Harmony ‘homecoming’ celebrates America250

— Photo courtesy of Harmony Grange Fair

Grange Fair draws local residents, visitors

By Andy Stine

astine@altoonamirror.com

The small community in the Harmony area may not have much going on, but for one week a year there is a proud tradition at the Harmony Grange Fair.

The fair, an annual event that has been kept alive since 1953, will take place this year from Sept. 22-26. The fair opens every day at 9 a.m., with the exception of the first day when the gates open at noon.

Grange fair manager Shae Harkleroad said the fair started out as a family tradition, and now those running the fair board are in the second and third generations of families.

‘It’s the only thing that happens once a year in our area,” Harkleroad said. “We’re in the middle of nowhere. People look forward to that one event. It’s kind of like a homecoming.

“People that visit us for the first time will say, ‘We’re just riding along on a country road and there’s corn fields and hay fields, and then all of a sudden, boom. There it is.”

Like many fairs and carnivals throughout the nation this year, Harmony will be celebrating America250. The fair will host America250 contests such as hay bale decorating and photography landscapes.

“I think the pride of the country shows through every year at our fair,” Harkleroad said. “It’s being done by a labor of love by the families in the community. It just ties in so well that we celebrate 250 like the rest of the country.”

Along with the America250 celebration, the fair is expecting the Saturday afternoon parade to be a little bigger this year. Harkleroad is hoping for some area bands to be involved with the celebration.

“It’s a line that we walk between trying to keep tradition and yet trying to keep fresh,” Harkleroad said. “There’s a lot of younger people involved with the fair that help us to keep it fresh to keep up with the times.”

Harkleroad noted that the fair board and everyone that helps run it throughout the five days are all volunteers, and he thinks that is one reason that sets it apart from many other area festivals.

“Everyone is doing it because they love it,” Harkleroad said. “That adds to why it continues to go on for 75 years.”

For more information on the fair, visit their website at harmonygrangefair.org or visit the Facebook page at Harmony Grange Fair.