Meaning on the Midway: Students share their observations of the 2008 York Fair.

Sep 14, 2008 (York Daily Record - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- DRED | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Sep. 14--Take eight teenagers to the York Fair for one hour, set them free and what do you get? Find out here as members of the York Daily Record/Sunday News Teen Takeover staff tell you their take on the annual institution.

Overcast sky doesn't deter fairgoers

You might think torrential downpours, muddy walkways and cloud-studded skies would keep people from going outside. But when it comes to the oldest fair in the country, the crowds come rain or shine.

One woman, tucked comfortably in her wheelchair, plowed through hay and puddles to witness her grandchildren ride a coaster. Her beaming smile lit up the darkened air as she watched them ride, laughing all the way.

Kids strolled the aisles of cotton candy, Lola's Luscious

Get the latest news, photos, videos and commentary from York's main event in

All's Fair

, our York Fair blog.

Lemonade, Bricker's Famous French Fries and Kettle Korn decked out in Hollister or American Eagle clothing as they chomped on their hot dogs or sucked their ICEE cups dry of blue raspberry slushie.

A wave of teens sauntered by, each wearing attire of their favorite college football team: Hokies from Virginia Tech, Nittany Lion pride and several Florida States.

The bingo announcer's booming voice echoed through the stands like a racquetball. "Ball 5, ball 6, ball 7," he yelled, as the players tossed.

The fair also exhibits some of the weirdest and wildest foods around. How about some deep-fried ice cream? Mmm, with honey spewing from underneath? Cotton candy flavors like chocolate and lime stuck to the faces of brave children tasting the unique flavors.

A tent devoted entirely to Democratic candidates, both national and local, was adorned with "Obama '08" banners displaying the presidential candidate's picture. Several campaigners stood guard behind the tables of pins and pens, anxious to talk with anyone who would listen.

"It's your future," said Mary Anne Bacas, of why it is so vital for everyone, especially teens, to exercise their right to vote in this election.

Turkeys and roosters crowed in unison from

their cages. Their cherry-red wattles and combs shook with each screech, as if to say, "Let me out of here!"

"Mommy, what's that thing on his head?" a little boy asked, his index finger extended to a turkey's wattle. The mother stared intently at the gobbling bird, just as perplexed as her son. "I don't know sweetie. Let's go."

Outside, friends met up after their half-day off from school. They glided past one another with a wispy slide of the hand that has become this generation's handshake. Girls wore faux gold chains with their names in fancy cursive script while boys wore jeans in which they could hide a cooler.

Ahh, nowhere else but York . . .

-- By ALEX PETERSON, Central York High School

Vegetarian struggles to find health food

Ah, grease. Powdered sugar. Fried dough. Such are the concoctions of the York Fair. I explored rows upon rows of stands selling funnel cake, ice cream, funnel cake and ice cream . . . I was on a quest to find any sign of healthy, vegetarian food.

I passed a pumpkin funnel cake stand. Although pumpkin counts as a vegetable, I did not imagine that mixing it into a paste, cooking it in a vat of hot oil and dumping powdered sugar on top counted as one of my "five a day."

And those French fries? Not a chance.I did have several close calls. I saw a sign labeled, "Vegetable Co." and my heart jumped. Then I came closer and saw fried onion and zucchini rings. Another time

I saw a sign advertising salad. Really? At the York Fair? Then I saw a building was blocking the entire sign: "Taco Salad."

Well, I tried. Just as I was ready to give up -- success! I found a Subway in a building, then discovered the York Fair cafeteria across the path. Curious, I walked inside. The sign in the dark room advertised healthy choices such as fruit salad and green beans. I looked around. There were three people in the huge room. The empty tables and chairs were like the punch line in "Supersize Me." There is healthy food at the York Fair, if anyone is interested. But sometimes you have to embrace the cholesterol and fat and sample the Fair fare.

-- By LAURA DZWONCZYK, Susquehannock High School

Ferris wheel holds many stories

All right, kiddies, it's time for your daily math lesson.

See that big circle thing that looks over all of the York Fair? Oh, stop looking around all confused -- it's just the Ferris wheel.

OK, well, as I'm sure you know, the carnival that comes to York travels all around. That means tons of people have sat their butts on every single ride. The Ferris wheel alone has 20 gondolas. Think about how many people sit in those seats every day.

Yeah, I don't feel like cranking out the calculator either.

It's hard to fathom, perhaps. You've never even seen these people, much less care about them. But seriously, think about it. Who's sat on those Ferris wheel seats, able to snatch a smidgen of privacy at the strange insanity that is the fair?

Kids on the verge of throwing up from too many fried Oreos, a teenager smoking a cigarette, an adult who really has much better things to worry about (like that canceled Danity Kane concert . . . dang!).

But, then again, for all you know, it could have been the first time a baby realized how big the world really is, the place where a man proposed to the love of his life, a college-bound student's one last taste of childhood.

So what's the point of all of this? I suppose, in a way, as bizarre as the fair can be, it connects us as Americans. It's a part of our culture that has endured for years and years (at least in York anyway), and to know that tons of other fellow Americans are participating in that is kind of cool. It brings us away from focusing solely on our own lives and thinking about others.

Never thought you could get that much out of the fair, huh? Sorry for the philosophy lesson.

-- By ARIEL SIEGELMAN, York Suburban Senior High School

Don't judge a carnie by his job

When people think of a carnival or fair, they probably think of carnies.

The term "carnie" doesn't have a good connotation.

The stereotype is that people who run away and join a carnival and usually are a little weird or "out there."

The truth is, while some carnies might fit this stereotype, many are ordinary people. They don't plan on spending the rest of their lives traveling with the carnival (or fair).

Anthony is a 21-year-old who travels with his pop-the-balloon-and-win-a-prize stand.

He got involved because a long-time friend's mother needed help.

Originally from Lakewood, N.J., Anthony has been a carnie for about five years, but he doesn't plan on making a career of it. He wants to become a landscaper, after his carnival life is over.

He said this year was the first time he has been to the York Fair and he thinks it's a livelier event than others he's seen.

"Sometimes we had to (borrow) money from our bosses to eat that night," he said.

-- By AMBER ROUTSON, Spring Grove Area Senior High School

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