The next stop on our Midwestern Adventure Trip (MAT) was Grand Island, NE–home of Ted’s sister, Mutzie and nephew, Glenn. The state fair was in town, so the three of us set out in search of adventure at the fair. This was opening day, so anyone who arrived before noon was admitted free (admission was $12 for adults). We arrived at 11:45.
The sign on the gate behind us says we are welcome at the fair.
As we headed for the main aisle of the fairgrounds, the first thing we saw was the local NBC weatherman telling his viewers that the weather was beautiful for fairgoers.
The forecaster was broadcasting from right in front of the Nebraska history trailer and was wearing a red shirt and tan shorts–just like Ted.
We decided to scope out the fairgrounds to discover what was offered before deciding what to see, so we caught one of the trams that toured the fairgrounds, complete with a narrator on board. There was a minor adventure when one of the riders on our tram fell off. He was standing on the step instead of inside the tram. Fortunately, he suffered only a minor scrape on one elbow.
Naturally, nothing but a large tractor would be appropriate to pull the tram car at the state fair.
When we got off the tram, one of the first things we passed was Nebraska state fair kitsch.
Just like home.
We were passing the dairy barn, so we had a delicious lunch: pie with ice cream. Ted had peach, Mutzie had strawberry-rhubarb, and I had cherry. Yum! Moving onward after eating our pie–ahem! lunch–we saw three semi-trailer trucks with Brad Paisley’s name on them. Brad was scheduled to entertain the Nebraska crowd at 7:00 pm.
One of Brad’s trucks. You can see some of his guys setting things up on the stage on the left side of the picture.
Grand Island, NE is the manufacturing home of Case IH combines. Don’t think you’re going to see Brad Paisley’s show without a ticket.
Case combines (the red machines behind the tractors) were displayed around the arena field, making it impossible to see the stage from outside the venue.
There were traveling individual and group musicians. One group went by as we were walking along the main aisle.
The group did a good job and gave the crowd a happy, toe-tapping feeling.
Since Mutzie is a Quilting Queen, we checked out the display of quilts. There were over 650 quilts displayed in a room designed to display 400, so some had to be hung over each other, allowing only part of each to show. The quilts were beautiful and the building was air conditioned, so it was a nice break.
This is just one corner of the quilt display. There were many aisles filled with hanging quilts, plus all four walls of the room covered with quilts.
As we were leaving the fairgrounds, a “giant” came up to us, so I took a picture of him with Ted.
He’s jolly and he’s a giant. He was also extremely steady on his feet as he danced and twirled.
We had fun at the fair and enjoyed our family time in Grand Island. Until next time, “fair well,” Mutzie and Glenn. (Groan, I know.)
Note: Mutzie apparently knows everyone in Grand Island and possibly in Nebraska. I don’t think ten consecutive minutes went by without meeting someone she knew. She’s way ahead of Kari when it comes to seeing friends wherever she goes.