It will probably surprise no one that I’d never been to an agricultural fair before I came to DC. Where I grew up, farms were rarified reserves for horses or trees. Rye Playland was where you went for fun rides and cotton candy. Never the twain did meet. But then I moved here and met a Pennsylvanian well-schooled in ag fair fun, and it all changed.
Wait a minute. Something about that first sentence seems strange, eh? There are actually agricultural fairs in DC? Yes indeed, in our greater vicinity you can get your fill of dizzying rides, funnel cake, and award-wining squash that look like, ah, various anatomical features.
Take Montgomery County, whose annual agricultural fair began on August 11th and runs until the 19th. Not only can you get your fill of all the above carnival and agricultural delights, but you can also witness that most insane of rituals – the demolition derby. Watch as old wrecks are transformed into killing machines – engines roar, sparks fly, metal grinds metal – and the audience’s adrenaline rush is all very Crash.
So check it out this week (goat shows! cattle shows! horse shows! rabbit shows! monster truck pulls! milking shows!). I guarantee there’s something for everyone to enjoy. And if you can’t make it, never fear – I’m hitting the derby Friday night and will post photos of the burning rubber twisted metal wreckage for you to ogle.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
As one of the founding editors of We Love DC, Jenn’s passions are theater and cocktails. After two decades in the city, she’s loved every quirky, mundane, elegant, rude minute of her DC life. A proud advocate for DC’s talented drinks scene, she’s judged the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s ARTINI contest, the DC Rickey Month contest, the Jefferson Hotel’s Quill Cocktail competition, and is a founding member of LUPEC DC. A graduate of Catholic University’s drama program, she toured the country as a member of National Players, and has been both an actor and a costume designer before jumping the aisle to theater criticism. Writing for We Love DC restored her happiness after a life-threatening illness, and she’s grateful to you, dear readers. Send your suggestions to jenn (at) welovedc (dot) com and follow her on Twitter.
