Friday, June 15, 2007

Fairs and Carnivals?

I don't know about you, but I used to love all the fairs and carnivals that took place in our area when we were young.

Why is it so hard to find them now? Is it just where I'm at or have they lost their popularity?

In Florida, there was nothing. Here in Virginia, there are a few, but it just doesn't have the same feel. Maybe I'm just being nostalgic.

Is there still a Firefighter's Carnival on Race Street? I miss the food at the St. Lawrence festival. I'd kill for a good halupki or pierogie this summer.

I think I need to plan my next visit home to coincide with anything that still goes on around town. If there's anything left...

17 comments:

mj jones said...

we always go to the Schnecksville fair, its next week and its $7 a person which includes parking and all the rides so its worth while. Plus the kids like the animal's and its better than Allentown. I beleive the Cement fair still goes on and my mom just told me they are having a carnival at the N. Catty playground this year. I am sure Kristen will have the scoop on that. One fair a season is enough for me, now that Austin is older he's not so into it so enjoy it while you have 2 young ones.

kristen said...

this past year, the middle school had a carnival in the old student parking lot behind the football field concession stand...they had a good turn out, food, games, rides but it was very cramped...right now until the 17th there is a carnival at the North Catty Playground, part of their 100 year celebration...Jake was there last night and i think we are taking the kids tonight..trisha was dying to go on the rides on tues when we were there but they werent operating yet. they havent had the firemans carnival in quite some time, but the st lawrence festival (i dont know the dates for that)is still going strong as well as the hokey carnival (that is always around 6/1)...when i see any info on st. lawrence, i will let you know

kristen said...

yes, mj, i think the cement belt fair is around the 25th of this month, something like this...i didnt think of schnecksville since we dont go there, but there is also the kempton fair, and muhlenberg hospital fair if that still goes on, i cant remember...

mj jones said...

remember going to the Firemans carnival and sitting out front on the wall, wearing those cheesy necklaces w/ our boyfriends names on them? Your boyfriends name was Brad I think.....

kristen said...

yea, i remember..what ever happened to Brad?...and yours i think was Russell something...do you still keep in touch?

lw said...

Hello all-
Also, this weekend is the Lehigh River Blues Jam, held at the Catty Park. We took the kids last year and had good time, its "byo" too!
Schneckvsille Fair is our "one" fair of the year also.
Catty is a happening place this weekend.

kristen said...

just home from the N. Catty Carnival...if anyone goes, I recommend Geakers Fried Tacos, Funnel Cakes...and they have about 20 different kinds of smoothies which i did not have, but jake and his friends did & they were good...I would've gotten the Dirty Banana (choc & banana flavor) but Brad says I can get that for free!

kristen said...

of course i talk about the food first...i almost forgot the 2nd best part...trisha & I went on the ferris wheel and one of those large slides with the burlap blankets...i think i was more scared then she was!

Carol (Schleicher) Good said...

You guys are bringing back memories. We used to love going to the Fireman's Carnival. Used to love going on the swings, but looking back now they probably were not too safe. I remember they had a penny candy stand and we would get a whole bunch of the licorice strings. Does anyone else remember the store that sold penny candy near the North Catty playground? We used to go there all the time and they would put your candy in a small brown paper bag. Oh, the good old days.

mugs said...

Nazareth has a decent carnival remeniscent to Catty's and have fireworks. I think it is also around the 2rd to 26th at the playground.
I enjoy taking my daughter to see her reactions, as we once did. As long as she doesn't try and swallow a goldfish.
The look of any of our parents faces when we came home with the coveted Roach clip with feather was priceless.
They still use the crooked BB gun sites, different weighted darts, but hell, I don't mind wasting a few bucks for my daughters enjoyment and even mine.

Vicky said...

There's very little about the U.S. that I miss, but summer carnivals is definitely one of them!

No one here ever heard of a pierogi. My friend Michelle who is from Wilkes-Barre and lives down the road with her English husband makes them for me from time to time. I return the favor by making Italian hoagies for her. The other day John came home from work and asked me what a pierogi was. Turns out he works with a Polish guy and they started talking about food and pierogies came up. I bet I could make a fortune over here if I opened up a funnel cake/hoagie/pierogi food stand.

Mcgon said...

Vicki,
Turns out we all know a Polish guy. He can't make funnel cake,hoagie,or pierogi! Anyone guess who?? He is from our class?

kristen said...

well, let's see...polish guy? polish guy? piotrowski?

Mare said...

Carol - wasn't that store called Heiney's? I remember getting that little styrofoam flying saucer candy. Why? They didn't really taste like anything.

kristen said...

yes, mare, it was Haney's...we talked some about that in an older post...But, my kids love the saucers, as did I and still do...we sell them at the baseball concession stand and I've been buying them in bulk at Valley Farm Market...i split them into 3 bags so they each get an equal amount, and Lucas is the only one who takes his time with them...he can have them for days and the other 2 eat them practically all at once, just like I would!

Unknown said...

Rock, get a job already !!! The Pollocks invented the carnival !
The old Fireman's carnival brings back alot of memories. I wonder how much money I lost at the wheel?
Schecksville Fair is a good one. I think this is the only one we go to anymore. My wife's brother does the fireworks, so we always get a good location to watch them.

Carol (Schleicher) Good said...

Mare and Kristen, I do remember those styrofom saucers. More memories are flying back. I used to love those also. Were you really supposed to eat the outside? They didn't taste like much but they were fun to eat. I can't believe they still make them!