Flying High: The carnival rides at the Mesa County Fair and Rodeo in Grand Junction, Colo. were a popular attraction for many. Seen are the Ferris wheel and the high swing ride with the clouds forming in the background at sunset. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Alien Encounter: Another popular ride in Grand Junction was the Starship ride which featured some alien figures from another world. The colors and sounds from each of the rides attracted many participants during the event. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
Attending local fairs and festivals provide us a lot of entertainment while we are traveling about the country. On our most recent trip we attended a County Festival and Rodeo in Big Timber, Montana, a July 4th Celebration and Art Fair in Walla Walla, Wash., and a County Fair and Rodeo in Grand Junction, Colorado. The arts, crafts, music, and of course the people are fun to watch and interact with during these events.
Attending these events in different states and regions of the country give us a sample and flavor of life in each location. While we do not spend a lot of time at each stop in our journeys, the time we do spend is usually focused on the local events, museums, and things of local interest. We also try and eat at local restaurants when we choose to eat out.
During our stay in Montana, the Sweetgrass Festival featured a car show on the main street which also included a few John Deere tractors because farming and ranching is probably the largest source of employment in Sweetgrass County. A county parade entertained everyone in the afternoon especially the children as they watched for candy to be thrown from parade vehicles and floats.
While in Washington we enjoyed seeing the town of Walla Walla for the first time. A small town but home to three colleges gives this community a unique personality. We attended a July 4th Celebration and Arts Fair at Pioneer Park, a beautiful city park which was lined with trees which were probably over 100 years old. Some of the booths displayed art similar to other areas and some artwork was specific to the area and life in the northwest region of the country.
The Mesa County Fair and Rodeo in Grand Junction, Colorado was unexpected but the fairgrounds happened to be located next to the RV Park that we were staying at that week. We enjoyed walking through the carnival and watching the locals enjoying a fun weekend in July. The 4H and FFA students were exhibiting their animals and many attendees were enjoying the typical carnival snacks of cotton candy, funnel cakes, and other goodies along with their favorite drinks.
These are the experiences that we don’t plan for but always enjoy attending wherever we are visiting. Many times our schedule may prevent us from attending but we always enjoy going when time allows. The events are fun for all and we get to experience just a taste of the local interest and lifestyle.
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Good Vibes: Attendees of the July 4th Festival in Walla Walla, Wash. listen to the music of a local band at Pioneer Park on a warm sunny afternoon. Arts and crafts, good food, and music were some of the featured activities at the festival. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Food and Drink: A variety of food and drink was available for attendees at the July 4th Festival in Walla Walla, Wash. Both food trucks and food booths worked throughout the day to keep attendees happy on a warm Washington holiday. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
John Deere: The Sweetgrass County Fair in Big Timber, Mont. features a car show on Saturday morning and a parade in the afternoon. When you have a car show in farming and ranching country, you will see some impressive cars, pickups and a few models of John Deere tractors. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Sweetgrass Parade: The Sweetgrass Parade takes place on Saturday afternoon during the Sweetgrass Festival Weekend. Many locals participate in the parade and almost all participants throw candy for the youngsters to collect. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
