`SINGIN' IN THRAIN': WEATHER DOESN'T DAMPEN FUN AT EAST PERRY FAIR

Crowds converged on the small community of Altenburg last weekend to be a part of the "Best Little Fair in the Land." On Saturday, Mother Nature tried her best to deter the crowds, but in the end the fair goers would not be denied their fun.

Earl Lorenz, fair president, didn't want to place a number on the crowd but he said it was quite large considering the rain on Saturday. Despite the rain all of the scheduled events were completed.

This year's parade on Friday was bigger than ever according to Lorenz. And there were 25 mules entered in this year's mule jump.

A great addition to this year's fair was a new road that helped out quite a bit with traffic and parking.

"In the years to come this new road will really help us," Lorenz said.

Fred Eggers, publicity chairman for the fair, said that besides the record crowd on Friday and the largest turnout for the horse show, they also had a record number of commercial displays at this year's fair.

People enjoyed many different types of food, games, exhibits and rides during the two-day fair.

Music was also a big part of this year's fair Little Rock a country rock band performing on Friday night and the Saxony Hills Community Band performing on Friday afternoon. Country Touch, a country band was booked for Saturday evening's entertainment.

The first East Perry County fair was held in 1919, but the annual tradition stopped in the 1920s. It picked up again in 1938 and stopped again during World War II. It has been held continuously since 1946.