CARNY TOWN

This week see "the Strange Thing" at the Cayuga County Fair in Weedsport, NY!

Fair time in Floyd County

The News and Tribune - Fair time in Floyd County.

The midway is returning to the Floyd County 4-H Fair this week, and organizers believe it will give the fair a needed boost. “We think it will be a big draw,” said Keith Redden, president of the 4-H Corp. Board. “It’s a good deal for us.” Redden said an amusement company out of Florida wanted to get into the area, which made the midway affordable this year. Jerene Gilliam, extension educator for 4-H youth development in Floyd County, said the midway is a good way to draw kids into the fair and hopefully show them what 4-H has to offer. “I think that will help the fair a lot,” she said. Gilliam said getting as many adults and kids to the fair helps promote 4-H and dispel all the myths associated with the organization. “We want people to realize that you don’t have to live on a farm to be involved in 4-H,” Gilliam said. “There are so many other programs for kids to get involved in.” The annual fair begins at 4 p.m. Monday and runs through Saturday. The highlight of the first night will be the crowning of the 2009 queen. Other fair favorites will return this year, including the donkey races, demolition derby and the high-diving pigs. The midway opens at 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday. Redden said organizers plan the entire year for the fair. He said weather — which is expected to be good next week — always plays a factor in attendance. “Demos are a real popular event for us and I think we are going to have 30 or 40 trucks involved in the mud drags,” said Redden, who has been involved in the 4-H for 21 years. Those attending shows at the 4-H arena will be sitting on new bleachers, thanks to a recent grant from the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County. While the midway, demos and high-diving pigs are important draws, the main focus of the fair is for 4-H kids to show animals and other projects they have been preparing all year. Redden said there is more interest in 4-H this year, and he thinks Gilliam — who has been on the job since March — has been instrumental in the growth. “I think this year we have had more involvement than the last five years,” he said. “I think parents realize the programs we offer help keep their kids away from the bad stuff they can get into.” Gilliam said many volunteers have worked hard planning for the fair and working with the kids during the year. “Volunteers work hard getting new kids involved in projects and with animals,” she said. “We just have to get the word out, and the fair gives us that opportunity.” The Floyd County Fair dates back to 1858, and was first held at the current fairgrounds along Green Valley Road in 1953. The fair is the largest opportunity for the Floyd County 4-H Corp. Board to raise funds. The 4-H Fair does not receive county funding.

Dane County Fair

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WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL.

The country life is again on display at local and county fairs as exhibitors show their wares, farmers tout their livestock and fairgoers enjoy rides and food throughout the state until September. This long-standing symbol of the heartland has not changed drastically over the decades. But the size and scope of each fair makes for different experiences. At the Dane County Fair, organizers have planned extensive events, including a roller derby, a tractor parade and a carnival.

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Ride from Jackson's Neverland ranch at fair

Image by TunnelBug via Flickr

Ride from Jackson's Neverland ranch at fair.

With millions of fans worldwide mourning the death of Michael Jackson, the Alameda County Fair joined in Friday by showcasing a mild thriller of a children's ride that the pop icon himself rode at his Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County.

Rides through Sunday on the Balloon Samba are free for children - and even adults.

The early word: The Samba is an off-the-charts hit - the kind of draw that might have made the rock star do the robot or the moonwalk.

"Everyone's showing up to see it," said ride operator Dustin McDaniel. "For its size, it's the best ride in Kiddieland."

The Samba is not quite as daring as the swings, which send riders on a radical, centrifugal arc - tethered only by two lengths of chain. Its other top competitors include an old-fashioned Ferris wheel, a musical carousel, swirling teacups, flying elephants, gliding helicopters and an ultra slow motion choo-choo train.

Kids Park, which is designed for small children, also boasts a wandering clown in a four-wheeler, a boisterous pirate show and the usual assortment of carnival games, prizes and fast food.

Metallic balloons

The Samba is a classic ride, consisting of eight multi-colored metallic balloons with baskets beneath for one to four riders. As the ride begins, the balloons rise gently in the air about 6 feet or so and do the equivalent of pirouettes. Riders have a steering wheel of sorts inside their basket to control the degree of spin.

