A Lighter View
Heartbreak
By K.E.H. Stagg

Oct. 22, 2009

Parking posed no problems for Farmers Fair this year. There was no overtime payment necessary for police coverage, nor did the 2 dozen folks who comprised the Saturday “crowds” have to worry about long lines at any of the food vendors.

Okay, I’m exaggerating slightly. There were more than 2 dozen of us who braved the icy rain to attend the Farmers Fair that almost wasn’t; despite the Community Hall remaining open to the public, by the 2 p.m. official close of Farmers Fair on Saturday, not only had both the children’s parade and Fantastic Parade been called on account of the terrible weather, but so had the craft fair, antique tractor and car shows, and all the yard sales that were scheduled for what is normally a decent weather weekend.

Instead, a few hardy souls braved the torrents of rain pouring down our necks to grab a quick bite of something, washed down with a hot beverage, before the food stalls followed the lead of volunteers who folded up their tents earlier in the day, realizing that the rotten weather keeping away customers had settled over Dillsburg for the duration of the fair.

For the first time in my nearly 2 decades-long residence in Dillsburg, I spent less than 2 hours total, and that included the time spent walking to and from the shelter of my vehicle.

Having had the foresight not to bother trying to juggle an umbrella with the plates of food I intended to consume, I also had the good sense to bundle up in a knee-length down-filled parka and don a fuzzy hat to keep in as much warmth as possible during my brief Fair trek. I ducked under awnings along Baltimore Street to eat my lunch, and even ducked into the Library to purchase a last-minute raffle ticket--and take advantage of the shelter from what had turned from irritating drizzle into downright rainfall--but finally succumbed to the realization that Farmers Fair being rained out meant that most of the fun was quickly draining out like the water running along the edges of Baltimore Street.

At every stand I visited, the stall holder exhibited cheeriness in direct disproportion to the nasty weather.

But I have to admit, I’m already praying for decent climate next year. Two scratched Farmers Fairs in a row would be too much to endure!