The state fair opens tomorrow

Dang! Why didn't we already think of that. Maybe I need to reconsider my vote.

:jester:

 

The fair is just not the same with the Little Tater House gone!

My favorite place to get french fries was at the Little Tater House.

It's been gone for at least 2 years now.

My uncle and his partner started it many years ago when I was a kid. My cousin and I used to help peel the potatoes and cut them up into fries. I was always amazed to watch a potato peeler in operation. They soon quit peeling them and just fried them with the skins on.

The booth was located just across the eat-in joints that the churches and other organizations ran. Choplins hot dog stand was a few booths down.

I never ate french fries with vinegar on them except at the fair.

Dennis Rogers, the N&O columnist, was a big fan of the Little Tater House and would often write about it in his columns this time of the year.

- - - - - - - -

Days gone by

I remember when Wake Forest used to let school out for us kids to go to the fair. There was no such thing as a teacher's work day.

My folks would give me $20 to spend on everything - tickets, food, rides, etc.

The wildest ride at the fair was the Wild Mouse roller coaster. Tame by today's standards.

Everyone used to meet by the Water Falls - the original location up near Gate 11.

The Hell Drivers were a big attraction back then.

As kids my cousin and I would always make a point to walk by the Hootchie Kootchie show while they were "advertising" for the next show. I never did attend one of those once I got old enough to go in.

 

Oh, I remember the Little Tater House. Why did they stop doing it Kent, got too old to keep at it?

 

My uncle sold out to his partner after a few years and he and his family did it so long, I guess they just got tired of all the work involved and having to take vacation away from their regular jobs to work at the fair.

That's my guess.

 

They are if I'm correct in either building two or one..I want to say one..sometime it changes each year. I won't be going till the last Saturday.
It's the same buildings they use for the flea market which they are also apart of. They will be working 12 to 13 hour days for the whole fair. It's the Sunglass booth. I'm sure they would think it was funny if you stop by and go I know Sheri from 40/42 lol.

 

I have been every year since I moved here in 1989. Going Sunday after church.

 

We went on Thursday at 3:30 and stayed to 9:30. Best Fair experience as an adult with kids that I have ever had and I went by myself with my 2 kids. There was hardly no one there, no crowds or lines for rides or hushpuppies . Will go again next year if they do that again. Maybe shouldn't be telling you all so the secret doesn't get out and then the crowds will return. ;-)

 

Al's Fries are also good

 

Always get Al's Fries.... then I get a fried Bologna sandwhich from a booth on the corner near Al's.... and lastly I get Fried Dill Pickles! LOVE THEM ALL

 

We're going today. Let's see....on my list is the corn-on-the-cob dripping in butter, funnel cake, sausage and peppers, and cotton candy (hey..the one time of the year I can still act like a kid!) I'm not into the fried oreos, twinkies etc. But any tips on good eats would be appreciated. Oh, and I'm not gonna stop by the church restaurant for some lemon pie, chocolate pie, pecan pie (jk-that tape with the man calling out all the pies they have is a big laugh for us every year!)

 

Anyone take there children to see the Walking With Dinosaurs , The Live Experience? I want to take mine , Its expensive but looks great ..My 9 yr old loves dinosaurs ...

 

You're gonna hate me for this...my hubby was offered 4 free tickets yesterday for this show. He's going out of town this weekend, and I forgot to ask him what he decided to do with them. I know my oldest would like it, but the younger ones would be scared. He was thinking about offering them to a friend and asking him to take our son, not sure what he decided. (he always gets free tickets to everything, but never anything I want to go to!)

 

We did the fair yesterday. I don't know, it just doesn't seem as much fun as it used to. I will say, the food prices seem to have gone down a little, which was nice. My hubby was very upset 2 years ago (our last visit) at the sausage/peppers/onions, but said it was much better yesterday. My funnel cake was excellent, but grandma had fried dough and didn't like it (she is hard to please though!). Kids had cotton candy, can't mess that up and we had dogs/burgers/fries that were all good. Bought discounted ride tickets beforehand, good thing, I had bought 2 sheets, and the kids only got to ride I think 3 rides each! The rides were all 3 or 4 tickets each, and with 3 kids, that goes fast! Played some games, I hate them, never win anything. My son did play the "I'll guess your birth month" and won a huge blow up baseball bat. My apologies if he hit you in the head with it, it's bigger than him! :lol: Kids had fun anyway, that's what counts. Probably will be a couple years before we go again.