Merced Fair Time 2014

The temperature outside has finally cooled down a bit from the highs last week. Anything over 100 and we all are major sissies. This week the fair came to town. The Marshall Tucker Band played last night. It was the premier act of the entertainment.

It seems that we are in the predicted drought of live entertainers. When Rap became a major player in the music scene, we old timers that could not understand its appeal spoke often of its lack of nostalgic elements. The quote goes something like this,"What will these kids remember when they are our age about their music?"

We had years as we grew up, a rich heritage of doo wap, folk and funk. Jazz translates and so do good casino entertainment. All fairs had a local "big band" that sorted out and supported the performers as they made it up and down the valley to the various county fairs. Rock bands even continued when their might be just one member left to carry on the franchise. Most of that is gone. Rap and modern country needs a different environment to be successful. Their are no "old Rap singers" hitting the county fair trails.

To be fair (no pun indended) are shorter and are trying to make it without the support of the an endangered activity, the horse race. All the fairs used to have a horse race component. The gambling taxes supported the fairs and their entertainment budgets. Not so much anymore.

In the commercial building, the small out of town hucksters with their miked up demos can now be seen monthly at your local Costco as they ply the same waters and hook the same customers... er fish. Public service booths are still there. They raffle away cool pocket prizes with a spin of the lucky wheel... clack clack clack. We have a winner here. The politics are still here with lots of buttons to push out.

Its kind of funny, the latest bit of news on the vendor front, is that Budweiser refused to pony up its $25k to be one of two beer vendors so with Coors jumping in with their 25K they have an exclusive. The cinnamon roll franchise always does better in the evening as the night air cools... just a little.

There are still lots of 4h and FFA exhibits both animals and mechanical. Fear is still generated by the carnival rides and the crane bungee jumps. Merced has a bring your entry to the fair at a given time and free admission will be offered to generate interest in their cooking contests... almonds, salsa and ribs in consecutive days.

Some art, but nothing compared to Alameda or  Stanislaus County's fairs.

Still its local interest and something to do in Merced.  And everyone knows that Merced needs someplace to go and something to do in the summertime. A local bullriding company is putting up its local bulls on Saturday night. Some of bulls have been used in the pro bull riding circuit. If its like last year, the bulls are better than the riders.... so it will be fun to see who stays on.

: ) Pat