And on Friday, the ride made children and adults yell and laugh with glee - and sometimes horror. While some riders actively spun themselves into a frenzy, others hung on with dizzy eyes and woozy stomachs.

But like most other young children's rides, there's no music to be heard - not even a riff of songs like "Billie Jean" "Beat It," "ABC, "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" or "Thriller."

"Adults are lovin' it. They're coming back over and over with their kids," McDaniel said. "Some adults are coming by themselves. Sometimes they scream, 'Stop, I've had enough.' But if everyone's smiling, I have a hard time pushing the stop button."

About 400,000 visitors come to the county fair, whose midway and exhibits are open (except Mondays) through July 19.

The fair sponsors the Bay Area Wine Competition and holds competitive exhibits for homemade jellies, photographs, and artwork - not to mention 4-H competitions for kids and animals.

Al Piper, the county fair's gate captain, said that he has taken two weeks vacation each year since 1976 to work for the fair. "It's great. My kids started here in 4-H," he said.

"I love this fair. I've been coming here since I was 3 years old. I've been working here for four years," said Angel Moore, a marketing coordinator whose specialty is spin. "It's such a tradition, and to be able to pass it along to my kids (5, 10 and 12) is amazing."

'A beautiful ride'

Her verdict on the Samba: "To me, it's a beautiful ride aesthetically. It reminds me of something out of Peter Pan. It looks magical to me."

A sign next to the ride bears no image of the King of Pop, but proudly declares: "The Balloon Samba ride was ridden by Michael Jackson and thousands of others through the years."

Anthony Gillis of Vallejo, who took his 4-year-old son Brandon on the Samba, said: "We just got here, and it was our first ride. ... It was very nice. It was good to hear the kids having fun on it."

Mixed reviews

Still, some riders gave the Balloon Samba mixed reviews.

"I never would've rode it if it hadn't been at Neverland and had he not died over the weekend. It would've just been a balloon ride," said Robert Leong of Danville.

"I guess a lot of things are forgiven in the passing," he said, alluding to Jackson's eccentric behavior. "We remember the legacy, not the sins."

"It was fun," said Leong's 9-year-old daughter Julia. "It kind of makes you dizzy, even if you don't spin. It spins itself."

"It was awesome," said Marleigh Leaks, 5, of Oakland, who rode the Samba with the helping hand of her much older brother Raheem Leaks.

Jackson, 50, died of cardiac arrest on June 25. He was accused in 1993 of sexual abuse of children who had visited Neverland, but no charges were filed. He was accused again of sexual misconduct with children in 2003, but acquitted at trial.

"Michael Jackson was a part of my childhood and this reminds me of when I was a child," said Meridith Giovannoni of Livermore, who had fun riding the Samba on Thursday, and returned with her 4-year-old son Devin and two of his friends the next day.

She herded the three eager children into a balloon basket. "That way they can spin together and make each other sick," Giovannoni said.

When the ride was over, Devin grimaced and indicated that he doesn't plan to jump on the ride again anytime soon.

"My kids actually love Michael Jackson and cried when they found out he died," said Danielle Weatherford of San Lorenzo, who didn't dare tell them that the Samba was the musical genius' former ride.

Her 7-year-old son Cameron, who sports a Mohawk haircut, gave the ride a rating of 5 on a scale of 10. "I like to spin."

His 5-year-old sister Destiny got off the ride a bit queasy.

"When my brother goes on rides, he goes too fast," she said, catching her breath. "He was spinning really fast."

Purchased from Neverland

The Samba was one of five rides that Butler Amusements, which operates the carnival at the Alameda County Fair, purchased last year from Neverland.

"It looks like the sparkliest ride in the park," said Megan Clark of San Francisco, who snapped photos of her niece, nephew, and sister-in-law riding the Samba, but decided to stick to firm ground. "It's probably in better shape than anything else out here.

