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.

With two older siblings, things were different in 1966 for sure. I can’t recall those early years, but the fair was a big deal in my house, and we always went. I bet I was even given a few bits of my brother’s hot dog — a fair favorite.

By the time I reached school age, the fair often fell right over my birthday, and it was pretty common to celebrate by opening presents and then heading over to the fair for those hot dogs and ice cream along with some great rides. What could be better than that?!

In the ’70’s there were two big prizes everyone coveted. First, was a color TV in one of the prize booths. Man, if you were lucky enough to win that, well, you would’ve been a hero in school for the whole year! The other one was the brand new car, given away in a raffle.

It seemed like the whole community anticipated that raffle, as the car was parked in front of the firehouse for weeks before the fair started. Through those years, the hot dog stand got fancier, from just a tent to a real building somewhere along the way …

By high school, I was playing football at RFH, and in late August and September, we were in the throes of double-session practices, in the heat and humidity, and by the evening all you wanted to do was go home and collapse — but the fair was always calling.

I remember dragging myself to the fair on those nights, always putting away a hot dog, full well knowing it was going to hurt me the next morning at practice! Through all of that, I always managed to go at least a few nights each year.

By the mid-’80s, I was off to college, and here is where a lot of kids start missing the fair, as classes get going in August. I was lucky in this way, in that my school started in September. I was always able to make at least one night.  In fact, one year I remember stopping at the fair on opening night, grabbing a dog and jumping in the car for a night drive to college!

After college, I moved out of town, but always within a few hours of Fair Haven. Every year, I made my way to town, and to the fair. I was living in North Jersey some years later when I got married, and my wife got introduced to the fair during those years.

When we were expecting our first child, we wanted to buy a home and settle into a community, so in 1994 we moved to Fair Haven. The rest, as they say, is history.

Two kids and two houses later, over the last 22 years, and the fair has always been the event of the year. Like for so many of us, the fair marks the end of summer, the start of school, and a last chance to see all your neighbors outside before colder weather sets in. Our kids would do the morning prep work for free ride tickets, and our son even ended up joining the Fire Company.

About 10 years ago, we started volunteering right in the Out-Back, of all things, selling hot dogs! It’s hot, it’s greasy, your feet hurt, and it’s one of the best weeks of the year!

I love paying back all the years I enjoyed the fair as a patron. I get to look out over the crowd and remember all the stages of my time at the fair — from the kiddie rides, to the games of chance, to the scary rides in the back … and even the beer tent!

As best I can recall, from 1966 though 2015, I always made at least one night of the fair.

So this year, on one of the nights, I will hoist my ceremonial 50th hot dog at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. I wouldn’t have it any other way.