Itching for the State Fair to happen? I was able to scratch that itch a little bit early last Friday, by heading down to Farmington for the Dakota County Fair. I hadn’t been there since I was in high school (also Farmington), and my friends and I would go almost every night. Ah, the ’80s. I think the rides were the same rides as they were in the ’80s. Not the types or names of the rides, but the same actual pieces of equipment judging by the rust. I brought a friend with me who had never been to a small fair before, even though he goes to the State Fair every year. We both really enjoyed the low-keyness of it, the fact that you could walk along in a straight line without bumping into people, and that when you did bump into people, they were all cheerful instead of harried. The beer garden was even affordable, and my mom won a ribbon for her Pig Purse in the Arts & Crafts division (a purse shaped like a pig).

Then, at 7pm, the piece de resistance, the reason why we and my softball team went down to the fair in the first place. We headed to the Grandstand and found seats for the Main Event. Something I had only ever witnessed on TV when Pinky Tuscadero battled the Mallachi Brothers. That’s right, I went to my first Demolition Derby. Wow, it was fun. And loud. And smelly. But still a lot of fun. And I caught a t-shirt when they were throwing them into the Grandstand. Guess all that softball paid off.

Check out the local county fairs, if you can. I know that most of the counties in the Metro Area have them at some point during the year. They’re cheap and a nice appetizer (on a stick) for the big one at then end of the month.

Related posts:

1. My State Fair feelings can best be expressed…
2. State Fair Robbery Reveals State Fair Lucre
3. Minnesota State Fair Fashion: Backwards White Hats
4. State Fair with the Kids
5. Everybody’s State Fair Photos