Barnstable County Fair

I am giving this three stars because I really think this is just an average fair. Now, if you go for rides, this is totally worth your time. The midway is humungous. There’s even an entire kids’ section. If you are going for arts and crafts, there isn’t much here for a fair this size. Food your thing? Lots of food vendors, nothing that jumped out as awesome. Music is just ok as well. It’s got a great petting zoo, so the kids should love it. All in all, only go to this one if you live in the area. The traffic is horrible getting in and out so be warned!

It has been a long time since I have been to the Barnstable County Fair, but coming here tonight triggered a ton of great memories from childhood.
This fair has to be one of the best fairs I have ever been to. The fair grounds themselves are huge, and the whole area is saturated with things to enjoy. My favorite area had to be their food court obviously because I am a fatty at heart. I also love their midway and agricultural area.
As a kid I used to love coming to their demolition derby as well as their motocross night. The staff here tends to be pretty polite, and the other nice part about this fair is that parking is free. The cost to enter and the prices in the fair are a bit high, but what can you expect from a fair.
In the end we always enjoy riding the rides, eating the deep fried food, and viewing the animals. I also always have a blast dunking the rude midway clown!

My friend and I have never had such smiles on our faces, while money was getting sucked out of our pockets at lightning speed.
There’s free parking in a big field, and then you hoof it over to the fair grounds. The layout of the fairgrounds is somewhat disorienting and hard to navigate. Then I think it was $ 10 adult entrance, $ 2/​kids.
BUT, the rides were totally fun, the fair folk and food vendors were without exception neat, clean, and friendly, with quality products that they seemed very proud of. Nothing sleazy at all… and no alcohol being sold at the fairgrounds that we could see. Actually I had been looking forward to a beer tent since I wasn’t driving, so that was a bit of a disappointment, but I suppose overall it helps the family atmosphere not to have people wandering around drunk.
There is still a large 4H section where you can check out sheep, goats, cows, a petting zoo, and pony and camel rides. This year there was also a sea lion show that was very fun and free, so you wonder how they are making money, but then of course after the show is over, you DO want to have your picture taken with the sea lions for $ 15. And it’s totally worth it because the sea lions practically jump right in your lap and put their heads on your shoulders for the picture. These animals looked as healthy and happy as any captive animals are going to look. (All philosophical debates aside for another time.)
I saw something red and wet poking out from a kangaroo’s belly… and was greatly relieved when I saw it was just a little baby kangaroo sticking it’s head out of the pouch… «ewww» changed to «awwww» very quickly.
We arrived about 5PM which seemed good because it avoided the mid-​day sun and gave us a little time before the later evening crowds. Also, at night you get to enjoy the flashing lights on the rides more than during the day. We got $ 20 all-​you-​can-​ride wristbands, but could have done just as well with the regular ticket deals. Ride tickets are a buck and each ride cost 4 – 5 tickets. They also offer deals like you can get $ 25 in tickets for $ 20 and for $ 30 you get 40 tickets. And basically there does come a time when your sensory system has just had enough overload and you don’t want to ride any more rides. So the $ 30 deal is probably the one to get for two people.
Everything was open until 10 PM and the rides and some vendors stay open until 11:30 PM.
BEST AND WORST RIDES: Basically I enjoy the rides by imagining this is what it would feel like to really be able to fly. This succesfully diverts me from wondering «how good is the maintenance on these things anyway???» and «what would happen if it broke right there??» Best ride: actually the oldest, simplest… the chairs on a chain. This gave me the closest approximation of a flying dream. Worst ride: the faux hang glider where you lie on your stomach… yes, this is how Superman flies, but it made my neck really sore.
WHAT TO WEAR: wear good walking shoes, not flip flops. Flip flops will fall off on most of the rides so you have to take them on and off and go barefoot. Wear pants with good pockets, like zippered cargo pants, so your cellphone and money will not fall out when you are upside-​down at high g forces. (it was a regular ritual for all the teen girls in hot pants with no pockets to run up to the front of the ride and carefully put their iPhones down on the walkway before they boarded.)
FOOD WINNERS AND LOSERS: right when you walk in the midway area where the rides begin, there is a little french fry stand where you can get a small fry for $ 2. Turned out to be my favorite of the night. Also right as you were entering the midway on the left, is a candy apple, cotton candy place selling bottled waters for $ 1. Make a mental note of this place because you will be going back there often if you want to avoid $ 5 sodas and $ 3 bottled water of other vendors deeper in the midway. Steak sub was excellent, vegetable tempura (shockingly, $ 9) turned out to be such a huge portion we sadly threw most of it away because there was no way to carry it around and bring it home at the end of the night. It would have fed four people. The vendors were offering a surprising amount of meatless options. The handsqueezed lemonade from a cart was great; the Del’s lemonade from a truck was not so good. I was looking everywhere for the deep fried cool-​aid I’d seen on the news, but never found it.
SUMMARY: GO, EXPECT TO WANT TO SPEND $$$ AT EVERY TURN, TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES, GO ON THE RIDES AND JUST PRETEND YOU’RE FLYING. EVEN IF YOU’RE ON A TIGHT BUDGET, GO, AND JUST ENJOY THE PEOPLE-​WATCHING AND SPLIT THE FOOD YOU BUY WITH A FRIEND. YOU WILL STILL HAVE LOTS OF FUN.

