When I hear the word "Fair" my mind conjures up visions of ferris wheels, livestock shows, cotton candy, children running, laughing and playing. I think of horses, chickens, goats, and pigs. Beautiful quilts, canned goods, and other craft items made by ranchers or farmers wives. I think of the animated Charlotte's Web.
The reality for me going to The State Fair of Texas was a little bit different. I'm sure when the fair was founded many years ago, it was much more like the vision I had in my head. While walking around the fair, I imagined what it must have been like for kids out on the ranch to come to Dallas all those years ago to show their wares, to see and be seen. How exciting it would have been. The flashing lights, the cotton candy, corn dogs, popcorn, ice cream. Friends you only see once a year....
To be fair to the Fair, we arrived in the late afternoon and were quickly sucked into the carnival rides. The only animals we saw were the horses in the mounted patrol in the parking lot. There had to have been exhibits and animals somewhere, we just didn't get to see them. I really want to go back and see everything. We'll do a better job of it next time! The parts we did get to do were great.
The first thing we saw was a pond full of swans floating around a pond. Of course the girls HAD to do this.
We teased my husband and oldest daughter that they got "the ugly duckling". It was weird, a whole fleet of swans, and they got the duck!
The Dallas skyline from the top of the ferris wheel.
They had a great kids section in the carnival. My youngest is barely tall enough to ride the rides. This was the first time she was able to ride the cool rides! The girls had so much fun. I have always hated amusement parks, but the smiles on their faces while going on the rides made me smile too. I really, truly loved seeing how much fun they were having. So much that I just might take them to a real amusement park. Someday. Maybe. :)
Those swans and smiles had me almost convinced we should go this year. Then I remembered I hate the fair. I don't like the swines or the N1H1. I do however want to taste fried butter. Did you try it? What did you guys eat there? Anything good? Tell us.
ReplyDeleteAh Fair food. I could have done a whole post about all the things they have fried at the fair. The whole place is thick with the smell of burning grease. I'd like to say I think it would be cool to try fried Snickers, or fried butter. (BTW how in the heck would you fry butter? I guess you'd have to batter it somehow) There was no shortage of fried things that you wouldn't ordinarily fry.
ReplyDeleteCall us crazy, all we wanted was a funnel cake. There was only one stand that sold them, and we had to do some work to track them down. Covered in powdered sugar, it was delicious!!!!!! And the girls wanted a caramel apple that was just mediocre.
I will say that I am glad we went on opening weekend when the grease was still fresh. Can you imagine what it will be like in 2 weeks? Bluck ;-p