As of Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 22, fall has officially arrived. The weather is getting just a bit cooler — well, sort of — and the days are noticeably shorter. October is only a couple of weeks away.
In a typical year, the arrival of fall means our area is fortunate to host many great festivals and fairs, bringing food, fun and community together. One of the most anticipated events is the Red River Revel, which gets underway this Thursday and is set to celebrate its 50th year. Another is the Louisiana State Fair, which was scheduled to celebrate its 119th annual run beginning Oct. 30.
All of this has me thinking back in time — as I so often do. My mind turns to Octobers from years past. Both the Red River Revel and the Louisiana State Fair hold countless memories for me.
Not to show my age, but I remember the very first Red River Revel when I was a high school freshman in 1976. Food and music were everywhere — two of my favorite things. What a great combination!
Our high school band ran a food booth selling hamburgers at the Revel. Even now, I can still remember the smell of those sweet onions sizzling on the grill — it makes both my eyes and mouth water. The booth was not only a great fundraiser for our band but also a valuable learning experience for all of us who worked there.
Another favorite October memory of mine is the Louisiana State Fair. I remember “Fair Day” in elementary school. On that day, we were out of school for half a day on the first Friday of the fair. Back then, we would spend the whole afternoon — and well into the night — enjoying the food, rides and fun.
I also remember the “free shows” at the fair when I was a kid. I saw performers like Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbitt and many others long before they reached major stardom. My father often shared his memory of being at the fair on Halloween night in 1959, the same night Billy Cannon made his famous 89-yard punt return against Ole Miss. Dad said he remembers leaning against a utility pole with a loudspeaker attached, listening intently — along with a large crowd that had gathered — as Cannon scored the go-ahead touchdown that helped lead the No. 1-ranked Tigers to victory over then-No. 3 Ole Miss. I can’t wait for our Tigers to kick off this Saturday!
And yes, I have one more fair memory — the corn dogs. In my early 20s, when I weighed only about 170 pounds, I once ate 14 corn dogs over a nine-hour visit to the fair. I’m old enough now not to be embarrassed to share this story. My wife still teases me about it to this very day. It seems to come up at least once a week.
What are your favorite memories of this time of year? Whether you think back to your youth or just the recent past, reflecting on those special moments will surely bring a smile to your face. And as hard as it may be to believe, Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner — bringing even more opportunities to make memories with family and friends.
Randy Brown is Regional Publisher and Executive VP of Specht Newspapers, Inc.