LONGVIEW (KYTX) - Beautiful weather has come just in time for the Gregg County Fair! The annual event brings families from all over the country to enjoy rides, food, shopping and fun, and it's also helping the Longview economy.
It's a Longview tradition, bringing smiles to people all over East Texas since 1949. The cheering and the chowing down could be seen from one end of the Longview Fairgrounds to the other.
Billy Clay is checking off his 63rd successful year as fair manager, and says, "We've strived since 1949 to make it a clean family atmosphere and so far we've been able to do that and that's why it keeps them coming out here!"
It's not just people from East Texas.
"We've got people from Dallas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, and more," Clay says.
Some, like Taylor Mars came for the junk food. Like others in the crowd, her favorite were the fried Oreo's.
"It's really good! Delicious!"
Dexter McKinley and his family came for the rides
"What are you guys going to do next?" we asked his four kiddos. "The helicopter!"
If you're not the daredevil type and the rides aren't for you, don't worry - there's a lot of shopping at the fair too! Whatever your preference is, know that you're pumping money right into the local economy.
"Fuel is being bought, supplies are being bought, so it's a good impact on the community right here for the city of Longview and the Jaycees have been putting it on for 63 years and it's a good boost for the economy," Clay says.
He tries to raise the bar every year, and bring the famous Gregg county fair, to new heights.
The fair will be open until the 15th. For information about schedules or tickets, head to www.greggcountyfair.com
