Going to do some traveling this summer.

At the end of the last college semester several months ago, I determined that I wasn’t going to simply spend the summer months just doing my job. The semester itself was rather taxing, and I wanted to get away and do something, or go somewhere worthwhile. To that end, I decided that I would spend the summer touring county fairs and festivals throughout the state of Ohio and write about them.

I have always had a connection to the Ohio Fairs. My mother once told me that my first fair happened when I was just a month or so old. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t attend, or be involved in the county fair. In Hardin County a large county fair is held each year, running the week of Labor Day. It can create a bit of havoc with the schools as kids are just in class a few weeks before they are off for the whole fair week. But the alternative, of course, would be that many of the students would be out the entire week anyway, so for years, many of the county schools would simply take the week off to allow the kids to participate.

My brother trying, and failing, to win a cane at the Hardin County Fair

When I was younger, my parents encouraged us (my brother, sister, and I) to participate in the fair, from the potato decorating contest, to the flower show, and the style show as well as a sheep lead contest (for those of you not familiar, this is a contest where younger kids dress in costumes and show a lamb, also dressed in a costume). My mother told me recently that we did all these things so that we would have something to do while at the fair. (And also to make us physically walk around the fairgrounds)

Even today, the sheep lead contest is quite popular at the Hardin County Fair

This was quite an impression on a kid, as you can imagine. Later, of course, I would look up to the Jr. Fair board kids, wanting to be that myself one day, and then, of course, when I was older, getting the opportunity to do so. Even today, I still find things to do and participate in at the fair.

Dad & I driving draft horses at the Hardin County Fair (Dad always puts on a good show)

Ohio has a rich history of fairs and festivals. Each community has a large gathering that defines it. From the Circleville Pumpkin Fest, to the Tree Town Fest in Forest, to the Utica Ice Cream Fest to each county fair held each year, and the Ohio State Fair, Ohio has a tradition of festivities. What I will attempt to do, with this blog is offer you some insight into a different fair or festival each week.

However, this blog won’t be comprehensive. I have a full time job that takes up the majority of my time during the week, so on the weekends and if I get any time off this summer I will be touring as many fairs and festivals as I can. However, I realize that I will not be able to get to see everything.

I have a list of county fairs from the Ohio Agriculture Society which can be found here. So it’s a good starting point. I am also aware of a number of different fairs and festivals in my area but I would like some help.

If anyone reading this knows of a fair or festival in their area that they would like to see highlighted, let me know, and I will attempt to cover it. Additionally, if anyone would like to write for this blog this summer, I would be more than happy and willing to oblige. Just drop me a line at aflinn26@gmail.com and we’ll see if we can make it work. I can’t pay anyone, so if you were to write, it would for fun. Full credit will be given to any writer who is published on this blog (which might be a good way to showcase your journalism skills. Just a thought)

I don’t know how this will work, or even if it will work, but I am willing to give it a try and see what I can find. I have always been fond of the local fair or festival and I am looking forward to this summer and looking forward to seeing what Ohio has to offer.

And if you are interested in reading my blog on Ohio Fairs and Festivals, visit it at http://ohiofairsandfestivals.blogspot.com/