The Lucas County Fair

Isn't this early for the fair? We went by it Sunday and sure looked like they were getting ready but wasn't it usually in August before?

Date moved up this year so the 4-H and FFA folks would be able to exhibit their animals at both the Lucas County and Ohio State Fairs.

It's moved up a little bit, but if it allows the kids to go to Ohio State Fair, its a good thing. I plan to go to the Wood County Fair in a couple weeks too.

Anymore, I go to fairs to see the animals. My days downing a gyro, elephant ear, and chili cheese fries...then riding any of the "vomit comet" novelties have come to an end (good news for me...and good news for the carnie clean up crews too).

Love the rides at Cedar Point, but since most "thrill rides" at a fair are designed to make you dizzy, eh...I skip 'em.

Which reminds me: if you haven't seen the video of the dad freaking out on a ride at Dollywood, enjoy!

I understand there were categories for beer making and wine making, along with the traditional pie making competition.

I will be making a trip to get some thick-cut beer battered onion rings. Will report back if I find some other greasy, indulgent delights.

The Lucas County Fair is a joke when compared to some of the neighboring counties. Maybe it's because Lucas is more city-folk than country. They also never bring in a top notch entertainer to draw a crowd. A lot of the other county fairs book national acts......we get the Danger Brothers and The Menus......oooooooooohhhh

Not true. I saw today on news that they're gonna have wrestling. lol

I've never been to the Lucas County Fair.

Grew up in Monroe County, and as a kid practically lived at the fairgrounds during fair week. I have taken my kids to the Monroe County Fair.

Perhaps we'll have to try hitting Lucas County this year?

It will be interesting to see the difference...I suspect hoops was onto something when he pointed out the difference between city-folk and country-folk.

Perhaps we'll have to try hitting Lucas County this year?

I guess you can go to try it...but I think you'll be underwhelmed (I went last year).

I always seem to have more fun @ Wood County or Henry County Fairs; maybe it's the atmosphere (i.e. closer to agricultural country)? Never been to Monroe County Fair, though...

oldhometown, that video was hilarious! Thanks for sharing!

I always seem to have more fun @ Wood County or Henry County Fairs; maybe it's the atmosphere (i.e. closer to agricultural country)? Never been to Monroe County Fair, though...

I love the Monroe County Fair, but admit to sentimental bias because of fond childhood memories. :)

I've heard that the Fulton County Fair is pretty good too. That's one that I'd like to try to attend eventually.

Does Lucas County normally conflict with Monroe County (always the first full week in August)? I'm thinking that may be why I've never tried Lucas County?

I feel like I should probably try the Lucas County Fair at least one time, considering that I've been a resident for 7 years now. :)

I'll probably stop out- but I prefer the Monroe County and the Lenawee County Fairs. My stomping grounds!

AMENDMENT: mom2, be prepared to be stared at by very angry looking faces with group thought,and violent natural tendencies.
And be ready to get out of their way or get mowed down.
Essentially, have your fight or flight human nature aspects primed and ready!
That,is what the Lucas County Fair, has sadly become.
I wouldn't go there at night on a bet !

I haven't bothered with the Lucas County fair in years. I'll stick with the Wood County fair like I have for years. Next year my daughter will be showing horses, so we'll be staying there all week like we used to when my brother and I showed horses many moons ago lol.

The Fulton county fair is one of the best around. prices are reasonable and the people are friendly.

Mixman - thanks - I'll be looking forward to your onion ring review.

The Fulton County fair is THE to visit. Out shines all others mentioned here.

www.woodcounty-fair.com gets best web site though. Fulton can do much better on theirs.

Agreed.

Been to both Wood and Fulton county fairs as a vendor years ago and I liked them both. Last time we were at Lucas CF, sadly, we had OHT's experience with the food and rides (as well as at CP, lol, we're old) and it's just not that much fun to go to any of them anymore. It's not the fair's fault that the only thing we can do is walk around and look at stuff, it's just the way it is, so we just dont think to go. Might be time to embrace the change and go for the stuff that doesn't make us puke, lol.

My spouse is highly skeptical of all rides except Ferris wheel, so that limits what we do. I think I need to see some grandstand entertainment: lawn mower races, demolition derby, tractor pulls. Fairs are always great for people-watching. And goats, alpacas, fancy chickens, etc.

I really like to take the extra time to drive up to the Hillsdale county fair.

http://www.hillsdalecountyfair.org/

it's one of the last ones of the year and I enjoy the cooler weather of late September. Puts me in mind of harvest time and what all. DEFINATELY a country fair and not citified.

^^^They have both types of music....country and western.

(apologies to "The Blues Brothers")

I went yesterday and the only vendor with onion rings on their sign said they didn't have any. I was disappointed to say the least. May venture back today for some fried cheese curds.

My spouse is highly skeptical of all rides except Ferris wheel

Your spouse is a very wise man. While it's certainly true that the vendor does not want the ride to fail, and most do not fail at a critical moment, these rides are not inspected by anyone except the owner on a regular basis. The more violent the ride, the more stress is placed on the parts, and eventually something is going to let loose. When that happens the ride generally just refuses to operate, but the occasional injury accident is not unheard of. You might note that when there is an injury accident, the owner of the ride may well be out of town with an hour or two.

Then there's the added attraction of someone's digestive tract having a critical failure at an inopportune moment. Think: Some genius of a soccer-dad has just scarfed down two generic tube steaks and a mystery meat burger alongside two or three pounds of sugar in various guises, and he's chased the entire business with a carbonated concoction of water, sugar, caffeine and colors not found in nature. If you're really, really fortunate this clown has had one to three beers along the way - just enough to get his bravery up.

So now it's time to take in the rides - oh boy! Typically he's brought the old Ball and Chain along to help wrangle the three snot noses, and the two oldest insist on riding the slingshot octopus, a ride that is referred to by carny workers as the vomitron. The youngest doesn't really want to ride the octopus, but because the older kids will tease him unmercifully and call him a real wuss if he doesn't, he must go as well. And because mom had more sense than to ride this contraption when she was five, and since she's gotten wiser with age, mom flatly refuses to ride the slingshot octopus with the youngest (which leaves the obvious question about just why any woman this bright would ever get married to some guy who pulls stunts like these, but I have no answer for that one). So, back at the ride...

Since mom flatly refuses to get into the bucket of this contraption, that just leaves good old beer belly dad, last survivor of the neighborhood rat pack and not afraid of anything, to ride in the car with the youngest.

Just what do you think is going to happen to the people in the next three cars behind dad and the youngest when the slingshot octopus lives up to its owner's billing? Here's a brutal fact of life: The operator does not stop the ride for projectile vomiting.

I've been going to carnivals, State and County fairs since I was old enough to lie about my age and tall enough to bring it off, and believe me some of that stuff is held together with baling wire and prayers. All of it is easy to clean, and there's a reason for that. I'll stick with the Ferris wheel, thanks.

As careful as the old boy might be about the rides, you have to be very careful about the food. If you get hungry and actually want a meal, find the tent where the vendors eat. They'll generally have picnic tables or someplace to sit down in the shade, and they'll serve regular meals instead of hot dogs, burgers and mystery meat. Kiosks or hot dog stands - eat at your own risk. Most are okay, some are good and a few will make you sick.

Have fun!