This chocolate cake is part of the York Fair mural on the side of York's East Market Street Parking garage.
Even when the York Fair is closed, a wide Mural of York reminds the public of this York County rite of late summer.
But the condition of the mural also sends off other reminders - suggestions about the state of York County agriculture.
Read more at York Town Square blog post: This York Fair mural is fading from sight.
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Junior curator Alyssa Zevallos, 17, of Hanover makes cotton candy during the unveiling of a York Fair history exhibit at the York County Heritage Trust.
The York Fair is over, but it lives on in an exhibit at the York County Heritage Trust.
Read more at York Town Square blog post: Young curators product York Fair exhibit: 'A Fair of Our Own'.
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Alt-rockers Seether and Breaking Benjamin took over the York Fair Grandstand Wednesday night. It was the first time at this year's fair that I saw a huge line at the gates prior to a concert. Fans had been hanging out for hours just waiting to stake out a spot right next to the stage.
]]> I cautiously made my way down to the track to stand in the sea of teenage and 20-something fans. I got jostled, squished, elbowed and my feet got trampled, but that's hard-rock for you. Even though the music wasn't particularly my cup of tea, it was fun to see the crowd so into the show.One of the best moments was when people took out lighters -- not cell phones -- and raised them during Seether's acoustic version of "Broken." Fans seemed to know all the words to every song in both sets, which seemed to being the huge crowd together.
One of the worst parts of the show was that people were using those same lighters to spark up cigarette after cigarette. There were so many people smoking in the crowd that, even though the concert was outside, I came home smelling like I'd been in a bar all night.
Other than that, the crowd was pretty well behaved. Breaking Benjamin frontman Ben Burnely behaved himself for the first few songs, but then he let a few "f" bombs fly, which apparently is not allowed at the grandstand. When it comes to rock 'n' roll, rules are made to be broken.
]]>Last York Fair, I experienced my first Bury's Famous Hamburger.
This year, I gobbled my second and third.
But despite my best efforts, I could not get those at either fair stand serving the burgers to reveal the secret of that red sauce.
Not that I don't have it from another source.
Read more at York Town Square blog post: Bury's Burgers secret sauce: 'You won't get that recipe' .
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He said:
These pre-World War II York Fair days were chockfull of patriotism. But not all was well at the fair.
The previous All's Fair post, York Fair important to black community's past, tells how this annual rite of September was a meaningful and memorable event for York's black community.
But not all parts of the York Fair spoke well of the views of fair organizers or those in power about the black community, as related by the York Town Square blog post: Good old days were at least old.
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Texas rockers ZZ Top hit the York Fair Grandstand Tuesday night. No warm-up act necessary. They played their hits including "Cheap Sunglasses," "Legs," "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Gimme All Your Lovin'."
Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill sported black, sparkly ensembles and played white guitars. One of my favorite parts of the show was when Gibbons swapped out for a gold guitar and then one that was white and furry.
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The huge crowd was really into the show and helped the band sing all the hits. ZZ Top might be a little old, but they cetainly showed that they still have all the right moves and grooves. The multi-colored lighting and smoke machine added to the over-the-top-on-purpose vibe of the show. It was nice to be at a show where the band and fans weren't pretentious at all for a change.
Check out some more photos in case you missed the show:
I grew up in Allentown and went to the Allentown Fair for the first twenty years of my life and over the past twenty years as a Yorker I have attended the York Fair. Following are some memories over 40 years of "the Fair:"
People watching ... seeing and being seen ... and lots of laughing.
Sheep, cows, pigs, chickens, pumpkins, pies, cakes and the amazing people who raise them, grow them and make them.
One of my first jobs, working the Orange Julius stand and realizing that making money could be fun.
Feeling like a million bucks walking around with my date (teenager) and then my wife (the same person).
First time eating steamed clams, waffles and ice cream, gooey bananas a la Rotary, bloomin onions and baked potatos as a snack - priceless.
Going through the gates with the towering letters of YORK FAIR feeling pride in my hometown.
Outdoor worship.
Loving the Carousel and the Ferris Wheel especially as the sun goes down looking down into the City, and always feeling like a kid.
Concerts over the decades from the Rascals, the Grass Roots and Creedence Clearwater to Foreigner.
Window shopping for a hot tub for years, buying sun glasses, wallets, wooden signs carved while we waited, and "On the spot portraits" of my wife and me ... framed and on the wall at home.
As a Dad loving the late summer sun-baked spending of family time on food, music, rides, farm animals, games .
Hats off to all of the people who make the Fair a magical place for people of all ages.
The duo also canceled their next two shows in Pittsburgh and Chicago. Check www.ydr.inyork.com for more details.
This photo of the York Fair appeared in the souvenir calendar 'Sighting the Sites,' issued as part of York's 250th anniversary in 1991.
The York Fair was cited in 1991 as a York County location that throughout history has been meaningful in the lives of York's black families.
"The York Fairgrounds is certainly one of the few locations having always had its facilities open to a total community," the calendar states.
For other sites important to the black community, see the post Black history on display throughout York County on York Town Square blog.
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For years, the Shady Dell stand was a fixture at the York Fair.
The York Fair has long been a place for York County icons to display their wares and sell their food. Brown's Orchards, Bury's Burgers and Bricker's Fries would be on a short list of many.
And how about the Shady Dell? Well, a new Web site will bring back memories of that south York teen hangout run by the Ettline family. Read more at York Town Square blog: 'Dell rat' blogs about southside York hangout where owners put out welcome mat.
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York Fair festivities covered York's Centre Square, now Continental Square, in the 1700s. Lewis Miller shows the revelers in this drawing, courtesy of York County Heritage Trust.
Nowadays, people get married with some frquency at the York Fair. That tradition goes back to the fair's earliest years.
Read more at York Town Square blog: York Fair produces affairs to remember.
]]>Lots of people help out in parking all week. Keep looking for us at Shelly Park.
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