Fairs

The history of fairs can be traced to ancient Rome. The “feriae” were holy days when people would gather for leisure games and competitions. In the Middle Ages, commerce was added to the festivities, and merchants would gather in temporary markets to buy, sell, and trade their goods. Over time the focus shifted from religious to agricultural celebrations. In America, the first “fair” was held in 1807 in Massachusetts. What started as a simple sheep shearing competition developed into a showcase for farmers to display their livestock. This friendly competition was combined with commercial vending, and over the years the idea of the fairs began to spread to surrounding counties and states.

The first state fair was held in New York in 1841. It was still largely focused on agriculture and farm animals, but lectures were held and speeches were given. Merchants were on hand to offer products that could be used on the farm and in the home, and thus, the American fair as we know it was born. Virginia followed suit and the Commonwealth’s first state fair was held in Richmond in 1854. This was several decades after Lynchburg’s first local fair in 1828, which benefited St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and featured an auction held at the Franklin Hotel.

Annual agricultural fairs in Lynchburg were held every October at the Fairgrounds or City Park (now known as Miller Park). The fair moved to Riverside Park in the new suburb of Rivermont after 1894, when a lease was signed between the City and the local fair association. In Riverside Park, fairs highlighted inventions like the chicken incubator and showcased new farming practices.

In some rural areas, the county or state fairs were the only time farmers would hear news about developments in their industry. They could watch demonstrations of electricity and new farm equipment. Fairs also provided entertainment for farmers and their families. They could listen to live music or watch activities like rodeos, racing, and tractor pulls. Sometimes vaudeville acts or carnival rides would be included. Of course, commerce was still a large part of the experience, and food and souvenir vendors were always present.

Many fairs began to stray from their agricultural roots in the 20th century. In cities, street fairs began popping up to celebrate the local economy. Community groups often hosted fairs that included amusement rides, food vendors, games, and merchandise. Urban areas hosted travelling carnivals, which included all of the entertainment of traditional fairs without the agrarian activities typically seen in its early days.

Fairs are still commonplace throughout the United States, and some state fairs draw more than one million visitors each year. Residents of rural counties still depend on fairs as a place to buy and sell livestock, as well as show off their cooking, canning, or sewing skills. Many of the educational displays are created by youth organizations like Future Farmers of America and 4-H. The same entertainment that visitors have enjoyed for two centuries still draw crowds every year: carnival rides, food, music, and competition. Today in Virginia, there are few remaining county fairs. The State Fair of Virginia is held in Doswell, north of Richmond, every fall.