SOAR at the Fair: What a Night!
What an exciting time we had! It could not have been a more beautiful evening; the weather was just right, not too hot, not too cold. And for the very first time since SOAR began, our participants went to the fair!
We had 8 wonderful volunteers who joined us, ready to hang out, make new friends, and split into 5 adventure groups. Some groups were thrill-seekers racing toward the rides, some wanted to play games and see the animals, and others wanted a little bit of everything.
We kicked off the night as one big group, heading straight to the pavilion to see artwork by SOAR members (for more on that, check out our previous blog: “SOAR & WWVDN Kids Playgroup Shine at the Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days Art Exhibit”). After cheering on our talented artists, participants bought their own tickets and wristbands, and then off we went for our three-hour fair adventure!
Now, I can only share what I saw and experienced, but oh, what a night it was. I’ll admit it, when the group suggested the fair, my first thought was, “Really? A hot, crowded fairground? Hard pass.” But here’s the thing: SOAR is their program. They get to choose what we do and where we go, and when they said “fair,” that’s exactly what we did. And thank goodness we did because it turned out to be one of my favorite SOAR nights yet.
I had the “no-riders” group, so we spent the evening exploring. We wandered through the barns (the bunnies and horses were the clear favorites, while the cows earned a polite but quick visit - sorry, cows, it was the smell). We peeked into vendor booths, discovered treasures we didn’t need but definitely wanted, and of course stopped for curly fries and lemonade (because you just have to at the fair). While munching, we stumbled upon a juggler who wowed us with tricks that had everyone gasping, clapping, and trying to figure out how in the world he did it.
Then came the carnival games. Let’s just say my group got more than their money’s worth! Those game attendants were smitten and kept giving them extra tries. Nobody left empty-handed. We waved to friends as we passed them on the fairgrounds, shouting back and forth about the fun we were each having.
Meanwhile, my phone kept buzzing with photos from our volunteers. Each picture captured what I was seeing everywhere around me: joy, bravery, independence, and inclusion. Nervous smiles turning into hands-in-the-air squeals on rollercoasters. Participants trying something new and loving it. Volunteers cheering, laughing, and bonding right alongside their groups. New friendships forming, old ones growing deeper.
And to think I almost said, “It’ll be too hot.” I’m so glad I didn’t. Because what I saw was pure magic, laughter under the fair lights, the smell of curly fries in the air, and a night where everyone felt included, celebrated, and free to just be.
SOAR at the Fair wasn’t just a first; it was a memory we’ll be talking about for a long time.
