I’ve mentioned before on a previous post that my relationship with my home state and culture has always been a big ordeal where I distanced myself from “Southern” traditions, but accepted other things about where I grew up. Perhaps it’s because I have northern relatives who joke that I talk slower or comment when I hold my vowels, or the television shows I watched where the southern character was the idiot, but I’ve always been weary of embracing my southern roots. When I was younger, I equated southern dialects with “uneducated” and tried to be the exact opposite of that, but now that I’m getting older and realizing I’ll probably never move away from North Carolina, I’ve stopped rejecting the culture of my home and realized that dialects are interesting and insightful–not markers of “stupid” or “stupid-er” and that education doesn’t necessarily mean/achieve what I thought it did.
This weekend I was able to enjoy some southern company by going to the county fair and a local car show. I’m sure other states have these events, but because I always tried to keep southern things at a distance, I rarely went to county fairs and stuff like that, so I figured I’d share some pictures of a fun weekend in “North Cackalacky”.
The first stop at any county fair is going to the petting zoo. All of the animals at this fair are being raised by local farmers and are very well cared for. (I forgot my DSLR, so all of these are iPhone pics–sorry for the bad quality!)
These goats had me giggling because they would move their heads in unison. Lucky for me, they liked being touched. I’m not naive enough to think those horns couldn’t do damage!
Hello there.
So cute.
A blue-eyed pony that so sweetly posed for this picture..
A pig with her piglets that at first had me reminiscing about the movie Babe…that is until I saw the momma pig go the bathroom on one of her baby pigs. I was pretty grossed out after that. Enough farm animals for me!
We made our way down through the lanes, which were pretty much 60% food stalls and then 20% games and 20% rides.
If you look closely enough, there are PlayBoy bunny pillows that a lucky dart thrower can win in the game on the left. Keeping it klassy at the fair ;).
Eventually my sister and I decided to try our skill and luck at a watergun game.
I spotted the big red fish and decided Lola needed it in her life.
My sister thought she was going to win. Silly girl. I was determined! And that fish is now Lola’s 🙂
After all of that we decided to try the southern delicacy of a fried Snicker’s bar. It kind of was as gross as it sounds. We had heard good things, but eh… way too sweet in our opinions.
My sis, her husband, and I then went to the main event: the demolition derby.
I hope that most of you have heard about what a demolition derby is. You feel silly watching it, and yet you can’t take your eyes away. I provided a shaky video for you all who have never seen one.
After a night of watching a bunch of junk cars beat each other up, I took Lola out to view much nicer cars at my family business’ car show/open house.
Me and Lola in front of my grandfather’s ’31 Cadillac
It ended up being a really fun weekend out in my community, and I feel much better embracing the various aspects of my life and community than limiting myself in what I can and cannot experience.
What did you do over the weekend? Do you have any local/cultural events that you go to every year or have started going to in a new location?
It looks like it was a blast! I love fairs, though I haven’t been to one since I was a little girl. My go-to fair food was always funnel cake. Still is, in fact. Fried snickers bars were always too cloying. =)
charmingpumpkin.blogspot.com
I definitely think the funnel cake would have been a better choice!
Oh, Rebecca ….
I was raised in NJ. And I spent a good deal of my life – into my mid-30s – wanting nothing more than to get outta there and to live in a small town. And you know what happened when that finally manifested itself in my life? I HATED IT. I hated no streetlights and no mail delivery, you had to go to the post office to pick it up, and no 24 hour stores, and no bustling people all around you all the time … and I especially hated being out of NJ! Imagine that!!! Along the way I found out that I do like the South … but NJ is home. NJ is my soul. NJ is me. Three years ago, I moved somewhere that I thought was the South, for $ reasons. It isn’t, I’ve hated every minute of it, pratically, I’m trying to get out, I want to get back to NJ, I don’t know how I’m going to do that.
I’m rambling … I guess what I wanted to say, is this: if you know where you belong, and you’re actually in the geographical location where you belong – love every dammed minute you’re around it, Rebecca – ok, maybe not with peeing pigs 😉 but I think you get my drift!
Thanks for such a heart-felt response! It’s interesting how much we connect to our geographical surroundings. I absolutely loved living in the mountains. Lucky for me, it’s only an hour and a half away for me! I hope you get to go back to NJ one day<3
This looks like great fun! 😀 I love the food at fairs – some of the grossest and most calorie filled things can sometimes be yummy 😛
definitely!
I went to my first Demolition Derby weekend before last in Cleveland, TN. I agree, it is mesmerizing! I still can’t believe how much your Lola looks like my Peanut. Has she stopped being destruct-o-dog yet?
I’ve managed to find a few toys that she actually can’t destroy! I was very happy! 🙂
LOL. I love your fair pictures, Rebecca! I have southern roots too…and even lived in North Carolina when I was in grad school. I went to the state fair there, and had a blast! I love all things cheesy and kitschy and I think the key to being happy is to give in and have fun…and not worry about what other people think. 🙂 I’ve forced many of my friends to do things they would never have been caught dead doing. lol. 🙂 Case in point: Medieval Times.
Thanks Amber! I love stuff like that too:)! The Renaissance Festival is in town right now, and I can’t wait to go
I live in the north of Sweden and people from the more southern parts always make jokes about our culture and dialect. The capital, Stockholm, is the worst. They honestly believe we don’t even have electricity up here. And that we instead of driving cars are riding reindeers to work and school.
I have always been proud of were I come from and I’m glad that you are too! 🙂 Always fun readning your posts. Thank you!
Oh wow! That so sounds like here. They talk about how people only hunt and are uncultured and such. Thanks for commenting<3
You and Lola look ADORABLE!
Thanks Benita!