Danbury Fair facts for kids
The Danbury Fair was a super popular yearly event held in Danbury, Connecticut. It was like a giant festival that brought people together for fun, farming displays, and exciting shows. For many years, it was a big part of life in Connecticut!
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The Fair's Beginning
The Danbury Fair started way back in 1821 as a fair about agriculture. It didn't happen every year at first. But in 1869, some hat makers named Rundle and White helped create the Danbury Farmers and Manufacturers Society. After that, the fair was held every year for ten days in October.
A Huge Fairground
The fair took up a massive 142 acres of land. This land was originally meant to be a fun park called Danbury Pleasure Park. Back then, it cost 25 cents for adults to get in and 15 cents for kids.
What You Could Find at the Fair
The Danbury Fair offered all sorts of things! You could find everything from fresh tobacco, pears, and homemade wines to hats, boots, and saddles. There were also carriages, wagons, butter churns, and stoves. By 1895, more than 1,000 people worked at the fair to make it all happen!
Exciting Races
In 1932, a special race track was built at the fairgrounds. This track was used for exciting midget car and stock car races. Before that, they used to have horse races, but the car races became very popular.
The Fair's Last Days
The Danbury Fair was a beloved tradition for many years. However, when the fair's owner, John Leahy, passed away in 1974, things started to change. The fair organization faced challenges.
The Final Fair
The very last day of the Danbury Fair was October 12, 1981. That year, an amazing 400,000 people came to visit! After the fair closed, all of its rides, attractions, and other items were sold off in a big auction.
A Mall Takes Its Place
Today, the land where the fair once stood is home to the Danbury Fair Mall. This large shopping center was built by the Wilmorite Corporation. For a long time, you could even see old photos of the fair and original signs in the mall's food court, reminding people of the fun times that used to be there.
Famous Giant Sculptures
The Danbury Fair was known for its huge fiberglass sculptures of famous characters. These included a giant Uncle Sam and a big Paul Bunyan.
Uncle Sam's Journey
The Uncle Sam sculpture is an impressive 38 feet tall! Many people say it's the tallest Uncle Sam statue in the world. After the fair closed, this statue was bought and moved to a place called Magic Forest in Lake George, New York. But in 2019, the Uncle Sam statue returned home to Danbury, Connecticut. You can now find it at the Railway Museum.
Paul Bunyan's Travels
The Paul Bunyan sculpture was made by a company called International Fiberglass. This company made many identical statues to sell to stores, often tire or muffler shops. These statues are often called "Muffler Men". The Danbury Fair's Paul Bunyan was even painted to look like a "hippy" at one point! It moved to Max Yasgur's Farm in Bethel, New York, which is famous for hosting Woodstock reunions. Luckily, the Paul Bunyan statue has also returned to Danbury.
