The Grange Encampment and Fair

Everyone here says we had to go to the Grange Encampment and Fair. So we did. What is it?

The Grange Fair is a city within a town, as campers "move into" the Grange Park in Centre Hall, PA to live for more than a week. Come for the concerts, the rides, the amazing food, the games, and the competitions. But you'll come on back for the experience of being in one of the most uniquely friendly "hometowns" in America.

They weren't kidding about the move in part: 800 tents, over 2,000 RVs. Awesome to see. A county fair on steroids with more monkey bread stands, blooming onion  vendors, slushy grinders, and things-on-a-stick fryers than you can ever imagine - or digest. We did our best, but our biggest regret is that we didn't skip the deep fried pickles and leave more room for another peach dumpling. My were they good.

The schedule said the tractor pulls started at 10 am. We got there around 11 and plopped down in the hot sun. After a few hours, I started to realize that this would not be resolved any time soon. There were stock classes, pro classes, classic classes, all in a welter of weights - 6000 lb, 7000 lb, 9,000 lb, 13000 lb, 15000 lb.... They planned to take a break at 4 pm, then resume at 6 pm and continue until closing! And there were tractor pulls each day. Pro points custom on Monday, garden tractor on Sunday, pedal tractor pulls too.

We had great fun. Ann bailed first, and went exploring. Ben bailed next. I stuck it out, broiling in the sun so I could watch the classic modified pull - old tractors gone wrong with straight exhaust chevy big blocks and front wheels that rarely touched the ground.

Just had to go back for the Monday Pro Mod.