Tag Archives: Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair

Local Life

Scene Around: Fair Still Cookin’

Fair kitchen is open
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!

Local Life

Retro Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Carousel Girl

Image

Riding on the merry go 'round at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair circa 1990s. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Riding on the merry go ’round at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair circa 1990s.
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

Local Life

Retro Rides of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair

Image

A Fair Haven Firemen's Fair ride perspective from the 1990s Photo/Elaine Van Develde
A Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair ride perspective from the 1990s
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

Local Life

Retro Pick of a Fair Winner

Image

A fair 50/50 drawing of yesteryear. Photo/FHFD
A fair 50/50 drawing of yesteryear.
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?

 

Local Life

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.”

Local Life

Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s Start

Gallery

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

Continue reading Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s Start →