As a small girl, I remember that nothing was more exciting than knowing it was time for the State Fair of West Virginia. My earliest memory is of being carried across the Talcott Bridge because it was under construction. My mom and I were meeting my aunt Ruth on the other end to go to the Fair. Back in those days, there were steps to climb to get to a walkway over into the fairgrounds. The cement ramp and walkway. Now you have the tunnel that doesn’t involve any upward climb. There wasn’t any black top over in the fairgrounds years ago. I vividly remember my Dad telling me about a year when it poured rain and people were stepping out of their shoes because they became stuck in the mud.
I remember when, in the 70s, there was a tram-like ride that would take you for a ride up over the fairgrounds. Some guy took one of my shoes off. The thing that sticks in my mind the most is my Mom instantly going into momma bear mode. I got my shoe back, and Mom never suggested we get on that ride again. As I got a little older, I did love the rides. I remember the year my beloved uncle George traveled with the Carnival and ran the pony rides. I thought it was the best thing ever. Far more thrilling than the ponies themselves. I always had to take cotton candy and a candy apple home. Once the delicious coating was gone, I didn’t want the apple. It was sour and plain compared to the sugary goodness of the coating. Mom would always tell me not to waste and end up eating the rest of the apple herself before admitting it really wasn’t so great.
During the early days of the fair, my Dad always told me there weren’t as many food choices as there are now. He said hot dogs and corn dogs made up the majority of what was available besides cotton candy, candy apples and the like. Dad had a favorite story of him and a friend going into a side show that was common at the fair back in the day. Dad said after the women finished dancing, one threw a rose into the crowd, and a fight broke out over which of the men got to keep it. Dad said he and his friend crawled out under the tent to escape.
In more recent years, eating gyros, ears of corn, and, still, after all these years, Ben Ellen donuts are a must in my family. I’m sure traditions are as varied as each individual, and all are wonderful and keep us coming back. The amazing concerts. The exhibits. The animals. It seems the very air is charged with excitement once you enter the fairgrounds. For the young or merely young at heart, the state fair offers something for everyone. Looking ahead, I don’t think that will ever change. Here’s to 100 more years.
