. . . is a great state fair! Don't miss it, don't even be late!"
Yep, that's right! This weekend was spent at the world-famous, too good to be true, Iowa State Fair.
Now folks, you've got to understand, that everything I knew about Iowa (before I moved to our wonderful state), I learned from musicals. Ah, musicals!
They're in my blood. I can't help it. I grew up in a house where we believed that there truly is a song for every situation. And even if there isn't, we'll sing something anyway. My dad was in musicals all through high school, and he still graces the stage on occasion for the seasonal church drama or Christmas cantata, and I was in every production that my high school produced from my sophamore year on! They make me happy.
But I digress. The point of this post was to tell you all about the state fair. And Iowa. Most people don't realize or don't remember that two very famous musicals are set in Iowa, and give a little bit of insight into Iowa, and Iowa State Fair, life. For example, this number from The Music Man (one of my all time favorites):
(This song is the first 2 minutes and 28 seconds of this clip)
Lyrics - Iowa Stubborn lyrics
This is one instance where the musical got it pretty spot on. My very Iowan husband even agrees, and my father sings this song to him (us) every time we are there. Austin has even begun to learn the lyrics enough to sing along for parts :)
State Fair was my very first musical, so when I moved to Iowa I was very excited to experience, live and in person, the actual, honest-to-goodness Iowa State Fair, and this year it actually happened! And boy did we experience the state fair!
We got up bright and early on Saturday morning, and went over Craig's (Austin's boss and our good friend) house. Craig is a Harley guy, and he let us borrow his beautiful Dyna to ride to Des Moines with him and his brother Merle and sister-in-law Heidi. Craig's family gets a camping spot every year, and we had planned to camp with them on Saturday night.
We got to the fairgrounds around 10:00, dropped our stuff off at the camper, and went straight to breakfast (because the fair is mostly about eating, let's be serious now people) here:
We walked and walked and walked for HOURS!!! It was wonderful! We ate tons of great food, enjoyed all of the free samples, saw all of the prize winning vegetables and fruits, the butter cow, the butter Shawn Johnson (I'm not sure if it's actually a compliment to be immortalized in butter, but . . . whatever), and although the crowds did not simultaneously burst into perfectly harmonized song and beautifully choreographed dance like they do here:
We did see this:
A wonderfully talented one-man band!
And the most massive bull:
And hog:
And wasps (ew):
A good time was had by all (except for the wasp, who absolutely was harmed in the making of this post, and better him than me)!
The fair definitely lived up to my expectations, and I bet it becomes an annual tradition :)
Thanks for reading everybody!
First time for me to your blog. I found you through Nichole AKA my name twin. I love everything about your blog. Your attitude, your musical interest, your layout. It says happy and fun girl. Well, not so much the wasp but I bet you're a happy girl knowing he can't harm you now.;)Wink. I hope to read more from you soon.
ReplyDeleteMmm...I love me some fair food!! Our fair happens in September...I'm sure I'll post on it too. :)
ReplyDeleteps Hottie is right. Your husband is adorable!!
Katy Lin,
ReplyDeleteThat looks like such a good time. I wish I could say that our Fair was as much fun! :) I LOVE MUSICALS TOO!
How fun!! You're the fourth blogger I've read that's gone to the fair. *big sigh* We don't have one anyone around here and now I REALLY want a funnel cake.
ReplyDeleteThat has got to be the biggest bull I've ever seen!... unless it's just the people in the background that look like ants :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like fun times to me! We went to the fair here once with all of the kids. It wasn't so spectacular that we'll go back. I wouldn't mind, just to see everything new, but the fam didn't think it was that great. lol
ReplyDeleteThe fair looked like so much fun! And my family is a very "musical" family too. Seriously, we sit around often and sing all kinds of songs. My Grandparents fell in love while performing in Carousel together - very romantic. State Fair is a great musical too. We might have a state fair here, but even if there were, it would just be too hot to go!
ReplyDeleteThis was one of the funnest posts to read! Sing on!
ReplyDeleteMy brother and sister-in-law (who live in Waukee) keep wanting us to come for State Fair. I think our 3 year old would love it. Also, I love that Super Bull is from my favorite Iowa town... WHAT CHEER! I love that name for a town... never visited there, but drove past the sign quite often on trips from IC to DSM.
ReplyDeleteI lurve musicals, too! But can you believe I've never seen State Fair? I have been known to break into "Oklahoma!" And even though it hasn't been made into a movie, I have "Les Miserables" memorized. The whole thing.
ReplyDeleteBack to the fair...it looks like you had such a good time! Sorry about the wasp. : )
I'm glad you had a blast at the fair! I had no idea a couple of musicals were set in Iowa.
ReplyDeleteA butter Shawn Johnson. That's hilarious. I saw something about that on TV. hehe
Thanks for visiting me on my SITS day Monday.
How fun. By the way, I LOVE musicals too! There really is a song for everything, I think. I was able to see Wicked this year, and I can't wait to go to another one.
ReplyDeleteYeah... we sing songs for every situation, too. Stupid me for teaching that to my wee ones, is all I'll say! ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd the butter cow and Shawn Johnson? Hmm... apparently Minnesotans aren't the only ones to carve things in butter at the fair. Of course Princess Kay of the Milky Way may be prettier!