This year was the 30th anniversary of the State Fair Meadowlands, the largest fair in New Jersey located at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in Northern NJ. How many of those 30 I’ve been to, I don’t really know other than the past 12 years that I’ve been going. The total is likely well over half its existence, and consequently over half of my existence since I’m only one year older than the fair!

Originally I was planning on heading over with some relatives on Friday, July 1st but the fair decided to close that night due to the storm threat (a good decision in hindsight). Plans sort of went into disarray until we made the decision to meet up at the fair on Wednesday. I didn’t particularly want to go on this night as it was a discount night, but it was at the point where I may have missed out altogether if I didn’t go that night due to schedules/forecasted weather/etc.

Amusements of America and Strates Shows paired up once again to bring in most of the rides, and the fair had…

… Trip Report: State Fair Meadowlands 2016

I headed over to the North Brunswick Youth Sports Festival on Saturday, June 25th. This is one of the largest fairs in New Jersey in terms of midway size with probably only the State Fair Meadowlands topping it; although the New Jersey State Fair is close. Reithoffer Shows was doing the midway this year as they had done in the past with Strates Shows having a little run in 2013/2014 and I think Amusements of America doing it way back when. The fair had…

… Trip Report: North Brunswick Youth Sports Festival 2016

After leaving the Warren Lions Expo, I hopped onto I-78 west for basically a straight shot to my next stop, the Immaculate Conception Parish Festival in Annandale; I was at the fairgrounds maybe 5 minutes after exiting 78. I’ve known about this fair for several years and always meant to check it out. Majestic Midways brought in the rides and the fair had…

… Trip Report: Immaculate Conception Parish Festival 2016

On Thursday, June 16th, I embarked on an epic double carnival trip. Well, all right, it wasn’t that extravagant, but it’s not something I normally do. These long summer days are great for visiting two fairs since it stays relatively bright until like 8:45pm.

The first stop was the Warren Lions Expo in Warren, NJ. I parked at around 7pm at an adjacent shopping center about two blocks away. Admission was $2 and McDaniel Brothers Shows brought in the rides. The fair had…

… Trip Report: Warren Lions Expo 2016

I headed over to the Corpus Christi Carnival in Chatham, NJ on Thursday, June 9th, the carnival’s opening day. It was a great night for a fair with temps in the high 70s, albeit a little windy. I parked in the neighboring Presbyterian Church’s parking lot – the official carnival parking venue.

Once again, Tommy’s Midway had the lot. It wasn’t that long ago when I saw them at the St. James Festival back in April. They had a couple different rides here however; the fair had…

… Trip Report: Corpus Christi Carnival 2016

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