Friday, August 03, 2018

Five Faves at the Fair

If you have been reading the Willow's Cottage blog for very long, you will know that even if I don't post anything else during a week, I will write about my favorite things from the week and link up to Susanne's blog Living to Tell the Story and her Friday Fave Fives.  This edition of Willow's Week for Friday Fave Fives features A day at the County Fair.  This is a recurring theme each year.  I love our county fair.  It calls itself "The Country Fair with an Ocean Air" because the fairgrounds are literally across the street from the beach and the Pacific Ocean.  Who wouldn't love that?



Usually I work the first fair day doing demonstrations of spinning in the Agricultural Building at our guild booth (Ventura County Handweavers and Spinners Guild).  It was busy the whole time I was there.  People love to stop and watch us weave and spin and they ask so many questions.  My answers?  "No, it's not really a lost art."  "Everything you are wearing right now as gone through this same process--just using a large mechanized and industrialized method.  But truthfully, nothing is fundamentally different than it was hundreds and thousands of years ago."

We get free tickets for working the fair and since I work the first day which is Dollar Day, we just pay our dollar each and save those free tickets to attend another day when I'm not working.


This year the fair was extra fun for me because my sister-in-law joined us.  Normally, she avoids the fair's crowds like everyone there has the plague or lice or at least the flu.  It was a treat for me to share my love of the fair with her.

The Professor enjoys listening to the music acts on the smaller stages.  One performer has been returning for several years and we will sit and listen to Brady Goss sing.  We love his style and I love that he's from my home state Oregon.


Do you love the fair?  What's your favorite thing?

10 comments:

Faith said...

i cannot stand fairs!!!! around here there's just...too many farm animals, people, crowds, auditorily too stimulating for me...and no I don't have autism. HAHA...as a kid i loved going to the Herkimer County Fair for the ferris wheel ride and cotton candy.

BUT...I do love farmers markets and music at SPAC. so....i don't ONLY hike :)

It sounds like you have had a lovely week. I love that shot of the ride!! (the 2nd one).

Happy Weekend.

Wendy said...

I'm glad you had a good time. I'm not a lover of crowds so fairs are not really my thing.

Barbara H. said...

We attended the state fair here a few times, but stopped after a while. I think it just got to be too similar every time. But I used to enjoy looking at the photos submitted for their photography contest. And fair food!

Dianna said...

I do love fairs, but my hubby...not so much. We did go last year to the county fair where we live now.

There is an artisan village about 45 minutes from us and there is a lady there who does weaving. She says the same as you do about spinning...it is not a lost art...it is just done on a machine.

I enjoyed reading about your love for the fair!

susan said...

I haven't been to the fair in decades because of the HEAT, cost, and crowds. I know if my fair was across the street from the ocean, I'd be going!

How fun that you show folks your art. And even double fun that you got to show your sister-in-law your fave spots at the fair.

I listened to a couple of the Brady Goss videos" lively and fun. Thanks for sharing his music.

Have a refreshing week.

Jill Foley said...

I haven't been to a fair in over 10 years!

Susanne said...

I have not been to a fair in many, many, many years. Though the food booths are a draw. This year at the fair they are featuring grilled cheese and cricket sandwiches. Don't know if I'm up to giving that one a try. LOL. I bet having the fair across from the beach would be lovely with the ocean breeze. Here it tends to be hot and dry and dusty.

ellen b. said...

So great to enjoy the local fairs.

Tracy said...

All the fun of the fair...this was fun, Willow! I like fairs. Two summers ago when I was in PA, it was great to go to my home county fair. I wish there could be more craft demo. I love the things like the food-making and other prizes. And, of course, all the food vendors and types of food I don't eat normally, and that my waistline does not approve of... ;) haha... ((HUGS))

Jellybeans Angel said...

My English experience is that the fair comes once a year and does a set circuit of the UK. I love the rides but hate the queues and prices. Agricultural shows are more animal focused but there are usually a few rides in a set area and lots of stalls. Some stalls are more agricultural than others, and there are often demonstrations going on in a few tents for that purpose. Another tent will have the produce competition entries. The agricultural shows usually have a bit of something to interest everyone.