America Goes to the Fair: All about State and County Fairs in the United States

By: Lila Perl

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Synopsis: Commercial fairs come in all sizes-- county, state, and international--and they are as popular today as ever. How did they come to be? What goes on at them? Why do they continue to appeal to young people? This lively report on the modern fair answers these questions and many others. The opening chapters relate the change from the European market fair, like the one at Nizhni Novgorod in Russia, to the competitive showcase that developed in the United States. Following chapters take up the various activities that fairs engage in: agricultural events, household arts, youth and vocational programs, entertainment, and special exhibits in such fields as science and transportation. Specific examples from the over 3200 fairs that take place each year illustrate each category, and major fairs all over the country are included. Not surprisingly, the largest one is the State Fair of Texas, held outside of Dallas. All this wide-ranging information is gathered together in a smoothly knit narrative by a knowledgeable author, who has participated in a number of fairs herself.