County Fair Nostalgia: Why These Cheap Mirrors Meant Everything to Us

The County Fair Was Everything in a Small Town

Growing up in a small rural town, most of summer was just a countdown to what really mattered, THE FAIR! For us, it came at the beginning of August, and for the years of the late 1980s, it was the highlight of my summer break.

Sure, agriculture was a big part of the county fair. I'm sure the 4-H kids looked forward to that time of year as much as I did, if for different reasons. They were showing animals, selling stuff, and talking rodeo.

There were also the fair concerts. At the time, in my little burg on the high plains, these were the biggest acts to come to town. I even saw The Jets! And a group called Whisky River.

READ MORE: Sioux Falls’ Record Heatwave: How Hot It Got in the Summer of 1988

From Tilt-a-Whirls to Teenage Crushes: Life at the Fair

The carnival at the fair was my focus, though. Yes, the rides were a big part of the excitement. Taking a ride on the Sizzler, Tilt-a-Wirl, or Gravatron was a great way to get to know that farmgirl from the other side of the county. Maybe our hands would even brush against each other.

But, for me, the most important part of the county fair, the reason the whole thing excited me, was the carnival midway games. Because that was the only place you could get the most coveted carnival prize ever: those little mirrors with band logos on them.

Whatever Happened to My Carnival Mirror?

I have no idea what happened to that mirror. I'm pretty sure it was a casualty of one move or another.

But I do hold out hope that it is in a box stashed in my parents' storage unit. In my fantasies, it was packed away with my Transformers and G.I. Joes and is just waiting to be rediscovred.

READ MORE: Forget Four – South Dakota Actually Has These 10 Seasons

Don't Forget the Fair Food

The other fair tradition we can't forget about is Fair Food. The stuff from a trailer that you eat standing up.