Aberdeen hosts a really outstanding fair, the Brown County Fair.  So many fairs today are discouragingly large and unrepresentative of local flavor. This one is not.

Not only are admission and parking free (also unusual), there are a number of freebies including a Kids Picnic, the popular Antique, Kiddie Pedal Tractor & Pickup Pulls and a Military Appreciation Breakfast.

Free tractor pull at the Brown County Fair

There are standard-fare carnival rides of course, but none of the loud, fun, “big” stuff seems to detract from a fair that has kept itself closely tied to its roots.

If you’re not a fair-goer because you moved here from a city that has an obnoxiously loud, commercialized fair, it’s worth it to check out the Brown County Fair.

For a full list of events, here’s the link.

This Weekend in Aberdeen

There is a lot to do in Aberdeen this weekend so I better not hear any of this “I’m bored” stuff.

Films showing all weekend long at the Capitol Theater.

The town is hosting its sixth annual South Dakota Film Festival which is featuring actor Graham Greene as part of the Thunderheart retrospective.

From the website: Greene earned his first major feature film credit in the historical epic, Revolution, opposite Al Pacino. Later, he landed the role of Kicking Bird in Kevin Costner’s Dances with Wolves (1990). The part not only provided him with major exposure around the world, it garnered him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

There are tons of films to view, including local favorite “The List” (way to go Fischgaard Film fest winners John Vogel and Spotted Ear Productions!) showing during the Saturday session, sometime between 1 and 5:00.

And on Saturday at 7 PM, the Aberdeen Area Arts Council is presenting TAP KIDS. (I gotta say, for a smallish town we have some INCREDIBLE performing art opportunities.)

Featuring an extraordinary and diverse cast of 8 rhythm tap dancers cast from around the country, TAP KIDS is appropriate for all ages. In addition to the public performance, they will be doing an abridged show for schools.

Visit the Art Council’s website for more.

Added: The SD Film Festival garners press in the Washington Post! Nice little article. Read it here.

Make Your Own Fun

This week a friend said, “In Aberdeen you really have to make your own fun.”  This is true, but isn’t it true everywhere? It’s only because we’re a smaller that we think it’s harder to find things to do. But frankly, if you’re not having a good time in Aberdeen you aren’t trying.

This weekend, as an excellent example, was Arts in the Park. While events like these are ubiquitous, what makes ours special is

Visit the Arts Council website for news and events

the intersection of standard, homey fare like funnel cakes or $2 barrel rides offered by the Optimist Club and world-class photography, pottery and woodworking.

Maybe it’s not that different from art fairs around the country, but ours is so organized and well managed, the entertainment is solid, the artisans are different every year and there is enough to see and do to keep the grown ups and the kids occupied.

There are some nice pictures at the Aberdeen American News.

If you missed Arts in the Park, catch the July 4 parade, Final Friday (tons of music at a variety of venues on Main Street),  Storybook Land Festival or the dozens of free events offered by church groups, the library and local businesses.

So…go make your own fun.