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.

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'.

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.

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' .

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.

 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.

 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:"

 As a kid loving the late summer sun-baked spending of family time on food, music, rides, farm animals, games .

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.

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.

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.

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.