• Saturday-What'sUP August 28 - 06:55 pm

Escanaba was the place to be last weekend for the U.P. State Fair, now Michigan's only fair since funding was cut from the State budget this year. Lynn Virtanen was there and spent some time on the midway, snapping photos to share with us. There were 30 different rides to get your adrenaline pumping and Lynn captured a few of them in action. The bumper cars I can handle, along with the Ferris Wheel, but I'll keep my feet on the ground when it comes to some of the other thrills rides, thank you! :->

What fair would be complete, without the game tents and food vendors? Lynn snapped a shot of one of the games during a lull in the action. I remember trying my skills at the games, being a highlight of the Skerbeck Carnival when it used to visit Lake Linden every year. Then of course there's always a number of different food concessions along the midway, with big signs and bright lights, trying to entice you to dine on some of their delicious treats. What a fun time for kids of all ages. Kudos to the folks that stepped up and kept the Escanaba U.P. Fair going, despite the budget cuts!

If you weren't able to attend the U.P. State Fair, there's still time to enjoy the atmosphere, right here in the Keweenaw. Hop in the car and head to the Houghton Country Fairgrounds in Hancock. The fair is underway right now and goes until Sunday. For a schedule of events, click on over to the Houghton Country Fair webpage.

Looks like the guy in the last picture is wearing a "pasty.com" t-shirt. Could be a new source of revenue.

I'm glad 2 know the U.P. State Fair wasn't affected by the budget cuts, because I thought it was. Thanks 4 sharing the photos.

Hey it does Gene.... and he is saying "darn not a pasty in sight, lets get out of here and go to the bumper cars." ;(

Ah. the bumper cars...early driver's ed.

I have not been to a fair in a while, so I was wondering what will happen to the people sitting on the tower in the first photo. I also noticed that none of the women appear to be wearing a dress on that ride :)

That is a nice T-shirt the man is wearing in the sixth photo, and / or an opportunity for someone to market a T-shirt.

Went to the U.P "State Fair" in 1950 and it was probably my first trip out of the copper country. It was a great experience and I hope for the locals that it will continue on.

Skerbeck Brothers next stop: The Allegan County Fair. A few years ago the Skerbeck Brothers Carnival began hosting the Mid-Way at the Allegan County Fair. This Fair is so large that in order to accomodate it the Skerbeck brothers had to dedicate two complete Carnival units. This meant actually changing the dates of a couple smaller events to enable them. Nine days Sept 10-18.

These are some great pictures. I only made it to the UP state fair 2 or 3 times in my life. The MN state fair is spectacular and they always have such great entertainment every night. When we go, it's usually to see one of the country artists perform. Might go next week if I have a half day off.

Being the history buff that I am, what year did the U.P. State Fair begin?

ESCANABA - Escanaba received the honor of being named the location for the Upper Peninsula State Fair in April, 1927. Michigan Gov. Fed Green signed Act 89, which stated, "An annual state fair at the city of Escanaba, which shall have for its main purpose the exploiting, and encouragement of improved methods in agriculture and industrial pursuits I hereby authorize."

I hope they have elephant ears. Mmmmm . . .

My favorite, Cindy!!

I did a double take on that Tshirt!! I'm glad I'm not the only one!!

And Thomas Baird...the funding from the State for the fair WAS cut out! That's local and UP put on!! SHOULD be renamed the YOOPER fair!

Last fair I went to, I up-chucked when I got off the ride, great time ;O)

Mimi and I went on Thurs. Had some of that tasty Italian sausage, chips, sauerkraut (sp?), and root beer. MMmm good! Then we went into the line for the grandstand. The Oak Ridge Boys were on. Holy Wah!! What a good show! 90 min of old and new songs. Of course, the Esky Daily Press didn't have a word about their show. :o( I guess if it's news, it's news to them. Probably be a good place to start a newspaper.

Alex - The ride of "the people sitting on the tower in the first photo" takes them very slowly up and then 'Drops them very fast' with a slow bumper brake system before hitting bottom. I went on it a few years back and it is like a parachute fall. Most call it Drop Tower -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_tower_(amusement_ride)

Thanks Theresa.

It may be Sunday but these posts got me to thinking (oh-oh). Holy Redeemer school (Milwaukee) had an annual end of school trip to the state fair park, rides 10 cents if I remember correctly. How many trips on the roller coaster! Last ride for me probably was at our Carroll Co. Fair quite a few years ago. That Tilt-A-Whirl was the as fast as I could handle. Oh dear age does things to one- like be sensible :O>)Thanks for the memories.