The Isle of Wight County Fair is here (well, pretty much)!

I can basically taste the unhealthy, but delicious tasting food, and feel my stomach turn as I spin around on one of the many rides. I can also hear the music drumming in my ears while listening to a performer. Oh, and let me not forget the large tents filled with crafts and businesses selling items that I love to spend half of my time in (and half of my money).

As you can probably tell by now, I’m a yearly fair goer, and I always enjoy my time there – I always have.

There will be something different this year though; the Isle of Wight County Fair Queens won’t be running around with their new sashes and tiaras.

I’m sure you all know the pageant was canceled this year due to the lack of participants that signed up. This year would have been the sixteenth pageant.

Although I never participated in the pageant, I know that it means a lot to the reigning queens, board members, future girls who wanted to participate and many other community members. Having fair queens has been a part of the fair (and is a part of most fairs) for so long that it has become a tradition. It will be strange to not have them this year.

Of course the fair will be just as great as it always is with the many performers, the petting zoo, the camel rides, monster truck rides, many displays and tons more, but it would be nice if the pageant could come back for the future years.

As you go to the fair this weekend and the new queens aren’t stopping to pause for pictures, being driven around, introducing entertainment, etc., I encourage you, to encourage girls to sign- up for the fair next year when the time comes around.

But also, while you’re there, create a craft, ride the rides, don’t eat too many ribbon fries, funnel cakes and corn dogs (but definitely have some), support the local organizations and businesses who have tents out there and enjoy yourself!

REBECCA CHAPPELL is a staff writer for The Tidewater News. She can be contacted at 562-3187 or rebecca.chappell@tidewatenews.com.