We told Little Man that we were taking him to the last day of the season of the Tennessee State Fair yesterday but, alas, it was raining. We pulled in anyway, me whining along with my four-year-old that it wasn't raining too hard ... while my husband and dad voiced their opinions that it was actually starting to pour and we had no umbrellas, so ... we decided to leave. As we pulled out of the parking lot the sign said "Thanks for the memories." This was especially sad because the news reports that after over a hundred years of hosting it, Nashville will not house the state fair anymore because it is losing money. If it hadn't rained all week this year it is possible that they could have made a profit this year. Mayor Dean wants to use the prime property for something else. The fair board still has to vote on it, but it is not looking good. http://www.wztv.com/newsroom/top_stories/wztv_vid_1469.shtml
First Opryland closes, now this! What amusement park will my little boy grow up with now?!
The Tennessee State Fair was a staple of my childhood and it was magic! Tossing the ping pong ball in the brightly dyed water in the goldfish bowl and "winning" my goldfish (always Goldie, Goldie II, III and so forth) in the plastic bag who would inevitably die, but I seemed to forget that fact every year. Cotton candy. Spin art. The rides! (The fun house being a particular favorite)The freak shows! "POPEYE" (the elderly gentleman who could pop his eyeball out of his head, then the other--clapping while doing it to spook people) and "The Worlds Largest Rat!" my mother refused to go in, due to rodent phobia, but I went in with my dad to see some caged hog sized creature. (I later developed rodent phobia myself!) And, as a mere tot, seeing my beloved Sonny and Cher in concert there. My mom and her friend whispering (loudly) about Cher's revealing outfit (open all the way down the sides! gasp!)and I was completely in awe of her. Firecrackers were going and me,the excited little four-year-old girl saying "it's the only way to fly, it's the only way to fly!" and a nice young couple smiling at me and egging me on.
Yes, I loved the Tennessee State Fair! Thanks for the memories! Fair thee well ...