THE BALLOON MAN

Saturday night at the fair in Anderson: Camel rides and Skee ball 

Photo by Nathan Gray, Anderson Independent Mail 

Fair-goers ride the Cyclops in Anderson. 

By Kirk Brown 

Anderson Independent Mail 

May 5, 2012

ANDERSON COUNTY — The lines for food and rides at The Great Anderson County Fair lengthened Saturday evening as the setting sun gave way to the rising “supermoon.”

Standing behind his older brother, 6-year-old Jackson Tillirson had serious doubts about climbing onto a camel named Bubba.

After their ride, however, both boys were smiling widely.

“I don’t why I was crying,” Jackson said. “It was fun.”

Cameron, Jackson and their younger brother, 2-year-old Langdon, went to the fair with their grandparents, Williamston residents Mike and Joy Tillirson.

The boys’ mother, Jean Tillirson, traveled to Washington, D.C., for the weekend to visit her husband, Todd Tillirson, a major in the National Guard who is currently deployed in the nation’s capital.

While the Tillirson boys got in line for another ride, Maddie Grace Kyker, 3, was climbing out of a spinning tea cup.

“That was her favorite ride,” said Maddie’s mother, Anderson resident Nicole Kyker.

Maddie’s father had a slightly different opinion, however.

“I feel a little sick,” Will Kyker said with a sheepish grin.

Over on the fair’s midway, Hunter Manley, 4, was wearing a Spider-Man cap while clutching an inflatable Batman. 

Fair-goers play Skee-Ball at The Great Anderson County Fair. 

Hunter’s uncle, Anderson resident Tyler Stamps, won the caped crusader by achieving a 220 point score in Skee Ball.

Stamps said he was enjoying the county fair, which is happening at the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center after a five-year hiatus.

“It’s great,” Stamps said.

Steve Henderson helps his daughter Kinsey Henderson play a midway game. 

Chuck Roberts, one of the employees working on the midway, has been doing carnival jobs for the past 30 years. Saturday night he guessed the weight, age or birth dates of customers.

After paying her $3 fee, Anderson resident Deborah Mize asked Roberts to guess her age.

“This is a dangerous job guessing women’s ages,” Roberts said. “If I go a little over, there is no scratching or kicking.”

Roberts guessed that Mize was 54, which is four years under her correct age. That was far enough off for Mize to collect a prize.

She chose a photograph of a tiger.

The fair’s five-day run ends Sunday.