FREE YOUR INNER FARMER
County Fairs Never Go Out of Style
County fairs provide so much entertainment for all ages. You will find educational opportunities as well as community connections. They’re a tradition dating back to 1807 when the first American fair is thought to have been organized in Pittsfield, MA.
Walking around the 150 acre site of the Orange County Fair (OC Fair) whose theme is Free Your Inner Farmer, you’ll see games, unique food selections (I had the half pineapple filled with rice and teriyaki chicken (see featured pic), thrill rides and for-the-faint-of-heart-rides (I’ve always loved the merry-go-round aka carousel), gardening exhibits, livestock exhibits and shopping! Here’s what I think you may learn:
– Food demonstrations that might spark an interest in certain ethnic traditions; or, a demo might give you some new and creative ideas on what to serve for lunch or dinner. Maybe indulge just once in a peanut butter, jelly and Siracha funnel cake!
– Gardening exhibits may teach you some new techniques to keep your garden healthy and growing all year long; or, maybe your child(ren) will be motivated to grow something. Time to Free Your Inner Farmer?! Growth can take place in small spaces – maybe in a small clay pot to start.
– The livestock exhibits are great learning experiences especially for children. In many of the displays there is an individual who will tell you about the breed of the animal, what their purpose is and perhaps the history of the breed. It’s so cute to hear kids imitating the animal sounds which, experts say, is a precursor to reading!
– Getting to know some exhibiting merchants that have businesses in the local community, or some that offer unique selections just in time, perhaps, to get your holiday shopping done ahead of time.
I could go on and on about all there is to see and experience at the OC Fair. It’s best to go and create memories for yourself, your family, friends and anyone in between.
The OC Fair is open through August 12, 2018 in Costa Mesa, California.