"I can remember going when I was a kid," said Boalsburg resident Shirley Harpster, whose husband shows livestock at the fair. "This is pretty close to my 50th year tenting."

Tents also become prized family possessions that are passed down through the generations. As of now, there is a 500-person waiting list to receive a tent, despite the number of tents having been increased over the years.

Tenting also creates a family atmosphere that many other fairs lack.

"It becomes a kind of family reunion thing, especially on the weekend," Brown said.

Many families attend the fair every year and use the opportunity to see one another.

"It is definitely family," Harpster said. "Our tent was the place for Sunday dinner, and it was just like a Christmas dinner."

Families, through the tenting experience, have created many other traditions by the Grange Fair.

The fair also enhances its family environment by offering events for children throughout the week.

The encampment also adds another element to the many attractions that are part of the fair.

"The fair has become a nighttime act. Because of the built-in audience from the encampment, we have activities during the day," Brown said.

Those activities range from livestock shows, truck and tractor pulls, crafts, over 7,000 exhibits, live entertainment, as well as the many other games and concessions indigenous to fairs.

Each evening of the fair will include a pair of shows played by one of several nationally known groups, such as Chad Brock, Mustang Sally, The Platters and The Wilkinsons. The final evening of the fair will be the exception though, as The Kentucky Headhunters will only perform one show.

This year's Grange Fair will also feature several new renovations and additions. A new gate has been added to ease entry into the fair, and the grandstand for the main stage has been renovated for improved safety and convenience. This year will also mark the return of the draft horse shows absent from last year's fair.

The expected turnout for the Grange Fair this year is 130,000 people over the seven-day period -- a projected figure that Brown said could make this year's Grange Fair one of the largest yet.

The Grange Fair began last night and runs until Aug. 30. The cost of entry for the fair is $5 per day or $12 for a weeklong pass; children under 12 are admitted free. Parking is available for $3 per day or $6 for the week.

More information about the fair can be obtained by calling 364-9212 or by visiting the Grange Fair Web site at www.grangefair.net. A schedule of the week's events can also be found at the Web site.

With such an abundance of time, events and people, the Grange Fair has something for everyone, and offers things that many other fairs do not.

"This one is the most unique of all fairs," Harpster said. "Come and see it. You can't believe it."