"My niece looks like she may not make it. My nephew looks like he's having a great time," Clark said of the 3 1/2-year-old twins. "I am the official photographer, and that's my excuse - because these rides make me nauseous."

Alameda County Fair

Hours:

(Through July 19. Closed Mondays.)

Tuesday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday through Sunday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Today: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Carnival hours: noon until closing

General admission:

Adults $10

Seniors (62 and over) $8

Children (6 through 12) $6

Ride tickets:

Wristband for unlimited rides for adults and children:

Tuesday through Thursday $25

Friday through Sunday $28

Individual ride tickets also available

Location:

Alameda County Fairgrounds

4501 Pleasanton Ave.

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Vermilion County Fair kicks off Tuesday

Image by Brent and MariLynn via Flickr

The Commercial-News, Danville, IL - Vermilion County Fair kicks off Tuesday.

OAKWOOD — Vermilion County and Expo fair organizers are working to spice up a few of the attractions for 2009. The fair begins Tuesday and runs through July 11. Evelyn Trimmell, secretary of the fair board, said one of the big changes is a new carnival. “We have a new carnival this year, which is big news for us. We were severely disappointed last year,” she said. Organizers began searching soon after the 2008 fair. This year is the 50th anniversary of the queen pageant. “A lot of former queens will be coming back to visit,” she said. Other new additions will be a petting zoo and pony rides. Al Peeler, a fair board member, is heading up a new effort this year that he hopes will attract younger fair goers. The Great American Beer Arena will feature a variety of attractions, which depart from the usual idea of a beer tent where people simply go to drink, he said. Each day of the fair will feature a new arena attraction, including Karaoke Idol at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The arena will hold the Projekt Legalize Freedom Concert beginning at 2 p.m. Friday that will feature five area bands. Wednesday the arena will feature an art show that will include a silent auction, raffle and wine. Thursday at 6 p.m., the arena will host a cornhole tournament in which three cornhole boxes will be raffled off. “Every day we have something for somebody,” Peeler said.

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A fair share of new and old at Polk County Fair | Grand Forks Herald | Grand Forks, North Dakota

A fair share of new and old at Polk County Fair | Grand Forks Herald | Grand Forks, North Dakota.

FERTILE, Minn. — A new attraction at the 109th Polk County Fair isn’t exactly what you’d find on the farm. A reptile and amphibian show featured a chance to pet live stingrays. About a half-dozen of the threatened species were swimming in a long, shallow tank, near a couple of other displays of adult and baby horseshoe crabs. Dan Grunhovd, president of the Polk County Fair Board, said he saw the exhibit at last year’s Minnesota State Fair. “I’ve been in this business for 38 years and go to about 30 fairs a year, including Grand Forks,” Grunhovd said. Visitors to the exhibit were advised to use two fingers to gently pet the creatures. Some kids weren’t timid about it, but 9-year-old Riley Ellingson of Fertile had second thoughts. “She pet the snake and the turtle, but not the stingray,” said her father, Chris. Riley was more glad to see the return of the merry-go-round and Ferris wheel, which were being repaired in 2008. Stormi Brault, 7, showed no fear in scaling all 24 feet of “The Rock,” a test of climbing strength brought from Bemidji by Steve Puschinsky. “The extreme side brings in a lot of 13- to 15-year-olds,” Puschinsky said. After Stormi went up and down twice for the second year in a row, he said, “the youngest to climb it was 3 years old, and the oldest was 76.”

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Economy is ticket to Fair Park amusement park plan | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News

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Economy is ticket to Fair Park amusement park plan | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News.

