State Fair in review - Third Visit
Last night was THE State Fair visit. This was the time I went with a group to specifically see the whole shebang, ride rides and eat like a madman. And to top it off, it was the perfect day for it. What was even better is the whole day was sweetened by my discovery of 24 tickets I had from last year. Sweeeeet!
We get there around three with my sweet a$$ parking pass taking us up to Music Hall. As we stroll in, the first destination of course is the ticket stand. And my traditional stop after that is the Fletchers stand over by the Old Mill Inn. While I wasn’t particularly in the mood for one, there’s no denying the power of the Fair and I had to succumb to the aromatic friedness that is the corny dog. Seven tickets (3.50) later, I was in Fair Park mode and looking forward to the day.
After, we headed to the Marilyn Monroe exhibit which was my second time in. I wrote about it in my second visit posting but this time was a little nicer. It may have been the lack of crowds or just seeing it with new eyes. But this time we passed through the auto building (my least favorite part but shhh). If you do go through, you can go rock climbing, play some racing video game or my favorite, the pit stop challenge where you are timed to remove and replace a racecar tire. Man, I love the whirrrr of those wrenches. Plus, these are FREE!
We did go to the DAR building, which I wrote about also, but this time we went in. I really don’t like that kind of Americana stuff but I was tempted to buy their $1 sodas. It may have been a can, but it was still less than the average drink of six tickets (3.00). But I had no cash.
At the Food and Fiber building you can get milk or juice for two bucks while visiting with Elsie and the sweetest calf ever, Beau. He’s the most beautiful and gentle thing I have ever seen. Don’t forget the biscuit samples either! And thats’ where you can also purchase soda and water with cash.
The petting zoo is incredible. Some really great animals in there but I feel so bad for the giraffe. That animal does NOT want to be there. But most of the others are quite willing to come up to you should you have feed in your hands. This place is even fun if you don’t have kids and the feed is only a buck and can go a long way. Just use the shovels to feed and not your hands! The kid shaking his hand and grimacing was a true sign of that philosophy. For the record, I hate the ostrich. That thing is mean AND ugly. But the baby pigs are the sweetest thing to watch. Running around and tripping and headbutting is just too funny and delightful. I could’ve stayed there watching them forever. As we left, I saw the Owens sausage stand across the way. Awwwwww
We made it to the Midway and the rides began. We did the crazy rides that toss and turn you and make me scream personally. I got my butt kicked on what looked like a kiddie roller coaster but heck no. The Motor Mouse or something like that? My internal organs may be forever damaged after that ride. And then there were the bumpercars. I used to hate those things but nothing gets out your frustration more than that. Well, a workout at the gym too but I hadn’t seen mine in a while! In between we ate and drank all the bad stuff that shouldn’t precede a ride.
At twilight, make sure to check out the parade. It’s trite but it just makes the experience all the more fun. My food recommendation would be the tornado taters in the Midway toward the Extreme Rides. With spices, salt and ketchup, you get a lot of food for nine coupons. Delicious! And I must recommend the fried candy apple turnovers by the John Deere booth close to the coliseum. At ten tickets (5.00), it’s a little too much but OHHH so goood.
And if you really want to spend tickets on drinks, either get the root beer at four coupons from the barrel or the pizza place halfway through the midway and off to the side toward the haunted house. Four coupons as well and that’s all drinks!
I may have a couple of more visits in me. I’m missing the haunted house, dog show, bird show, the gardens, the card stacker, the acrobats and my fried Nutter Butters. Whew! Oh and this ride but before the nutter butters.
