Butler County Fair ends today

A tradition going back nearly 50 years will be gone for 2001 come tomorrow. This is the last opportunity to come out and enjoy the tasty treats, games of chance and dizzying trips on board the Sizzler, the Ferris Wheel and the merry-go-round before Butler County says ‘goodbye’ to fair time once more. Open since Tuesday, the fair closes tonight, September 29.

An annual event in the county for 48 years, the fair offers visitors a chance to check out award-winning art, sculpture and photography, an outstanding collection of hand-crafted decorative and functional items and clothing, and mouth-watering blue ribbon preserves, jams, jellies and cakes.

Beautiful, artistic floral arrangements and flourishing live plants also are on display in the exhibit building on the fairgrounds. Local businesses and clubs have numerous booths set up here allowing visitors to sign up for valuable prize drawings, pick up helpful information or, perhaps, take home a coloring book and balloon for the kiddies.

Tour the livestock building next door and take a gander at the geese, bunnies, exotic chickens, cattle and other critters on display there.

Of course, a fair wouldn’t be a fair without the food. The Greenville Kiwanis Club, which sponsors the annual event, has been busy this week serving plenty of home-style burgers, hot dogs, cheese fries, funnel cakes and their infamous &uot;killer dog.&uot; (Customers are not advised to eat this tasty specialty until after they’ve finished their midway rides.) Be sure and take home a bag of sinfully sweet cotton candy or a yummy caramel or red candied apple, too.

The glittering jewel-like colors of the carnival are all aglow at night along the fair midway. The familiar rides are there, ready to spin, lift and whirl their passengers for a screaming good time. (Several more sedate ‘kiddie’ rides are also available for the ‘small fries’ of the family.)

If you’re feeling lucky, take on one of the game ‘barkers’ and see if you can win your sweetie a big plush stuffed animal to take home as you prove what a great pitcher/shooter you are. Thrills, chills, laughter, good food and fun

all part of the colorful Butler County Fair experience.