The Barnstable Country Fair is a great way to spend a day!
They have 2 lots, a free one and paid one. The free lot if right across the street from the paid ones unless of course, you are too lazy or unable to walk far, then the paid lots are for you.
Admission is $ 10 for adults, $ 8 if you are military or senior citizen and $ 2 for kids 6 – 12.
If you love thrill rides that mostly go around in circles, enough to make you queasy, then go on a day where the fair offers a pay one price wristband ($ 20). Although, this doesn’t include the big roller coaster which is really stupid IMO.
The lines are never long and you probably only have to wait a minute till the ride is done. They have 2 Ferris wheels which offers different views of the fair. Several rides for kids and adults.
They also have tons of fair games and attendants till try to get your man to win a prize for the lady.
They have a clown dunk and the clown was pretty tame in insulting passerbyers. He was also very ugly looking too.
The great things about the fair are all the animals they have, they you can pet, feed and just chill with.
My favorite were the bunnies. They were all so cute and chill and let anyone stick their fingers or hands to pet them. 4-​H also had a few out, so people could play with them. They also had some for sale.
They have cows, chickens, llamas, alpacas, even a camel where they were offering rides.
Food here is super expensive, its daunting to see how quickly my $ 40 bucks went. A large lemonade and corndog will set you back about $ 12. A slice of watermelon is $ 1.50. They have fries, clam chowder, steak on a stick, and extra large fried dough. Something for everyone!
They also offer popcorn and soda for $ 1 near the entrance gate. A super bargain considering its $ 10 to get in, either wristband for $ 20 or tickets for the rides ($ 1 – 30), and then food and whatever other things you buy from the vendors there.
The Barnstable county fair also offers shows which are laid out in the program guide for your enjoyment.
Even with the hot summer days where 90 degree weather may be brutal, they offers many seating areas that are shaded, so you can chill and rest up.
A great way to spend a nice summer day on the Cape. Bring lotsa cash $$$$$

This is the thing about fairs… all weirdness aside the food is the main spectacle.
A couple friends and i spent a wednesday night at the fair to see the crash up/​demolition derby. That was the cover, we were there to eat junk food.
My friend Noreen ordered a steak on a stick, it was very tasty, made by a man who sells at the Nascar races, you know they mean business! They also had chicken on a stick, shrimp on a stick, you get the idea.
My two girlfriends also both had corndogs… not my first choice at these venues. They definately enjoyed them. As far as a link goes i’m partial to hot italian sausages with peppers and onions.
I save the Hot Dogs for Fenway-​GO SOX!
Ray’s French Fries, hand cut cooked til a dark brown with vinegar and ketchup. These were great. I even got a wink from the purveyor-​HELLO!
Del’s has great frozen lemonade sweet, cold and tangy with bits of lemon throughout.
I myself had a gyro from Poppie’s. You just can’t get these tasty lamb sandwiches anywhere around Cape Cod. The Tzatziki sauce was creamy and cucumbery, the pita was remarkably fresh… Mmmm!
I missed the Burrito Bus only because i know that during the summer i can catch him at Grumpys in Falmouth/​Woods Hole.
No fried dough, unlike Katrine who started straight out of the gate with a supersized version, extra sugar! Noreen says Katrine knows where to find the biggest, tastiest, best value dough. I believe her.
I was too full! I’m waiting for the Marshfield Fair to grab a funnel cake!
I did however grab a bag of kettle corn. The girls were each getting some so ok this stuff must be good. We stood in line at Kings Kettle Korn-​Voted #1 by my momma. Larry King as i’ve googled his name must of been stirring that corn all night long for 15 mins we watched as he produced at least 5 huge batches of the stuff. There was a consistent 10 deep line at all times. The woman who was selling, possibly his wife got hit in the eye by a fiery hot kernal. Not pretty i must say. In the end she recovered and said «its not the first time and won’t be the last.» Ouch!
I tell you this is the highlight of the night. three medium (huge really) size bags $ 15.00. Warm and delicious made with dedication to the craft. I didn’t get into it till the next day. I love this stuff, i eat it morning noon and night. I’m taking it to bed, eating at work… it sitting next to me as i type. Priceless.
Man! Great stuff! I’m considering the $ 10.00 admittance fee to the last day of the Barnstable Fair only for another bag of this other worldly goodness. I don’t think i can part with it.
Alas thats the end of my white trash tour of County Fair comestibles.
Yee HA!
Wheres the Zipper? Larry take me with you, teach me the ways of the corn!