KINCAID — A handful of vehicles were parked on Commercial Street in front of Two Sisters Cafe here Wednesday afternoon. The only overt activity was a few fellows moving picnic tables next to an outdoor eating pavilion.
Activities picked up today with people coming to town to place entries for the 102nd annual Kincaid Free Fair. Saturday the small town, tucked into the southeast corner of Anderson County, will spring to life.
“I don’t know how many people will be here,” said Rick Thompson, helping with the picnic tables, “but last year I counted at least 170 people lining the street between the snow cone machine and that light pole,” a distance of less than 100 feet.
“It was like that all up and down the street, always is,” he added.
That could translate to 2,000, maybe 2,500, in total attendance.
“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised,” replied Thompson’s wife, Connie. “The fair is a community affair, kind of like a big reunion,” when former residents stream to town, proving that in Kincaid, Kansas, “you can come home again.”
“Don’t write this down (who could resist),” Rick Thompson said, “but a lot of county fairs have trouble each year getting everything together.
“We don’t have any trouble at all,” he continued. “We have a few meetings — probably don’t really need to — and everything gets done. We don’t worry about anything, just go do what’s necessary to put on the fair another year.”
Why has it grown and prospered, Thompson was asked.
“Why? Maybe it’s the time of year, I don’t know. It just goes over big every year and just keeps getting bigger,” he said.
Toby’s Carnival, from Arma, is factor. It has been a fair fixture for years, one that many smaller fairs don’t have these days.
“The carnival should get credit for a big share of the fair’s success,” said Rick Thompson. “A lot of people and kids really like it.”
Owners apologized for not having a Ferris wheel this year, but few fairgoers will notice with all that is available.
The picnic tables are an example of community spirit. The ones used for years were getting a little weathered and rough, so someone mentioned new ones would be nice.
Private donations popped up, Thompson said, “and I’m not going to try to say who gave because I’m sure I’d miss someone. Richard and Travis Church went to work and put together those five nice new ones.”
Thompson is a Kincaid Lion and will be one of the club members Saturday in the outdoor pavilion frying burgers and french fries — “the only time he cooks,” said wife Connie.
To ensure no one goes hungry, the Lions ordered in 700 pounds of hamburger and 34 cases of fries, which at 30 pounds each totals better than 1,000 pounds.
Several other organizations — only with the blessings of the fair association — will have food to feed the throng.
