When I visited the Great Frederick Fair this year, my jaw dropped at the sight. There before me was a fair identical to the one I saw last year. And one can assume the fair two years ago was equal to last year’s. The rides are still the same. The games are still rigged. The rows of vendors’ tents have not moved an inch. Don’t the same attractions, foods and businesses grow old? The answer is no. Hundreds of people are lured back to the fair each year. They know that there have been no dramatic changes, but they still come back. There must be a reason why the fair maintains its popularity.
As a young kid, I would have said the carnival attractions build the fair’s magnificent image. There are many scenes at the fair that capture the adventurous imaginations of a little kid. At night as the Ferris wheel illuminates with bright colorful lights, children stand captivated. The never-ending laughter of children stumbling through the House of Mirrors builds the fun, exciting atmosphere of the fair. Larger-than-life stuffed animals hanging from carnival tents stir the selfish desires of a child. I could say it is the nostalgic memories like these that bring everyone back to the fair year after year, but I would be wrong.
Adjacent to the attractions section of the fair is the long row of vendors. The older I become, the more I am baited into this section. While learning about local political candidates and businesses is available, I, personally, come to this section for the food. Seafood, barbeque, cheese steaks, turkey legs, funnel cake and deep-fried Oreos are only the beginning to this mouth-watering line of heaven. Being a teenage boy, thankfully, healthy foods are not my top priority. As for the adults at the fair, one could assume that many diets took a holiday. While the food is certainly a tempting reason to explain the Great Frederick Fair’s greatness, there is still another ingredient to the popularity of the fair.
The answer is a combination of several factors. While the nostalgic memories and delicious food are benefits of going to the fair, the reason is more complex. The key ingredient is the opportunity provided at the fair. Once a year, the fair offers an abnormal environment. Compared to the other 51 weeks of the year, Fair Week unites the Frederick County community. Each person goes for the same purpose. They come for an enjoyable time. They come not knowing what to expect, but expecting something unique. I went to the fair three times in just this one week. Each time was highlighted by a different experience or event. Fair-goers come back year after year so they can get a new taste in their mouths. They come hoping to receive something other than the daily grind from work or school. It’s an escape; something that will remain in their minds until next year’s fair comes.
