North Georgia State Fair

I am a country girl--in case you didn't know--and I love me a good fair. I grew up going to the Appalachian Fair in Gray Station, Tennessee, every year. And my mother before me went when she was a little girl. I am not sure if her mother before her went when she young, but I wouldn't put it past her ... if the fair was around back then. ;o)

My siblings and I have so many fun memories of going to the fair every August. My mother would get a pass to go every day of the week--yes, seriously. She grew up in Gray and always saw lots of old friends there--and she looked forward to it yearly. I could write a whole post (or two or three or more!) about various fair memories, and maybe I will one day. But this post is about the North Georgia State Fair. We went there last Saturday.

Tanna was in a golf tournament, so that morning Kate and I made the drive up 75 and then westward to the fairgrounds. We met Steve, Diana and Jamie there and wasted no time in getting the fun started. Luckily for us, we got in for free via the free-admission-for-a-few-hours promotion. Woot! The rides were free for a little while, too! Double woot!

Jamie and Kate had so much fun on the rides. Jamie's expressions showed it a little more than Kate's (she is a focused little girl), but they really did have a ball! We later met up with Cammie and her family. I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story. It was a great morning, and I hope to share more fair memories with Kate next year. Maybe we'll even make it to the Appalachian Fair in Tennessee one of these days ...


It's the Mayfield Dairy Cow! YAY! I had Diana take this one for my Mom, who grew up on a farm.


Ooooh ... aaaahhhh ... QUILTS! It's not a fair if you don't see quilts on exhibit. I especially liked this blue-ribbon one. Sorry the photo is so bad--it doesn't do the quilt justice.


Prize-winning pumpkins


I thought this booth was great! I remember going to the Children's Chapel at the fair when I was little. It was a little trailer that was air-conditioned. Kids could go in and watch a Bible story--I think they were on film strip. Remember those? Afterward, you'd get a prize. Sometimes we would go over and over again. LOL!


At this booth, kids could pick up an old rotary phone (remember those?) and hear a Bible-related story. At least I think so. I didn't listen with my own ears, so I am taking their word for it. LOL! ;o)


Kate's attention span doesn't work well with a phone story, so she played this game instead. She enjoyed it!


Oh yeah--the rides! Jamie and Kate thoroughly enjoyed them.


I may have ridden this exact same ride about 30 years ago. No joke! They had a few others--including the boats--that looked exactly like the rides we rode back in the late '70s/early '80s. I wanted Kate to ride the boat ride, but it wasn't open when we were there. :o(


Jamie's flying high!


You do not want to mess with this girl.


There's a smile.


Steve and Jamie on the carousel


Jamie's riding a REAL pony! She LOVED it! I think Steve spent about $200 in pony rides. J/K!


Cammie and Darryl (and Ariel) having fair fun!


Moms and babes (minus Amelia, who was in the stroller)


Oh, wait! There's Amelia (in Diana's arms)! :o) This was taken the Friday before at Di's house.