Enjoying the Franklin County Fair

Two weeks ago the rides were being packed up and vendors were tearing down their booths; The Franklin County Fair had come to it's 162nd conclusion. From the Demolition Derby to Kellie Pickler, the Ferris Wheel to Frenchy's Fried Dough, and the Cow Barn to the Horse Shows, this year's Franklin County Fair was, in my eyes, a success. While there were some ups and downs, here are 2 simple reasons why the Franklin County Fair is worth going to:

1. Season Passes -- Season passes to the Franklin County Fair were $40. The Fair was open for 8 days, which means that if you went every day, the cost was only $5 a day. This is phenomenal! Take into consideration that if you did in fact go every day, you got to see 4 concerts--some of which could cost you up to $100 for "Grandstand" seats. and you have got a deal. If the artists that were playing weren't your taste, however, for $5 a day you get to do some extensive window shopping, see art exhibits, watch horse shows, see what anyone watches Nascar for (Demo Derby), and learn about the area. That's all the free stuff. If you wanted to spend a little bit more, you could have gone on rides, played games, eaten some yummy food, actually bought stuff from window shopping, and even gotten your face painted. If you're in the area, a season pass is surely the way to go.
2. The Grandstand Entertainment -- Outside of The Demolition Derby, Tractor Pull, and Franklin County has Talent Show, this year brought in some pretty good entertainment. Whether you like the genre of music that was played or not, many people did. All Star Weekend had people drive in from Canada to see them. Rhonda Vincent had people in the crowd who have traveled the country watching her. Travis Tritt and Kellie Pickler are big names in the country world. And, for the most part, these artists were also gracious enough to come and meet their fans, take pictures with them, and even sing "Happy Birthday" to them in the middle of their show. Whether you paid the $15 for one show, bought a Season Pass, or paid extra for track seating, these shows, by themselves, are upwards of $100.

While I don't suggest going to the fair every single day, every single year, I do certainly suggest taking a few minutes and seeing what your county has to offer. After all, fairs were originally a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment (thanks, Wikipedia). The Franklin County Fair does just that. Just another thing to do while you are in Malone.

Fun Facts: Did you know that the Franklin County Fair has roughly 75,000 people attend every year? Considering the fact that the County itself is home to only 50,000 people, this is quite a feat. (400 cows makes the journey each year too)