It was my first time visiting the Great Allentown Fair. Before I visited, I was wondering why a small town fair from Allentown was called “Great.” But after going to it, I understand the reason why that word was used.
It is not one specific thing, or one specific ride that makes it great. It’s the fact that there is something for everyone, one particular stall, booth or ride that makes it great for that singular individual.
For me, it was the baby goats playground. I was wondering what to write about for the longest time before the fair, and I was frankly annoyed because my friends and I decided to go to the fair when the sun was blistering our skin off.
But in the end, it was all worth it because of the baby goats. I did not even spot it at first as it was behind some of the stalls, but my friend saw the sign advertising the the little area, and she immediately called out to us. It was a small squarish barn, and you could enter and play with baby goats. You can feed them hay, or lay them on your lap, petting them to sleep. Not only can you enter for free, but you can also stay for however long you want. They ask for donations at the entrance, and my friends and I all donated because it was such a wonderful thing for them to do.
As soon as I went in, I sat on the hay covered floor and saw a small, brown baby goat sitting right in front of me. I picked it up, and laid it on my lap. Ever since I was a kid, I have loved animals, and having something as precious as a baby goat in my lap made me feel extremely emotional as well as elated. Around me, there were several people, some cooing at the little animals to come sit on their laps, and others chasing one that was running around. But at that moment, I could only concentrate on the one in my arms, its little head adorned with the cutest horns, and a white stripe going down its forehead to its nose.
The smell of hay surrounded me from everywhere, and other baby goats would occasionally come and eat the hay off of my pants and t-shirt, because I was on the floor and had bundles of them stuck to me. I did not even care that they were making my clothes dirty, as long as they were having their food and being happy.
My favourite thing about the goats were when they would tuck their head into the crook of your elbow, and rub their ear against your hand when you scratched their bellies. Seeing them so comfortable and contented with me made me never want to leave, and take the goats back with me home.
Everyone else in the barn was in a similar feeling of happiness. I even met another student from Muhlenberg, and she was kind enough to actually give her baby goat to another child who did not have one. Unfortunately we had to leave, and I kept my goat under one of the seats, next to some food so it could go to sleep peacefully.
I just loved the atmosphere of the little barn, and even though I was close to going back home because of the heat, I was glad I did not. The little hay particles got stuck all over my pants, and I had wet spots on me from the goats eating off of me, but none of it bothered me even the slightest.
It was an experience I enjoyed thoroughly, and I can now confidently say that I was part of this year’s Great Allentown Fair.
