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On the midway at the Imperial County Fair, California 1942

Tamron Hall

Throwback fairs!

With county fair season just around the corner, take a nostalgic look back at vintage pictures of fairs past.

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1920s BOYS COUNTING CHANGE FOR ENTRANCE TO CIRCUS SIDESHOW. H. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS/CLASSICSTOCK/Everett Collection (c158)

Flashback fairs!

With county fair season just around the corner, here's a look back at vintage pictures of fairs past. Prices may have gone up, but the essence of the fair has always stayed the same.

Boys count their change to enter a circus slideshow at an unidentified country fair, 1920.

—
Westchester County Fair, crowd and booths, New York

Wild wild West(chester)

On the grounds of the Westchester County Fair in the northern suburbs of New York City.

— Bain News Service
Winner at the Delta County Fair, Colorado 1939

First place

A winner at the Delta County Fair, Colorado 1939.

— Russell Lee
Custer County fair exhibit, Broken Bow, Nebraska

Giant vegetables

Undated photo at The Custer County fair exhibit, Broken Bow, Nebraska.

— Solomon D. Butcher
Photo from 1940 showing the Delta County Fair in Colorado.

Riding high

Children enjoy a ride at the Delta County Fair in Colorado, 1940.

— Russell Lee
\"Test your strength,\" county fair, central Ohio 1938

Test your strength

A high striker, also known as a strongman game or strength machine, at a county fair in central Ohio, 1938. Step right up!

— Ben Shahn
Purchasing tickets at county fair, central Ohio 1938

Ticket time

Purchasing tickets at a county fair, central Ohio, 1938.

— Ben Shahn
Livestock display, Champaign County Fair, Ohio 1938

Hold your horses

Livestock display, Champaign County Fair, Ohio, 1938.

— Ben Shahn
Refreshment stand at county fair, central Ohio 1938

Snack time

Refreshment stand at county fair, central Ohio, 1938. (Hopefully the food is better than the spelling.)

— Ben Shahn
Resting at the Imperial County Fair, California 1942

Downtime

Resting at the Imperial County Fair, California, 1942.

— Russell Lee
county fair, central Ohio 1938

Unusual attractions

County fair, central Ohio, 1938

— Ben Shahn
Cattleman at the Imperial County Fair, California 1942

Ranchers rest

Cattlemen at the Imperial County Fair, California, 1942.

— Russell Lee
Girls at the Imperial County Fair, California 1942

Spectators

Girls at the Imperial County Fair, California, 1942. (Too bad we don't what they're reacting to!)

— Russell Lee
On the midway at the Imperial County Fair, California 1942

Out for a spin

A vintage version of the Tilt-A-Whirl, one of the best-known carnival rides, at the Imperial County Fair, California, 1942.

— Russell Lee
Photographer's note: at the Custer County fair, Broken Bow, Nebraska. 1886

Horticulture

Garden goodies on display at the Custer County fair, Broken Bow, Nebraska, 1886.

— Solomon D. Butcher
At the Greene County fair in Greensboro, Georgia 1941

Kiddie rides

Children ride in the cars at the Greene County fair in Greensboro, Georgia, 1941.

— Jack Delano
At the Greene County fair, Greensboro, Georgia 1941

Sharing the fun

At the Greene County fair, Greensboro, Georgia, 1941.

— Jack Delano
Boys. Imperial County Fair, California - 1942

Joy ride

Men ride on a car at the Imperial County Fair, California,1942.

— Russell Lee
Greensboro, Georgia. The Greene County fair 1941

On the midway

Visitors enjoy the rides at the Greene County Fair, Greensboro, Georgia, 1941.

— Jack Delano
El Centro, California. March, 1942. Imperial County Fair

Sneaking a peek

A boy peers into the viewer of a peep show at the Imperial County Fair in El Centro, California, 1942.

— Russell Lee
Westchester County Fair, dog show, New York

How much is that doggie?

Westchester County Fair, dog show, New York.

— Bain News Service
Greensboro, Georgia. The Greene County fair in the evening 1941

Give me a ring

Men try a ring toss game at The Greene County Fair, Ohio, 1941.

— Jack Delano
Midway and carnival, Shelby County Fair and Horse Show, Shelbyville, Kentucky. Date 1940 Aug.?. Date: (10590614) Photo By: Mary Evans Picture Library/Everett Collection

Hog wild

Visiting the world's largest hog at the Shelby County Fair and Horse Show, Shelbyville, Kentucky, 1940.

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