By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Over 300 artisans and vendors set up shop at the Cotton Pickin’ Fair, which takes place next weekend, October 3-4. This nationally-known fair in the Meriwether County town of Gay is one of the most popular festivals in the state.

I hadn’t been to a Cotton Pickin’ Fair in Gay, Georgia, for years when I decided to take fair director Ellen Gay McEwen up on her offer of a couple of tickets last spring. It seemed like a good time to expose Brianna to all the sights, sounds and smells of a big country fair. So, we made the drive to Meriwether County on the first Sunday in May.

The Cotton Pickin’ Fair has been in existence for 26 years. Originally held in October—“cotton pickin’ time” in the South—the fair has grown to a biannual happening the first weekend in May and October in this sleepy town of 100 people. The fair draws some 300 artisans and vendors from around the country—selling arts, crafts, antiques and Southern food—and about 30,000 visitors—making it one of the most popular reoccurring events in the state.

I can’t say Brianna was that enthusiastic about the pottery, sculpture, weaving, woodcarving, jewelry, painting and wearable art that caught my eye; but she thoroughly enjoyed the kiddie rides (particularly, the inflatable bounces, slides and moonwalk in the children’s area), the face painting, and the corn dogs and powdered sugar-sprinkled funnel cakes. (more…)