Day Tripper

The York Fair

by Rachel Frankford

Fri.-Sun., Sept. 8-10 and 15-17, 10 a.m.; Mon.-Thu., Sept. 11-14, 3 p.m., $2-$5, 334 Carlisle Ave., York, Pa., 717-848-2596, www.yorkfair.org

Hey, you—step right up to the ever-bountiful, funhouse-filled York Fair, a jam with a truly illustrious history.

Created in 1765 by Thomas Penn (son of William), it holds the distinction of being America's first fair. It is also where, circa 1993, I saw my first alcoholic lurking by the carousel. I also threw up after going on some ride that would work equally well training astronauts, but you really don't have to do that.

Look for prize-winning cows and 200-pound pumpkins, and don't miss the daily pig races ("the fastest swine in town!"). They even have one little piggy who jumps 10 feet off a platform into a pool of water. It's awesome.

Musical guests range from the good (Gretchen Wilson) to the bad (Staind) to the, um, aging (Styx). What are you waiting for, lady? Come sail away on a sea of funnel cake, tchotchkes and cotton candy.