-winning 300-pound hog, ride the Ferris wheel, get a corn dog and try your skill picking the trifecta? And spend just a few bucks in the process.
America was largely an agricultural society when fairs first got their start. A New England patriot and farmer, Elkanah Watson, is said to have produced the first fair of its kind in the U.S. -- a small exhibit of sheep under an old elm tree in the town of Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1807. Farmers soon made this a tradition, coming together in friendly competition to compare techniques and see who raised the largest and best livestock. Their wives would likewise show off crafts, baked items, jams, and jellies. The kids would eventually get their own 4-H sponsored events. According to the International Association of Fairs and Expositions a "fair" differs from a "festival" because it involves agricultural events -- farm animal shows and the judging of the best grown vegetables, and so forth.
This end of summer/early fall ritual has roots in age-old harvest festivals that date back to pagan times. Old and New Testament references allude to fair-like gatherings that combined commerce, trade, market, festival, religious feast and holy day. However, there's no mention in the scripture for a demolition derby.
Mariachi players warm up at Cal Expo.
I used to go to the California State Fair as a kid. The old fairgrounds were in south Sacramento before moving to the CalExpo site in the late 1960s. A 10-year-old trying his first Orange Julius (they really did use a raw egg), hearing Mel Torme sing with a big band, and helping dad place $2 pari-mutuel bets -- that's the stuff life-long memories are made of.
This year at the California State Fair (Aug. 21 - Sept. 7), in addition to horse racing, carnival rides, and the California State Karaoke Championships (grand prize of $3,000), you'll find performances by MC Hammer, Three Dog Night and Blake Shelton, among others. Competitions will include best homebrew and commercial beer and wines.
Kids Day at CalExpo is every Tuesday when all kids 12 and under receive free admission all day. The carnival offers $1 carnival rides for everyone until 11 p.m. A Read to Ride program gives kids in grades K-8 three free ride tickets for reading three books. And in honor of Michael Jackson, the Fair midway this year includes several rides from Neverland Ranch.
