From Florida

to the

Allegan County Fair

 

My life seems to circle around the Allegan County Fair. It was where my mom first met my father and so many more memories of my life. A week from today I get to take my youngest two daughters up from Florida to attend the 5 Seconds of Summer concert at the Allegan County Fair. 

Growing up in Allegan has every kid beyond excited for fair week to begin. It’s a time right up there with Christmas and your birthday. Way better than Halloween and Easter! Rides, food, games and  tons more what kid wouldn’t get excited. I was no different thankfully my mom was the same. 

My mom LOVED the fair. I think for her it reminded her of her youth and of a fun time when she actually traveled with the fair for a while. Yup my mom was once a carnie! Actually so was my father. Remember I said they met there. He worked the riding haunted house and was a carnie that quickly swept her off her feet. They married right away and took off on many adventures. I was even conceived on one of those adventures touring the country with the fair!

Their young crazed marriage didn’t last and she came back to Allegan to have me. I was born in mid August and the fair is always the beginning of September. I was at my first Allegan County Fair at only a few weeks old! From that time on it was a part of our yearly ritual. September = Fair Week Fun 

As a teenager the fair had a new interest to me. I got freedom to run around on my own.  I would occasionally see my mom ahead on a path and hurry to hide from her. I didn’t want to walk around with her I wanted to be with all my friends. Now I wish I could walk around the fair with her. 

At that time though I was worried about her catching me kissing my boyfriend. Yup had my first kiss at the water fountains of the Allegan County Fair! A few years later I met my first born daughters father in the line at the Ferris wheel. He was from Grand Rapids and came down because he heard it was such an awesome fair. (Which it was and still it is AWESOME) 

From that time on I rarely made it to the Allegan County Fair. I moved to Grand Rapids and then to Florida.  I make sure to come home for the fair every once in a while. I took my oldest two daughters as teenagers and now I will take the youngest two. I never did take my son, maybe that will be my new goal.  

The Allegan County Fair has been around forever! Actually it started in 1852 which is 166 years ago. Before we even had a land line or Kodak cameras! I cannot imagine what the fair was like then.  The first expedition hall was built in 1959, the following year they built the grandstand and racetrack. 

Rocky Rooster is a beloved star at the fair. He is the best meeting spot and who can resist a selfie with him these days! I know I will be getting one a week from today!  EEEEKkkkk I am so excited to go home during fairweek!!!!! Share your fair memories with me. Comment below 🙂