Carny Town - Traveling Carnivals, Fairs and Festivals

Brown County Fair comes to a close

The 156th Brown County "Little State Fair" came to a close on Saturday after another successful week of fun, food, and entertainment. With almost perfect weather and unusually high temperatures, this year's fair was one to remember.

Fair Secretary and Treasurer Juanita Barricklow is happy with the way the fair went and thanked the fair directors for all of their hard work.

"A lot of work goes into this fair every year," Barricklow said. "I think we have one of the best groups of directors in the state of Ohio."

People from all over the tri-state area gathered in Georgetown for the fair's opening day parade on Sept. 24. With well over 9,100 people on the fairgrounds on the first day alone, the fair was off to an explosive start.

"Our parade this year was the biggest one we've ever had," Barricklow said.

Fair events included a senior citizen's day on Sept. 27; a tractor pull competition, with over 25 tractors in a single class; presentations by Junior Fair members and local 4-H clubs, and numerous performances by entertainers including the Grasstains, The Waynoka Dandy Liners, The Liberty Band, Mark Chesnutt and many more.

"Mark Chesnutt was amazing," Barricklow said. "He's very personable, and the crowd was great."

Thursday's Senior Citizen Day included a senior citizen recognition ceremony that gave fairgoers an opportunity to see who was the oldest in the crowd. Wayne Gardner was the oldest person in attendance, at the age of 101. Margaret and Marvin Case were recognized as being the longest married couple with 71 years, and Evelyn Freedman held the record for most consecutive years in attendance with 88 years. The first time Freedman attended the Fair, she was four months old.

"I'll see you next year," Freedman said.

This year's fair saw unusually high temperatures, which caused a few problems with some of the animals at the fair. Weather at the fair is usually a lot cooler, and many locations were not ready for temperatures in the 90s. On the first two days of the fair, six chickens died from the excessive heat in the small animal barn. Todd Cahall, from the Small Animal Department, said the nearby swine, goat, and hog barns, as well as fairgoers, lent a hand to get animals to safety and to put more fans in the barns.

"I feel bad for the six that lost their animals," Cahall said. "This is the hottest fair that I can remember."

Still, damages were kept to a minimum thanks to helpful volunteers. Out of the 409 projects being kept in the small animal barn, only six were lost. Barricklow said that she has seen many of acts of charity at the fair this year and loves the friendly faces at the fair.

"This is the neatest county ever," Barricklow said. "Everyone has been just great."

Rain on Wednesday and Thursday cooled things off a bit, but did not dampen spirits, as activities, competitions, entertainment, and auctions continued well into the weekend.

Sideshow Fire Eater Won't Stop Until 100

Link: Sideshow Fire Eater Won't Stop Until 100.

Ward Hall, a participant in the Great Frederick Fair isn't a stranger to the stage. Hall, 77, has been plying his trade for six decades in one of the country's last traveling sideshows. Hall says he quit school at 14 to join the circus. He wasn't athletic, but he could sing and dance, and so he joined the circus' musical. He later learned to eat fire, swallow swords and juggle and became a ventriloquist. Before there were televisions in every home, in towns throughout the Midwest, Texas, and Oklahoma, where Hall was born, the circus or "carny" was the only chance for many to see the unusual. Hall, who uses a hearing aid and takes heart medication, says otherwise, he's in good shape. He has decided to quit at 100.

Children injured in fair rides

Separate ride accidents at the Tulsa State Fair sent four children to area hospitals Saturday. Three children were taken to area hospitals as a precautionary measure after one car struck another on the Zylon roller coaster about 2:45 p.m., Expo Square officials said. EMSA Operations Manager Chuck Smith said ambulance crews transported three patients ages 5 to 7 with non-life-threatening injuries. EMSA personnel also treated two other children and an adult at the scene for minor injuries, he said. Ride inspectors from the state Department of Labor closed the Zylon for about an hour to investigate the accident. The inspectors determined operator error caused the collision, according to a statement from Expo Square CEO and President Rick Bjorklund. Another child was sent to the hospital after a separate accident about 9:15 p.m. on the Badlands 4X4 ride. The accident occurred when an axle broke loose on the car in which the child was riding, Expo Square officials said. Ride inspectors closed the Badlands 4X4 to investigate the accident, but Expo Square officials expected it to open later Saturday night.

Prize Every Time 7.27.2007

Prize Every Time 7.27.2007, originally uploaded by 10thAvenue.

