Home Arts A Popular Draw At Mid-State Fair
PASO ROBLES, Calif. – The California Mid-State Fair may be winding down, but there’s still plenty to see and do, especially if you visit a couple of areas just off the hustle and bustle of the midway.
The Home Arts buildings may be little quieter, but for many, they’re just as popular.
“Every year I cannot wait to see the artwork in this building. It’s really exciting to see what people have come up with,” said Christine Aguirre of Santa Margarita.
Home Arts includes a wide variety of exhibits, including baked goods, confections, table settings, preserved foods, clothing, textiles, crochet, hand knitting, needlework, quilts, photography, floriculture, industrial arts, and much more.
“The thing that surprised me was the table setting competition. Just looking at the time it takes to set a table. It’s creative, it’s unique, it’s different,” said Jason Vieira of Grover Beach.
A trip into the home arts buildings is sort of like a step back in time, perhaps giving someone an opportunity to get in touch with what may consider to be the real roots of a county fair.
“It’s the part which I think is the old traditional fair, where people get to do some sort of arts, crafts, home arts. They enter them and actually get to win prizes for doing it,” said Mid-State Fair Home Arts Coordinator Peggy Flynn.
Visitors also get an opportunity to see live demonstrations and in some cases, watch artwork coming alive.
“A lot of people have never seen painting in action, so it’s fun. They come by and sit and watch. They give me suggestions and ideas,” said artist Carol Paulsen, while painting a life-sized cow, which will be displayed as part of CowParade, the world’s largest public art event that is heading to San Luis Obispo County early next year.
The California Mid-State fair will run through Sunday, Aug. 2 at the Paso Robles Event Center. Gates open daily at noon and close at midnight.