Fair Park, bringing an estimated half-million visitors to the area from May to August. That's the vision of Errol McKoy, president of the State Fair of Texas, who wants to build a summer amusement and entertainment complex there by 2012. But it can't be "State Fair Lite," he warned. McKoy sees the new State Fair amusement park stealing some of the thunder from Six Flags Over Texas. That idea, said a Six Flags spokeswoman, is "comical." "I know how theme parks work," said McKoy, who worked for Six Flags for 20 years before becoming chief of the State Fair in 1987. "I certainly know how they think." A Dallas Morning News review of the State Fair's finances found that McKoy's plans hang almost entirely on the economy. Because Summer Place funding depends on future profits from the State Fair over the next three years, nothing is guaranteed. Dallas-area tourism officials say Summer Place could pump new life into a city known more for eating out and shopping than for tourist attractions. "It would make Dallas a more sellable product," said Deborah Marine, director of communications for The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. "I don't really see it as competition. I see it as one more activity for families to choose from." Talk to McKoy about Summer Place – complete with a 500-foot-tall observation tower and a new roller coaster – and you can see the gleam in his eye and sly grin turning up the corners of his mouth. He clearly relishes the idea of creating competition. Sharon Parker, public relations manager for Six Flags, said the Arlington theme park offers more than 100 rides and attractions. McKoy's hope that Summer Place will chip away at Six Flags is not realistic, she said. "There is a reason why Six Flags is called the entertainment capital of Texas," she said. "We find it interesting and comical that the State Fair thinks offering a roller coaster and an observation tower and a few other unnamed attractions is even in the same ballpark." McKoy estimates that Summer Place will cost more than $20 million – all paid for by revenue from the annual State Fair, which spans 24 days in September and October at Fair Park. McKoy said he will not ask the city of Dallas for any public money to support the midway enhancements. No operating budget has been developed for the planned park, he said. McKoy and his staff have requested an extension on filing a 2008 income tax return for the State Fair, which is tax-exempt. So the fair's most recent financial information is not publicly available. The fair's 2007 return shows $11,361,868 in savings and cash investments. A good financial year for the fair this fall could yield another $5 million, McKoy said. Good years in 2010 and 2011 could set the stage for a Summer Place opening in May 2012, he said.

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Carnival or Park Rides

KMG - Home.

KMG develops, manufactures, operates, sells and has for hire fairground attractions. KMG also organizes fun fairs and related events. For maintenance and repairs of fairground attractions, too, you have come to the right shop at KMG's. In summary: for everything in the field of fun fairs and entertainment you can come to KMG. Should you have any questions left after viewing our site, or if there is something you cannot find, please send an E-mail to: post@kmg.nl We are attending the following fairs: EAS Expo 29 September - 2 October 2009 Amsterdam. IAAPA Attractions Expo 17 - 20 November 2009 Las Vegas.

Premiere KNMG Swing Tower

KMG debuts High Swing 60 meter high tower ride

First full test run of KMG's High Swing 60 meter high tower ride.

National Cherry Festival final preparations : News : WPBN TV 7&4

National Cherry Festival final preparations : News : WPBN TV 7&4.

The National Cherry Festival officially starts Saturday morning but today organizers are putting the final touches on the set up making sure everything is just right. "The last day is the hardest day because that's when all the vendors come in and you've got to get all the little things that you have to wait until the very end like signage all the beautification stuff that we're working on. But it's all going to come together, we're confident," says festival executive director, Tim Hinkley Hinkley says it's confidence that's moving last minute festival preparations along. With less than 24 hours to go before the opening day organizers were out bright and early to finalize the set up. "I was out by six o'clock and I know there were other people starting to file in around six and tonight it will go on until it's done," says Hinkley. That means business booths, signs, even the food court all need to be complete come Saturday morning. One area that has been raising some questions with the festival is the Arnold Midway carnival rides. This year the rides are set up on parking lots B and P. But Hinkley says parking is still available just in other parts of the city. "It's just been transferred. A lot of the parking is permit parking because you've got different businesses that are down there. I know we've got permit parking for a lot of our vendors and sponsors, but I think there's also a lot of other opportunities around," says Hinkley. For now Hinkley says everything is on track for the festival that as always is expected to bring in crowds from across the country. "it's a great economic generator and it's a great way for the area to showcase itself. People up from Illinois, I talked to people from California already. So it's our chance to show off....You want things to look great, you want them to have a great time so you put on your best face and put your best foot forward," says Hinkley.