Come Along as The Singles Forum Goes to the County Fair -- And Takes It Over! (For a Site-Wide Meetup.)

Hey Everyone,

It's about that time of year again! I grew up in area where the local County Fair was an annual summer ritual (because there wasn't much else to look forward to in such a small town.)

What about you? Do you have fond memories of going to the county fair?

For our international friends, "county fairs" are where the local farming communities come to show of their wares -- whether raising animals, baking pies, bottling up fruit/veggie preserves, woodwork, or crafts (basically anything having to do with farm life.) There's a category for just about everything, and with so many ribbons, prizes, and cash awards at stake, the competition is fierce!

People and organizations (such as our church) were also able to set up booths or tables where they can pass things out or sell their wares to fellow fair attendees passing by.

So...

What if WE were to envision our local County Fair as a Big CC Meetup -- a place where CC members from across the world would come and set up a booth or table where they could meet and greet other CC members

1. * If you were going to be meeting all kinds of people from this site, how would you want to decorate your booth? What theme would it have? How would it show off your personality? What sorts of things would you be doing (playing music?), selling (crafts or homemade food?) or giving away?

My booth would be splashed with bright colors and fun, flashing lights, and I would be busy making bracelets for people who came to meet me. I can only do some basic to medium-level patterns like the ones here, but I'm trying to learn the more complicated styles (it's just embarrassing that the videos are made by 12-year-olds -- and I'm having a hard time keeping up!

* What about you? What would YOUR CC booth be like?







2. * What kinds of things would you want to see with new CC friends while at the fair? The animals? The games? The rides?

(How could anyone resist petting those ears!!)






3. * What kinds of foods would you be going after? (I know waffle cones are popular but in the midwest, we had elephant ears -- and I sorely miss them!) Would you go to the booths or save your appetite for the homemade goods?






I'm looking forward to reading people's answers -- both about what they like best at the fair, and how they'd set up their own space to meet and greet other CC'ers.

I actually hope that some day there is some sort of collective retreat or something someone wants to put together...plenty of retreat centers that would function well enough (I'm sure some would drive 8hrs for a weekend).




My booth would just be set up like a radio booth at a "forum" (fair-like) event...stop by and join the talk show for a bit, chatroulette, perhaps a topic wheel?

I also might have an air fryer, a coffee maker, and a mini-fridge with a few assorted sparkling waters, sodas, etc.

Perhaps a squishy couch and a special chair or two?


I can make pizzas I suppose fairly well so I might bring a teeny brick oven but the mood would have to fit.

Air fryer would be BYOF but I suppose I will have some frozen egg rolls, chicken and potato-products, if you must leave for real food, I understand.


Also perhaps a child friendly section outside of the booth with assorted activities...Maybe some fill up colored sand bottles and cotton candy? I'd need an assistant for that though I guess...


Great armchair idea lol

The radio talk show is such a neat idea. Great chance to "interview" and get to know people so there's less chance for awkward silences. Comfy seating would be a must -- sort of like an on-air talk show. Move over Oprah -- "You get a waffle cone, and you get a waffle cone, and you..."

It's been a while since I've had an eggroll so that sounds fantastic.

And I love the thought of including an activity for kids!!! What a wonderful idea to make a an inviting space for parents to stop and chat, while keeping their kids happy.

Definitely some blue-ribbon ideas here!! 🥇

(In the spirit of a county fair-inspired thread, I will be handing out ribbons, medals, and trophy emojis a'plenty for such cool responses.)

Our york fair starts mid next month.

I would have a music lab booth.

On one table would be an 88-key MIDI keyboard connected to a laptop. Dial up a virtual drumset and lay down a drumline. Then call up a synth pad and lay down a background track. Or make whatever tracks you want. I'll handle summoning the instruments. You just tell me what you want and hit the keys.

At another table would be a guitar connected to a laptop with various virtual FX loaded. You can do a lot these days without a physical FX rack.

So yeah, the whole booth would be about finding out what you can do with music and computers these days. Because I'm a nerd and this is my booth.

I would have been doing something completely different from what I have spent my life on doing so far.

My booth would be a celebration of science fiction. I’ve never said this before but I’m a huge fan of Douglas Adams, Stephen King, Isaac Asimov and etc.

Firstly I would cover the basics. The earth is a sphere, we did land on the moon and then throw some elementary Copernicus theories.

