These Little Piggies Went To The Fair ...

“This little piggy went to market,

This little piggy stayed home,

This little piggy ate roast beef,

This little piggy had none.

This little piggy went…

Wee, wee, wee,

All the way home!”

     ~ “This Little Piggy”

       ~ originally published 1760

 “This Little Piggy” or “This Little Pig” is an English language nursey rhyme and fingerplay.

The rhyme is usually counted out on an infant or toddler’s toes, each line corresponding to a different toe, usually starting with the big toe and ending with the little toe. A foot tickle is usually added during the “Wee … all the way home” section of the last line. The rhyme can also be seen as a counting rhyme, although the number of each toe (from one for the big toe and five for the little toe) is never stated.

This adorable pig family – Papa Pig, Mama Pig and their two piglets – beckon those traveling near the Allentown Fairgrounds on Liberty Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania to come enjoy The Great Allentown Fair, a local tradition since 1852.

My personal favorite memory of the fair hands-down happened when I was a child in the 1970s seeing a performance by my first heartthrob, Donny Osmond! Oh, it’s still a thrill to hear him sing “Puppy Love!”

I spotted this Adams Outdoor Advertising billboard in the quaint West End Theatre District, advertising the fair which ran Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2019 – a great way to wrap up the summer!

The Great Allentown Fair is an annual fair and agricultural show that is held at the Allentown Fairgrounds. It is operated by the Lehigh County Agricultural Society. It is one of the oldest fairs in the United States, and one of the largest in the state of Pennsylvania.

The fair was first held in 1852 to showcase agricultural advancements and to entertain patrons. It has since evolved to appeal to a broader audience, adding more entertainment and dining options. Although it stays true to its agricultural roots by offering petting zoos, livestock judging contests and a farmer’s market, the modern-day fair focuses more on entertainment; it boasts a carnival, talent shows and concerts.

With A Cup Of Retro ...

“I can’t imagine there has ever been a more gratifying time or place to be alive than America in the 1950s. No country had ever known such prosperity.”

                   ~ Bill Bryson

                     ~ American-British author

                            ~ born 1951

People line up for a taste of summer –with a cup of retro on the side – in the waning days of August at the Canalside Cup in Williams Township, Easton, Pennsylvania, along the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L Trail).

The Canalside Cup serves up ice cream, funnel cake fries, burgers, hot dogs and the like with a retro vibe, as 1950s music plays over speakers outside where shaded picnic tables beckon patrons to soak up the scenic view while they nosh.

I captured this image after starting out from the Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area Trailhead at Delaware Canal State Park, Raubsville. After walking I grabbed a bite at the Canalside Cup for the first time and it was great. I also enjoyed eating outside as strains of “Earth Angel” and other ‘50s hits wafted through the air. My only complaint is I didn’t hear any Elvis Presley tunes during my visit, maybe next time!

The trail is positioned between the Delaware River and Delaware Canal, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978. The site possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America.

Running from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, the D&L Trail passes through the Lehigh and Delaware rivers and their canals in Pennsylvania.