Annual Special Needs Day held at fair

Spirits were high and so were temperatures at the annual Special Needs Day at the Warren County A&L Fair.

Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. - noon was set aside for those with special needs and their families to enjoy a day at the fair while encountering shorter lines and a less-stressful environment. The fair has held Special Needs Day for several years. In the past few years, McMinnville Special Games has gotten involved to ensure each participant is able to enjoy fair food, without which no fair experience is truly complete.

Crescent City Amusement Co. which provides the carnival attractions, did its part to make it a special day, as did the Warren County Fair Board and local EMS, fire and law enforcement personnel.

Special Needs Day, a staple of Warren County’s fair, is a bit of a rarity among other county fairs, leading to an influx of out-of-county groups making the trip to take part.

“We have 21 from Van Buren County, 36 from DeKalb County and several from Coffee County joining us today,” McMinnville Special Games Executive Director Holly McBride said.

The day, while a little warm for most people’s tastes with temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, was a hit by all accounts and smiles and laughter were plentiful throughout the two-hour event.