Having done that I would invite people to join me in a journey through space in the manner science of today’s knowledge allows for.

After that I would invite for everyone to share their own thoughts and hypotheses on space with the rest of us. Regardless of knowledge of scientific method. It’d be a brainstorming session not limited by anything.

My booth would look like one of those cafe's from the 50s. Burgers and coffee would be my main attraction. It might even have a large set of rabbit ear antennas on top.

"The UHF food hut" .. 🤔😁

My booth would have 3 things:
1. A large array of recliners
2. A large array of big screen TVs
3. A large array of beverages
If you have ever been to events like this, every guy knows he is ready to leave long before his significant other. Why do you think there are so many benches in malls?

I was torn between leaving a 🥇or a 🤣 on this post. 😁

Love the 50's cafe theme!



All burgers would be sold in a silver wrapper that doubles as a tin foil hat!








We are most DEFINITELY putting your booth right next to @Susanna's Scientific Discussion Booth.

Aliens, anyone?

Do I hear any bids for putting up an all-out Alien Booth next to these two?!

Going once, going twice...

OOOHHHH YEAH.

I'm definitely waddling on over to Cameron's booth RIGHT AFTER visiting Rodney's 50's Cafe Burger Bonanza.

Complimentary motorized scooters will be offered for those who buy 3 burgers or more (all for themselves.)



I sure hope Cameron won't mind a few burger stains on the recliners.

This is fascinating -- I never knew this about you Susanna and I love that you shared your interest in sci fi with us!!!

I have to admit though, I might just find myself being kicked out of your booth for being too dumb (if scientific prowess is a requirement, I would definitely be disqualified!!)

In both high school and college, I would have gotten 4.0's except for -- the science classes. I nearly failed physics, barely passed chemistry, then in grad school, got a B- in Advanced Statistics (which might as well have been an F.)

If it's any consolation, I LOVE a lot of sci fi movies (just not Lord of the Rings... I know! Please don't stone me!)

But as a kid, I DID watch "ET."

Surely that counts?!

No problem. The Cam Cave welcomes the clean-challenged.

I just need to know where the corn dog and funnel cake booths are. Thanks!

Funnel cakes!!!

That's what I was trying to think of! I erroneously said waffle cones, but what I meant was funnel cakes:



Where I grew up, we had Elephant Ears, and I've never seen them again once I moved out of state:

You can be on the judging "committee" ...I was afk but the concept did wonders for my mood because it's a fun air castle exercise.

There are so many nice tools (like at science centers) to up the "playing game" that make child activities fun for all ages.


As far as funnel cakes go...hot oil, pancake batter, and powdered sugar makes a solid (mostly) deep fried pancake that at least echoes funnel cakes.

Probably just a tad less oily so it works for people with more sensitive stomachs.


Also, we should rent a Gravitron and some swings. I think that'll do for low investment cost/high yield. Ferris wheels are too much but I guess a "rent-a-zoo" might also be reasonable.

Elephant ears look like buñuelos. Very popular during the Christmas season. I like them!

I'm so glad you hopefully had some fun with this thread! That's always my hope for frivolous little threads like this -- that they will hopefully brighten someone's day. The best part is when other people chip in with their awesome ideas!

OOOHHH, the Graviton would be awesome!



I LOVE rides!! I'm more sensitive to motion sickness these days, but I'd give it my best "whirl"!

And you most definitely get my vote for renting a petting zoo.

After all, who could resist these faces?!






Ok, I have to admit.

Not growing up around animals, some of these little guys would make me nervous.

But that's what the support of CC friends (and anxiety meds) would be for!

I actually went to a petting zoo up in north Georgia where they had a "kitty corner" full of kittens, some baby goats, a few grown chickens, a couple plastic cages of chicks, and a little wheel thing where you can pulley up a cup full of feed to the goats that walk the platforms. When the chicks are super small (before they stop being yellow), there's not much they can do to you. I'll admit, baby chicks are pretty fun.

Super low key (sans platforms). Alpacas and pigs would be a bit much for a low-key event. A whole cow? No. Maybe a pony or two though.

Unless we have some animal experts. I once worked at a miniature animal farm and there isn't a single animal I'd recommend as a good "all-arounder".

we have them in the northeast, but it's called fried dough. yeah, we're pretty unimaginative, alas.

If I didn't have my booth to run, I'd be at your booth. I've never seen a fair that I'm not done with after an hour.