** WARNING: OLD FART MUSING AHEAD **
I've noticed there are things and events in my past that meant a lot to me when I was young, then lost significance as I got to be a teenager and a young adult, but are now becoming an important and enjoyable part of my life again as I move into my fifties. One of those things is the county fair.
I was born in Riverside, California but my family moved to Santa Rosa, California in 1968 to get away from the smog and congestion of Southern California. Most of my childhood that I can remember is in Santa Rosa. One event I remember vividly is the Sonoma County Fair, held each year over 16 days starting in late July and finishing in mid-August.
The Sonoma County Fair was a milestone event each summer. In the late 60's and early 70's, we didn't have the Great America amusement park down in Santa Clara and my family never got down to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. So unless I was heading to my grandparents' house for summer vacation and getting a trip to Disneyland out of the deal, this was my one chance each year to ride the exciting and sketchy carnival rides. We'd pick a day and go to the fair, get a corn dog, play rigged carnival games, ride the scary double ferris wheel, and see mom's favorite--the Hall of Flowers.
I remember one year being completely fixated on winning a stretched Coke bottle at one of the carnival games. They were filled with colored water, shining brightly in the sun like colorful jewels, packed together in an impossibly tight arrangement. You had to throw a ring over one to win. I eventually won a bottle, but probably spent $5 in quarters in the process. It was my prized possession for about two weeks. Now as an adult, I imagine a carnie out back using a blowtorch to stretch 10 cent deposit Coke bottles into valuable $5 prizes. What a great racket.
The other county fair memory I will never forget is riding the haunted house ride. It was one of those dark rides where a car is pulled along on a chain and you pass various scary scenes. As the car exited the haunted house, there was a guy in costume who jumped out and scared the crap out of you. I was so scared that I screamed and reared back and actually kicked him in the chest! We got off the ride and I was crying and I remember my dad talking to the ride operator about whether the scary ending was appropriate for little kids. Good times, good times.
As I got into my teenage years, I stopped going to the fair. I don't know if I lost interest or if it just wasn't the cool thing to do anymore. Strangely enough, when I was 18-20 years old, I ended up having a job at the county fair each summer selling stuff in the exhibition hall. But that was a job I had to do and although the fair was a diversion, I don't remember being all that interested in it.
Once I left that job, I didn't attend the county fair for about 20 years. College, career, travelling the world, getting married. A lot going on, but no fair.
About 10 years ago, I reconnected with the Sonoma County Fair and all it has to offer. It's become a bi-annual event to make the two-hour drive from San Jose to Santa Rosa to visit the fair. Our sad little fair here in Santa Clara County is no match for the awesomeness of the Sonoma County Fair, with its strong ties to agriculture in the area. The Alameda County Fair is closer and is a good fair, too, but not as good as my childhood fair, at least in my book.
Yesterday, I spent the day there with my wife Julie and we did just about everything except ride the rides and play the carnival games. Here are some photos of what we saw. I hope you enjoy them.
Get out to your county fair, if not this summer then next. I think you'll have a good time!
I've noticed there are things and events in my past that meant a lot to me when I was young, then lost significance as I got to be a teenager and a young adult, but are now becoming an important and enjoyable part of my life again as I move into my fifties. One of those things is the county fair.
I was born in Riverside, California but my family moved to Santa Rosa, California in 1968 to get away from the smog and congestion of Southern California. Most of my childhood that I can remember is in Santa Rosa. One event I remember vividly is the Sonoma County Fair, held each year over 16 days starting in late July and finishing in mid-August.
The Sonoma County Fair was a milestone event each summer. In the late 60's and early 70's, we didn't have the Great America amusement park down in Santa Clara and my family never got down to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. So unless I was heading to my grandparents' house for summer vacation and getting a trip to Disneyland out of the deal, this was my one chance each year to ride the exciting and sketchy carnival rides. We'd pick a day and go to the fair, get a corn dog, play rigged carnival games, ride the scary double ferris wheel, and see mom's favorite--the Hall of Flowers.
I remember one year being completely fixated on winning a stretched Coke bottle at one of the carnival games. They were filled with colored water, shining brightly in the sun like colorful jewels, packed together in an impossibly tight arrangement. You had to throw a ring over one to win. I eventually won a bottle, but probably spent $5 in quarters in the process. It was my prized possession for about two weeks. Now as an adult, I imagine a carnie out back using a blowtorch to stretch 10 cent deposit Coke bottles into valuable $5 prizes. What a great racket.
The other county fair memory I will never forget is riding the haunted house ride. It was one of those dark rides where a car is pulled along on a chain and you pass various scary scenes. As the car exited the haunted house, there was a guy in costume who jumped out and scared the crap out of you. I was so scared that I screamed and reared back and actually kicked him in the chest! We got off the ride and I was crying and I remember my dad talking to the ride operator about whether the scary ending was appropriate for little kids. Good times, good times.
As I got into my teenage years, I stopped going to the fair. I don't know if I lost interest or if it just wasn't the cool thing to do anymore. Strangely enough, when I was 18-20 years old, I ended up having a job at the county fair each summer selling stuff in the exhibition hall. But that was a job I had to do and although the fair was a diversion, I don't remember being all that interested in it.
Once I left that job, I didn't attend the county fair for about 20 years. College, career, travelling the world, getting married. A lot going on, but no fair.
About 10 years ago, I reconnected with the Sonoma County Fair and all it has to offer. It's become a bi-annual event to make the two-hour drive from San Jose to Santa Rosa to visit the fair. Our sad little fair here in Santa Clara County is no match for the awesomeness of the Sonoma County Fair, with its strong ties to agriculture in the area. The Alameda County Fair is closer and is a good fair, too, but not as good as my childhood fair, at least in my book.
Yesterday, I spent the day there with my wife Julie and we did just about everything except ride the rides and play the carnival games. Here are some photos of what we saw. I hope you enjoy them.
Get out to your county fair, if not this summer then next. I think you'll have a good time!