The Fromagerie - Cheesy Stories of a Salt Lake Gamine: The Fair

Link: The Fromagerie - Cheesy Stories of a Salt Lake Gamine: The Fair.

I don't ever remember going to the state fair, I remember going to some sort of fair at Murray Park when I was a kid – maybe it was a County Fair or something. Then there was always West Fest – the annual West Valley City festival. I always loved West Fest, except for the year that Brandy and I had to carry the "Best Band" banner in front of the bagpipers. Oh, the headache!

So when Betsy mentioned she wanted to go to the State Fair, I was a bit hesitant to consent. My mood suddenly shifted as we drove up to the fairgrounds and I saw the lights and action of the Utah State Fair. I basically RAN into the park I was so excited. I wanted to get tickets and ride the death-trap rides, smell the award winning sheep aroma, eat a deep fried whatever, win an uber-sized stuffed animal, and soak in all the glamour of the event. I have to say, for the most part, the fair did not disappoint. Betsy and I bought some tickets, road The Zipper (where I really thought I was going to die) and the Magic Carpet, won a stuffed yellow chicken (Betsy - yes, you won it. you did not pay $4 for it - not everyone can hit balloons with a dart.), checked out the livestock (My fave - Big Red the 1100 lbs bull - Yowza!), and had a funnel cake.

Texas State Fair Skyway Gondola

Texas State Fair Skyway Gondola, originally uploaded by skinzwraps.com.

Some Texas State Fair essentials

Things that are the most exciting at the Texas State Fair, the largest State Fair in the USA!

Texas SkyWay

Big Tex circle near the Tower Building

Of all the 70 rides and shows this year, the State Fair is touting its $5 million ride the loudest. It's like a giant chairlift that takes you for an easy, nonthreatening ride above the whole fair for a great bird's-eye view. At its highest point, you're 65 feet in the air, moving at a casual 600 feet per minute (at top speed). Each of the 34 art deco-inspired gondola cars hold eight passengers (some cars are wheelchair-accessible), and they run on an overhead cable from one end of the midway to the other. Note: The round-trip ride'll cost you 10 tickets ($5), but it's a great way to scope things out. Gaze downward as you glide over Catfish Floyd's, the Cajun Gourmet and the Giant Alligator (Alive!), and more. On the way back, you'll get to take in a lovely panorama of the Dallas skyline. The SkyWay is also the centerpiece of the fair's theme this year: "The Sky's the Limit."

Xtreme 2

Thrillway area of the Midway.

There are several other new rides this year, but this one seems the most promising for thrill-seekers. The Xtreme 2, which a European coaster review blog called "probably the greatest thrill ride to hit the UK since Top Buzz debuted way back in 1998." It's a gondola car on an arm that swings slowly up. Then ..... well, let ride supervisor Rusty Fitzgerald tell the rest: "It starts spinning me around, and all of a sudden I'm pullin' 4 G's going through the station. You don't need a cup of coffee if you ride that thing in the morning. It's really fun if you're a thrill-seeker."

Things that tickle our taste buds

Texas Fried Cookie Dough

Every year, the Big Tex Choice Awards give us new ways to abuse our arteries. This year's Best Taste winner was no exception. This treat is made from scratch with pecans, chocolate chips and coconut, lightly battered and deep-fried, then topped with chocolate syrup or whipped cream.

Deep-fried latte

This won the Most Creative prize: a delicately fried light puff pastry, with a hint of coffee, topped with cappuccino ice cream, sweet syrup, whipped cream and instant coffee sprinkles. Honorable mentions include Fernie's Fried Chili Frito Burrito and B.W.'s Original Fried Banana Pudding. Warning: may be best sampled after your ride on the Xtreme 2.

Ikea Celebrity Kitchen

Creative Arts Building, next to the Cotton Bowl

Still hungry? Several local and regional celebrity chefs will demonstrate their artistry and rock the kitchen - an elaborate Ikea kitchen, no less. Among the celeb chefs are Jon Tesar of the Mansion on Turtle Creek and Jason Weaver of the French Room at the Adolphus Hotel.

Things we gotta see

The cardstacker

10 a.m.-7 p.m., African American Museum

Another fair participant reaching for the sky is Bryan Berg, who's already got two card-stacking Guinness World Records, and is eyeing a third, for creating the world's tallest building made of cards. He's there each day, stacking thousands of cards; and then on Oct. 21, it all comes crashing down with the help of a leaf blower.

Pig races

6, 6:45, and 7:30 p.m. daily. TXU Energy Arena

Oinkers in racing silks? We are so there. They'll sprint for a cookie prize at the finish line.

