The East Perry Community Fair begins today. Some judging of animals will take place this morning, but the big kick-off event will be the Fair Parade, which begins at 1:30 this afternoon. I was talking with the person who organizes the parade yesterday, and he said that this year there will be 10 bands marching in the parade. That is a huge number, and it bodes well for a large gathering of parade participants.
Yesterday, I spent some time getting photos of the preparations that were in progress for this huge annual event which historically has attracted between 20 and 30 thousand people. I am going to include a few galleries of those pics for you to view.
One of the first groups to arrive during Fair Week is the carnival. When the rides begin rolling through town, we know it’s time to get serious about making the final preparations for the fair. Not only do the rides arrives, but also several trailers that house the workers for the midway.
Another early arrival for the fair are the beverage trailers. The beer stands get set up at their appointed spots. The forecast for this year’s event calls for highs in the upper 80’s, so it is also expected that the fairgoers will be thirsty. I was told a story yesterday about the beer’s arrival at a previous fair. The driver who brought the trailer and prepped it for its intended use, was being observed by a few interested locals. The man then grabbed a cup and proceeded to fill it with beer. When completed, he held it in the air and declared, “The fair has now officially begun.” He then filled cups for the observers.
Another big attraction for fairgoers is the food. The selection of fair food is amazing.
What would a fair be without the farm animals? Many venues have been prepared for the arrival of the variety of animals that will be arriving today.
Of course there has to be entertainment. The bandstand will host several local musicians. The grandstand will be the venue for some animal shows, tractor and truck pulls, and of course, the mule-jumping contest.
On the night before the fair opens, final preparations are being made, and people start bringing in the items they want to be judged at the fair. A food stand and one beer stand are opened, and locals who will be busy doing their chores at the fair for the next 2 days gather to enjoy each other’s company before the big onslought of people.
There are plenty of places for our visitors to park their vehicles for free. Our fair also charges no admission to attend. We just enjoy the fact that folks will spend their money in a variety of other ways when they attend. Within sight of the fairgrounds, the 2 local Lutheran churches can be seen.
Finally, I am going to include one more gallery with 2 photos of items that you might not see at other fairs. One is a view that only males may actually experience. I will admit that I was grateful when the fair board decided to put a shelf above the troughs in the men’s room to temporarily hold the beer cups.
If you are in the area, you are going to want to stop by for some wonderful food, fellowship, and fun. And while you’re here, visit our museum which is a block away. We will be open on Friday from 10 am – noon, and on Saturday for our regular hours, 10 am – 4 pm. We have a great Mississippi River exhibit on display right now. And, as always, admission is free.
More details about the fair can be found on the East Perry Community Fair Facebook page.
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