Why Growing Up in Shreveport Meant Falling in Love With the State Fair
Believe it or not, this weather will eventually cool off and that wonderful aroma of funnel cakes and smoked turkey legs will fill the air.
These will be our signs that the State Fair of Louisiana is back and for those who grew up in the area, it will bring on a flood of memories from the fair days of old.
This year's State Fair of Louisiana will run from October 29 through November 15 and while the fair is still an attraction for thousands, those who lived in the Shreveport/Bossier area any time between the 1960's and 1990's fondly remember the incredible spectacle that was the State Fair.
We remember when school let out at lunch on Thursday so that everyone could go to opening day of the fair. And they did; by the thousands. Everyone was at the fair.
Remember When There Was No Concrete Or Asphalt At The Louisiana State Fair?
We remember tromping around in the mud on the midway after an early November rain, long before there was concrete.
We all took the time to visit each and every one of the exhibit buildings and that huge model train they assembled each year.
In those days, a trip to the fair wasn't complete unless you saw all the calves, sheep, goats and chickens in the stock barns.
Who Could Forget All The Incredible Concerts at the Louisiana State Fair?
There were the Grand Stand shows. I remember getting to see Paul Revere and the Raiders there when I was young.
Oh, and speaking of the Grand Stand. Do you remember all the announcements from there like, "Little Johnny, your Mom is waiting for you now. Just come to the Grand Stand"?
Check out this incredible video highlighting the difference in those fairs of old compared to today's State Fair of Louisiana from our good friends at Twin Blends: Northwest Louisiana History Hunters.
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Twin Blends even found some great pictures of the stock car races that were once a huge feature at the fair.
Yes, those were the days. Was the fair better then? Or was it just that we were young and everything was better then?
Guess it's just a matter of perspective, but when I asked for people's favorite Louisiana State Fair memories on Facebook, it appeared as those the flood gates opened and people were only too willing to share their favorite memories.
Just take a look at Shreveport's Best Memories Of The State Fair From Long Ago
Shreveport's Best Memories Of The State Fair From Long Ago
Gallery Credit: Gary McCoy