Butter sculpture

Daily in the Creative Arts Building

This year's cholesterol-challenging sculpture - by New York artist Sharon BuMann - fits this year's Sky's the Limit theme. It's a hot-air balloon with an extra dose of whimsy: It's swarming with butter-made bees, butterflies and flying pigs. All from an 800-pound slab of unsalted butter.

Mundo Latino presents "El Matador & His Suit of Lights"

10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Hall of State on International Blvd.

This attraction explores the history and splendor of the matador. It includes artifacts, photographs, video and live entertainment, with a collection of uniforms, often called a suit of lights - traje de luces in Spanish - because of the elaborate beading that reflects the sun's rays.

Dairy goat costume contest

6 p.m. Sunday

In the livestock arena, children embarrass their dairy goats by entering them in a costume contest. "Those little goats will put up with just about anything," says fair publicist Candis Wheat.

Things that make us go hmmm .....

Zesty fried guacamole bites

We love guac, and we dig fried stuff. But until we taste this concoction for ourselves, it remains a big ol' question mark. (It was another honorable mention in the Big Tex Choice awards.)

The eating contests!

Chevrolet Main Stage

Watch some truly quintessential American contests - ones that involve a reward for overeating high-calorie food. The Fifth Annual World Corny Dog Eating Championship is 1 p.m. Sunday. (Current record: 12 corny dogs in 10 minutes) And the 2007 Waffle House World Waffle Eating Championship makes its debut at 1 p.m. Oct. 7. (Current record: 23 waffles in 10 minutes. Somebody pass the giant butter sculpture, please.)

Juke Box Music Funhouse

Center of the Midway

We find ourselves inexplicably drawn to this funhouse. Perhaps it's the fabulous airbrushed artwork outside, with beckoning images of Ozzy Osbourne, Pink, Kiss, Kid Rock and Avril Lavigne.

The Great American Spam Championship

Make something out of Spam and win a $3,000 National Grand Spam Prize. Where do we sign up? Try online at www.bigtex.com. Entries are accepted until 9 a.m. on Oct. 16.

The music

The State Fair doesn't just herald the arrival of corn dogs and funnel cakes -- it also brings a bunch of high-profile musical acts.

Among the headliners scheduled to take the Chevrolet Main Stage this weekend are Austin's Latin funk combo Grupo Fantasma (8 p.m. Friday); Philly R&B quartet Boyz II Men (3 p.m. Saturday) and Denton's punk-poppers Bowling for Soup (5:30 p.m. Sunday).

Throughout October, the big names include country crooner Jason Aldean (Oct. 6), fresh-faced pop favorites the Jonas Brothers (Oct. 8), Mr. Achy Breaky Heart himself, Billy Ray Cyrus (Oct. 13), Lindale spitfire Miranda Lambert (Oct. 14), Texas natives Lonestar (Oct. 19) and Georgia Christian rockers Third Day (Oct. 20).

The Chevrolet Main Stage is outdoors, and fair organizers stress that seating is available on nearby grassy areas, steps and walls near the stage. Also, concert admission is free with admission to the State Fair.

For a complete list of acts, visit www.bigtex.com.

Sky Wheel 1995 Tulsa

Sky Wheel, originally uploaded by ezeiza.

Fun at Tulsa State fair

Corby Sorrells, 12, hit the midway running Thursday afternoon. Looking high and low, he saw more rides than the Tulsa State Fair has ever had in its 104-year history.

   "I think it'll be better this year," he said.

   The fair opened Thursday for its annual 11-day run. Expo Square officials hope it sees 1 million visitors before it ends Oct. 7.

   Expo Square CEO and President Rick Bjorklund kicked off the festivities by boasting of the fair's nearly 60 rides -- including four or five that are new to rr  Oklahoma. He also was proud that this year's event will have more free offerings than in years past.

   "I remember talking to Denny (Tuttle, the former Expo Square CEO who died last year) about adding more things that are free," Bjorklund recalled. "We've seen fairs decline because they forgot that."

   He believes that Tuttle would be proud of this version of the Tulsa  State Fair, he said.
Not only are we surviving, but we're thriving," he said.



   The weather was perfect -- and maybe even a little warmer than usual -- for the fair's first day. However, rain earlier this week put state inspectors behind schedule in getting rides approved before the gates opened.

Virginia State Fair 1989

Virginia State Fair 1989, originally uploaded by Joey Harrison.