Since we lived relatively close, going to the fair was an annual tradition. I still remember wandering through the animal pens to see the 4H livestock and exploring the displays with their food, crafts, and other merchandise. As part of a growing family with limited resources, I don’t know how often we made any purchases. But I still think back to the excitement of seeing what was there every year.

Perhaps my most prominent memory is the year I stopped to watch some sort of promotional video while the rest of the family kept going through the aisles. I can still recall the anxiety I felt when I realize that I was now on my own at the busy county fair.

I wasn’t young enough to truly panic, but I wasn’t old enough to be comfortable being by myself in that type of crowd. I can still see myself racing around the fair, trying to track down my family and the relief I felt when I finally did.

I also have a lot of really good memories of city celebrations in the places that I grew up in.

I remember the excitement of participating in the children’s parade, walking down the street with friends and waving to my parents as they stood on the sidewalk and we passed by.

Then there was the year that I actually got invited to participate in the grand parade, sitting on a wagon with a bunch of other youth and singing a song as we rolled down Main Street in front of the entire town.

In another place we lived, I recall how the parade started fairly close to our home and so we were able to find a spot right at the beginning where there weren’t that many people sitting to watch the community parade.

It was great. Everyone had full bags of candy to distribute at that point and they always singled us out and made sure we got plenty. I remember that many of the political candidates made a point to come over and shake hands with my parents and even the kids — but I was more interested in the candy, of course.

I even remember as I got a little older and gained a little independence how I’d meet friends at the community celebration fair and we just go wandering wherever looked like fun. Those were some fun Saturdays and I don’t think we ever got into that much trouble. We, however, probably did spend way too much on junk food.

I’m sure I’m not the only one that has these types of memories from events like county fairs and community celebrations. I think that they play a very important role in the ties that we have to our neighborhoods and towns.

I hope we haven’t forgotten them.

Sure, you can get thousands of entertainment choices through your streaming services and thousands more on the Internet, but there is a tremendous value to being part of a community.

It comes with good things and bad things. As people we will have our conflicts, but we will also have our connections.

There’s something special about participating in a horseshoe tournament on a warm summer evening or picking up a funnel cake with powdered sugar or watching the local marching band go by during the parade or supporting a local artist at a craft fair.

I believe that life is better when we take the time to get to know each other, and see the good in those around us. I think county fairs and city celebrations do just that.

So when do you think about what you are going to do this weekend or next week, consider going to the fairgrounds or dropping by a local city celebration. I think you’ll find it’s worth it.

Who knows? Maybe I’ll see you there.

Jared Lloyd is the managing editor of the Standard-Examiner and can be reached at jlloyd@standard.net.