Ahh County Fair, a time to walk around with friends and take a break from learning and everyone’s favorite reminder that we still have eight months left of school. But have you ever wondered about how far back this Parker tradition really goes?
The very first ever County Fair was 119 years ago towards the start of Parker history. So much has changed from then to now and even from 20 years ago. For instance Parker alum Casey Morris ‘97 remembers winning a goldfish and Senior Wieners. You could play a simple game to take home a live goldfish. “I remember taking one home in a Tupperware,” Morris said. For the sake of the goldfish, removing that game was probably a good idea.
There are many forgotten traditions including pony rides and selling notepads in second grade. “We had a little song. ‘Notepads, notepads, come and buy our notepads’” alumna Rebecca Rosfosky ‘86 said.
Some County Fair traditions that are beloved to current students, such as the First Grade students singing “Come to the Fair” were actually added more recently than you might think. In past years the whole school was led in the familiar MX song “Heigh Ho, Come to the Fair” by music teacher, Bart Wolgamot. “It was the signal that the County Fair had begun, and I feel very sentimental about those traditions,” alumna Sara Pochak ‘96 said.
Don’t worry though because not every tradition has changed. Kids in the 90s still went to the junior class’s Tearoom and ate cotton candy. “My senior year we had a cotton candy machine that was a mess, and we all ended up covered in cotton candy!” Rosofsky said. They even had County Fair t-shirts designed by students.
Alumni especially remember the fairs when they were finally old enough to walk around without their parents. “I don’t remember my parents ever being there. Ha! I was obviously having my own fun without them,” Pochak said.
Fairs throughout the years become moments in time, marked with themes, memories and t-shirts in attic boxes. Throughout the years County Fair has changed and grown but still remains one of Parker’s favorite traditions. Though perhaps a little strange for non-Parker students, it allows a day for everyone to run around like little kids and even the middle schoolers forget to be “too cool” for bouncy houses. Even if this isn’t your senior year, take everything in this County Fair because chances are you’ll miss it someday.
