Considering that it was the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of fall, it certainly did not feel like it in Altenburg yesterday.  It was a hot, sweltering, steamy, muggy day with temperatures in the 90’s, not unlike the common middle-of-summer days we have around here.  However, that did not keep many folks from coming out to the first day of the 80th annual East Perry Community Fair.

Many preparations had been made to welcome the thousands of visitors who would be coming to our little town of 352 people.  And many began lining up along Main Street for the big kick-off event of the fair…..the parade.  Here are some photos taken before the parade started.  (In the galleries of photos in this post, you can click on the thumbnails to enlarge them.)

The time to start the parade had finally arrived.

Students around here get a day off school for Parade Day.  Numerous school groups and bands participated.

There were entries with a religious theme.

Of course there were plenty of vehicles and tractors in the procession.

The animals bring up the rear (for very practical reasons).

Once the parade is over, it’s time to head to the fairgrounds.

The crowd enjoys the rest of the food, fun, and fellowship.

Yesterday, the Southeast Missourian published an article about our fair, featuring the Cheese Stand.  You can read it by clicking on this link.

http://www.semissourian.com/story/2446126.html

I think the photo below gives a little taste of the history of the East Perry Community Fair.  Even after 80 years, you still have folks gathering at a feed & seed booth to tell some tales.

Since I got hoodwinked into being in the parade, I was not able to take photos of it.  Most of today’s photos were provided by my wife, Sandi Schmidt, and one of our museum’s faithful supporters, Carla Fiehler Grebing.  I thank them for taking the time to help me out.  I may have to buy each of them a beer today.

Today is another Fair Day.  Don’t expect me to do any research today, unless you call eating fair food research.  You can expect me to post some more fair fotos tomorrow.  One last photo of some young ones who were enjoying some fair food yesterday: