Going to the Fair

GOING TO THE FAIR — People of a certain age remember the anticipation leading up to the county fair each year — about this time of the year, wasn’t it? Some folks may even remember going to work in the cotton fields to earn money for the fair. Depending upon how far back we’re talking, wasn’t there a day designated for blacks to go — or am I confusing that with a World’s Fair way back in the day? In any case, feeling in something of a nostalgic mood, I treated myself to the Maryland State Fair today — agricultural exhibits, baking competitions, cotton candy, ferris wheel, haunted house, a pig race, the whole works. I hope you get a laugh out of my pictures. Let’s hear other memories of the annual county fair in Conyers.

Submitted by E.R. Shipp, September 4, 2017 to the Black Heritage of Rockdale County Facebook page

Comments:

Jean Sadler: Many moons ago some one promised to take me to a big fair. 46 years later I' m still waiting. I love the fair. Thats one place my Dad ALWAYS tooks us growing up.

Steve Camp: I remember some of the greatest excitement to me as a kid was while in elementary school at J.P. Carr, there was school day when they bussed us from school to the Fair at the American Legion. I think that was an afternoon set aside for the African-American kids, not sure. I remember at the conclusion of our stay one of the school staff, I think, would walk around sounding a hand-held siren to let us know it was time to get back on the busses. Also around that time, my mom's company Lithonia Lighting would have a day at the Southeastern fair at Lakewood. They served employees and their families BBQ. Those were some memorable times.