To kick off the upcoming fair season, the Madera Fair was held at the Madera fairgrounds, Sept. 8-11. As spectators entered the fair, they immediately were met with the sights and smells associated with traditional fair food, ranging from corn dogs to tacos and lemonade to horchata.

Since the Madera Fair is in early September, the weather is still hot, which leads to high drink sales amongst spectators.

Long-time lemonade seller, David (last name withheld), has sold lemonade at the Madera Fair for six years, but has also traveled across the nation to various county fairs.

“I love selling lemonade,” David said. “I started selling out on the curb as a kid with a table and it just went from there. We have 14 units all over the United States, but I travel from California all the way to Texas.”

According to David, the company only has booths at county fairs because state fairs are generally more intense.

“County fairs are more relaxed, unlike state fairs,” David said. “The Madera Fair is friendly, everyone seems to come out and have a good time here. Next week, when I go to Tulare, they are not happy because it’s a whole different crowd; they are way more tense.”

Aside from food, the fair also included rides, games, animals, an auction, art exhibits and concerts. This year, the Madera Fair featured Grand Funk Railroad, OneRepublic, Billy Currington and Montez de Durango.

In spite of the fair’s large number of musical performances, junior Juan Ruelas was also featured performing with his karate class on Sept. 11.

“We performed on the stage near the entrance,” Ruelas said. “I thought it was a pretty cool experience because I have never performed in front of a crowd before; well, not for karate.”

Upcoming local fairs include the 82nd annual Caruthers District Fair, Sept. 28-Oct. 1, and the 128th annual Big Fresno Fair, Oct. 5-16. The FC advanced band, basic band, the colorguard and drumline will perform at the Caruthers Fair, Oct. 1 and the FC art class will participate in chalk drawing at the Fresno Fair, Oct. 6.

For more features, read the Sept. 15 article Oasis provides comfortable environment, deep relationships.

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