It’s how the tradition goes … Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time is old friends’ reunion time.
Continue reading Focus: Fairing Well with Old Friends at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair
Tag Archives: Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair
Retro Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Foodie Time
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Well, the rain may have dampened Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair attractions on a rainy Tuesday night, but things in the kitchen were still cooking strong.
Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Foodie Time
Scene Around: Fair Still Cookin’
Photo/FHFD
Well, the word is official. After a few great weather days, the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair has been rained out due to Mother Nature’s lack of cooperation.
That means that the rides and other attractions will be shut down for the evening. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that the kitchen is open, volunteers are cooking and people are invited to grab a seat in the dining room for fair food or hit the take-out window to bring some home and brighten the dank day with a little of the fair’s finest comfort.
As the sign on the firehouse says, “Only dining room is open tonight — 6-10 p.m.”
All’s fair!
Retro Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Carousel Girl
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
More than a couple of decades ago, a little girl got on the carousel at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and took a ride.
She was beaming and waving as she rode ’round and ’round. The moment was captured in a black-and-white photo.
It’s a classic fair moment that says a lot about the month’s end more than century-old tradition for which preparations are underway.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day honors this little girl’s ride on the merry go ’round and many other fair moments like it.
The little girl would be in her twenties now. Anyone recognize her?
— Elaine Van Develde
Focus: Faces of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair
The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair got off to a rousing start on Friday and Saturday nights with mighty fair weather and friends reunited in the name of community tradition.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect was there to grab some snapshots capturing the moments. Take a look … (And don’t forget to click to enlarge!)
— Elaine Van Develde
Retro Rides of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
It’s that time. They’re setting up for the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. And before you know it, Majestic Midways will come rolling into town with the rides.
Some have been fair staples for decades — like the Zipper and the ferris wheel. Some are still terrifying to adults — never mind the childhood chicken terrors from the thought of being dared to ride anything but the stationary chair on the merry go ’round.
OK, so that’s a little pathetic. Hey, sometimes you just want to spare onlookers from some scenes that just wouldn’t be pretty — like a full-grown middle-aged person ill, in tears and hanging upside down at the top of a ride.
But we digress …
The Retro Pic of the Day hones in on two classic fair rides from the 1990s. We know one is the ferris wheel. And it looks like the same one. What about the other?
Know what ride that is? What’s your favorite? Least favorite.
We vote Zipper on least. Still, it’s some sort of odd comfort to see it again every year.
— Elaine Van Develde
Retro Pick of a Fair Winner
Photo/FHFD
It’s one of those Mega Millions drawing nights, so it seems appropriate to take a look back at picking another winner — a 50/50 Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair winner.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day honors the picking of a winner … a fair winner … in a fair way.
In this shot, the guys are giving the tickets a tumble, poised to dig in, fetch and announce the number that will match up with the person holding the stub.
The set-up of the 50/50 Booth was similar yet a bit different back in the day. That would be Jim Butler doing something there to help and a bunch of onlookers drinking beers and hoping to get lucky … with their numbers.
Can anyone wager a guess as to how high the 50/50 has gone or did go in those days, which were likely the early 1970s? And who was the biggest winner — before the days of the Super 50/50?
Round and round she goes … Do we have a winner?
A Fair Closing Time
All good Fair Haven Firemen’s Fairs come to an end … until next year.
Take a look at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect’s glimpse into closing night.
Thank you to the Fair Haven Fire Department and all the fair volunteers for yet another year of the fair!
— Elaine Van Develde
A Fair Meet with Olympic Swimmer Connor Jaeger
Not only is Wednesday night Firemen’s Night at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair, it’s also Olympian night this year.
Connor Jaeger, who recently won the silver medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle swim in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, is back home and set to meet, greet and do some selfies with hometown friends and fans. He will be appearing at the fair, in front of the firehouse, from 7 to 9 p.m..
He said it himself on Instagram …
“This Wednesday 8/31 from 7-9pm please come and meet me at Fair Haven’s Fireman’s Fair for a selfie booth. Please come to meet me and give me an opportunity to thank you all for the unbelievable support you have shown me.”
There was talk of a parade, which is what transpired when Jaeger came in sixth in the same Olympic event in 2012. However, officials decided to wait and see what was most amenable to Jaeger.
So, selfies and socializing at the fair it is.
“We hope to see you tomorrow night,” Councilwoman Susan Sorensen said in a Facebook post after thanking officials, including Connor Jaeger’s father, Eric, a fellow councilman, for coordinating the “meet-and-greet.”
Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s Start
The scents, sights and sounds of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair are in the air.
The end-of-summer tradition in the Rumson-Fair Haven area, the largest community fair in the state, started on Friday night.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect did the usual stroll of the grounds on Saturday.
Here’s a glimpse into the night …
— Elaine Van Develde
Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair: An Opening Night Remembrance
Sometimes I can still smell the lingering scent of funnel cake in my mother’s hair. I can still see her blue-striped Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair apron draped over the kitchen chair. I can see her tying those apron strings. I can see her checking her hair and lipstick in the mirror by the door. I can hear her voice calling to me upstairs to hurry up as I tried to get my pigtails even and the puffy yarn bows tied just right. I’m always late.
And sometimes I can still see us walking down the street, her scurrying, brushing her hair to the side, still yelling back to me to hurry up.
Continue reading Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair: An Opening Night Remembrance
Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair: 50 Hot Dog Salute
Photo/courtesy of Chris Brenner
The following is an opinion piece, a tribute, about the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair by Fair Haven resident, Rumson native and 1983 RFH grad Chris Brenner …
In late August of 1965, I came into the world at Riverview Hospital. We lived in Rumson; and, no doubt, on my first ride home in our blue VW Beetle, I went right by the Fair Haven firehouse, which surely was hosting the annual Fireman’s Fair at the time. I sadly didn’t make that ’65 fair. Too busy learning to breathe and see, and all of that.
Continue reading Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair: 50 Hot Dog Salute
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