Monday, September 5, 2016

2016 Summer Fairs

Waukesha County Fair, July 22, 2016

This year's first fair was Waukesha County-the oldest fair in the state. The weather was sunny and 100 degrees!
Despite the heat, we enjoyed duck, pig, and goat races, wonderful Mediterranean food, and a lumber jack contest.
Unfortunately, my cell phone died, so regret I have only one picture.

 
Taking the Bull by the Horn
State Fair, August 5, 2016

This year's state fair was very crowded, mostly due to the absolutely perfect weather.
Friday Night ( never again!)


We saw all the traditional sights-cows, pigs, chicks, goats, loud bands, Wisconsin products, but the Clydesdale Draft Horse show was quite an impressive sight. These massive animals are impressive enough alone, but hitched together they are power and beauty x's 8.


Draft Horse Show

Mariah -fist place winner

 
 
Kenny Ahern has become a frequent fair act. He performs physical comedy-so he never says a word as he entertains with his balancing skills. He uses many audience members to create an interactive and engaging performance.



This years must have treat was the Old Fashioned Cake-a deep fried pound cake filled with maraschino cherry and brandy cream cheese and topped with orange glaze, orange cream bitters and a cherry.
What a way to celebrate summer!

Ozaukee County Fair, August 6, 2016

Today was another perfect weather day for a county fair-sunny and 80 degrees.

This is a nice family fair, especially because it is free admission.



1st Place Cake
The 4H exhibits really showcased some of the great talent of the young people in this area. We marveled at the perfection of the woodwork, baking and creative use of natural objects.
1st Place Wood Table

 
Natural scene using spoons and silverware


The young girls riding English style is our favorite activity to watch at this fair. We are always amazed how little girls can command these very large animals to jump!



A new activity at the fair this year was the water bubbles. Kids are zipped into the bubbles and try to "walk on water" as they are spun around in a wave pool. A fun activity-unless you are claustrophobic.



Kenosha County Fair, August 8, 2016

Today was blue and sunny and in the 90's.



Just like most fairs, there was pig races, kids showing lots of farm animals and horses.

Pig Races
Pongo

Getting the Goats ready to Show

 


The best of the fair competitions and 4H exhibits are always so interesting. This first place cake was made by a 14 year old girl. The use of glass globes for support was beautiful.

1st Place Cake (made by a young girl)

Of course, food is always one of the best things about the fair. We sampled both tempura and a meat ball bomber. Amazingly, we were too full for dessert!

Tempura (this fair is the only one we found it ate)







 





















Irish Fest, August 19, 2016


This year's Irish Fest was a bizarre carbon copy of last year's. The day started off blue, hot and sunny, but by early evening, as soon as we got to our car, a deluge of rain poured.
 
Men in Skirts
 
 
This year's Celtic World Showcase featured artists from Celtic nations around the world. Our favorite was DeBarra with Moya Brennan- a family of brothers who played traditional jigs and folk tunes.
 
 
 
 
The Celtic Fiddle Festival was a lively group that featured a Scotsman that had the crowd engaging in lots of toe tapping.
 
 
 
The Trinity Irish Dancers performed this year, but it was the little ones that were especially fun to watch. We loved the young boys with their high-energy step dancing.
 
 


 
 
 
Other fun things were the Leprechaun Village and the Human Statue-which is both interesting and creepy.
Fountain Pool
 
Human Statue
 
Leprechaun Village
 
 
The heat really made the fountain pool a treat for the young people, and refreshing to some of us older folks who caught the spray as we walked by.
 
Of course potatoes and corned beef items were plentiful. Lou tried the Reuben Cone, which was a soft pretzel cone filled with corned beef, sauerkraut, dressing and onions.
 
 
And for dessert, cherry, apple and cheese strudel.
 
This one wins my Best Fair Award!!


Walworth County Fair, September 2, 2016

This years fair was a comfortable 75 degrees. Much cooler than our usual fair weather-but blue and sunny. This fair had very nice animal barns as well as an assortment of animals that we haven't seen at other fairs.

Mini Horse
The miniature animals are always so cute, especially the mini horses.

Mini Donkey
 
Of course, poultry, cows, pigs and lots of beef cattle were everywhere-but this is Wisconsin!


Mary the Steer




This fair awards ribbons for best antiques. Our favorite was a WWII E6 Petty Officer Construction Battalion Navy uniform.

E6 Petty Officer Navy


The 4H exhibits just amaze. This tractor was made from cans and created by a young girl.



The Largest Pumpkin ribbon went to a 991 lb. pumpkin.



We also found some bizarre produce award winners as well.



We were so happy that our favorite ice cream vendor happened to be at the fair. We had been looking for him all summer. So naturally, we had to indulge.


Sheboygan County Fair, September 4, 2016

Today was our last county fair. As has been the pattern, the weather was warm and sunny. We have been so blessed.

Our favorite event is always the horse riding. Young girls perform drill-team like dances with their horses. The bling on the girls outfits and the horses make it such a pretty event to watch.





Although the horses are our favorites, we visit every animal barn. This strange little French Poulet was just begging for a photo.

Weird little chicken!
2nd place ( really long rabbit)


The arm wrestling always attracts a large crowd. This year we saw young men take down their opponents in seconds!


As usual, the food is so much of what makes a fair fun. We repeated last year with the walking taco and funnel cake. Although we did fit in a Riches House of Cake parfait-such because we had too!! Well, at least we split our food, which is probably the reason we didn't gain weight during this wonderful 2016 season.



So bad, but so good!
Wish I could say this is me!

 


Do I Look Fatter?









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