The Durham Fair

We had a great time at the fair this past weekend. We went on Friday, and then again on Sunday. The boys enjoyed the rides during the ristband time on Friday morning, but got distracted when we met up with their friends, so it ended up not really being worth the cost. Next year if they want to do rides they will have to pay for it themselves (expect a call, Grandma).

R entered a "Starship Battlestation" into the lego category, which we found out was a very popular theme for young boys. He also entered four photographs, a drawing of a house, and an apple pie (which was too gross to eat after being exhibited all week). He was very disappointed at the number of blue ribbons he received, since he is old enough to realize the meaning of the fact that every item entered gets a ribbon. He won't mind as much when his check comes in the mail though (they receive a dollar or so for each ribbon received).

E entered a castle into the recycled materials category.
One day he saw all the soda cans laying around and said "I'm going to make a soda can castle for the Durham Fair." He worked on it 99% by himself too. All I did was roll the pieces of duct tape so he could use it to hold all the cans together. He did a really wonderful job. I myself was disappointed that he only got a red for it, but he is still young enough to think any ribbon is just great. Next year he'll be working on quantity though, since he was jealous of how many R received. E also entered two photographs, a drawing, and a pumpkin bread, which he was very happy to find was still fresh when we got it back.

I myself entered five photographs and got zilch. Not all the grown-ups get ribbons. For us the competition is real. This is the first time I've ever entered and gotten nothing. It's a bummer. We all agreed that I needed to work real hard taking photos at the fair itself so that next year I can win the cover-of-the-catalog competition. Last night while I was thinking back on it all I realized what the judges are looking for, so next year the photos I take will be more appropriate. Maybe I'll get the cover for 2008.

On Friday we had fun meeting up for lunch with our friends, then watching some of the tractor races, and the pig races together. Some of them even joined us for some free mini-golf in the radio station tent. We had to leave early on Friday though, because R had his first Lego Robotics class at 4:00 in Bristol. He can't miss a class because they build on their project each week, and he would have fallen behind. So afterwards we actually returned to the fair, since it stays open till 11 pm.

As exhibitors we are entitled to discounted tickets for the entire weekend, and that's why we go more than one day. Sunday was not at all crowded the way we thought it would be, but then it did drizzle on and off. We got there around 1:30, just in time for the livestock costume parade. It's been one of our favorite events for a couple of years now. It's lots of fun.
They break it down into age groups, and the adults are actually the most fun. Also cool is that at the end, if they have extra ribbons, they give them away to all the kids who stay behind to ask for them. Both boys got really large ribbons which say only "Durham Fair 2006" on them. They both think they are great.

No good music this year. We did hear one band playing some 70's music while we ate dinner on Friday, but they were just okay. It was disappointing since music on the Main Stage has always been a big part of the fair for us. (It's where R saw Joan Jett and decided he needed a mohawk.) This years headliners were all country music though, which none of us are into.

We stayed till closing at 7 pm on Sunday, so we could take all of our exhibits with us and not have to go back on Monday. We were tired when we got home, but it was a really fun family weekend.