Twelve Days of the State Fair Whiz By in a Blur of Lights, Action and Cameras

Another Labor Day, another State Fair wrapping up. For those of us out here every day, it’s hard to believe it’s already over. On the other hand, as Peg restaurant owner Tim Carlson told me a few days ago, “We’re always glad to see the fair come, and we’re always glad to see the fair go.”

The 2007 rendition will be remembered for the Aug 11 storm that blew off the chunk of the Grandstand roof, along with parts of Ye Old Mill and dozens of other fair buildings. More than 200 trees were damages, too. But less than two weeks later the damage was largely repaired and most fairgoers didn’t even notice.

Fair 2007 was interrupted, for public affairs watchers, by news of the arrest of Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho earlier this summer at our airport. Even some reporters covering the fair got involved in that story.

Also 2007 was the year the fire hydrant won the Battle of Bull Run. Ladies in the nearby coffee stand who saw the whole sad affair — a 1,600 pound bull escaping its owners, running free for a block before head-butting a red fire hyrdrant, then dying in the street — said next year, they’re going to leave their red aprons at home and wear blue ones.

This was the year Joan Jett canceled her grandstand appearance, for a better gig. And I do so love rock and roll.

Spam curds and deep-fried fruit were the not new foods. And it was the first year without Gale Frost, the long-time fair museum curator, who died this summer at age 94.

Most of all, though, this fair will be remembered for its healing powers.

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The tragic 35W bridge collapse on Aug. 1 and the southeastern Minnesota floods later in the month brought more  sadness and angst that we’ve seen here in a while. Many commented that the fair came just in time, giving us a chance to get out amidst our neighbors and fellow Minnesotans, and have some fun. Eat, walk, play, eat some more. And for a while, at least, forget about the big problems, and worry only about what to eat next, or whether you might win the giant gorilla if you just try, one more time, to break a plate with your fastball.

The theme of the State Fair as a respite from the bigger problems of the world, offering a chance for a collective sigh of relief, is often stressed by Jerry Hammer, the fair’s executive vice president. He said he’s heard that said often in his more than 30 years with the fair, and rarely did it resonate as much as this year.

Let’s hope that next year we don’t have as money troubles to forget.

You can find all my postings from the 12 days of the fair — dozens of them, many mildly interesting and informative — when you click here.Thanks for your support.