Carny Town - Traveling Carnivals, Fairs and Festivals

Report: Popular St. Louis County air show comes to an end

Link: Report: Popular St. Louis County air show comes to an end.

It looks like the popular St. Louis County Fair and Air Show is being grounded. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch cites a source close to the nonprofit board that runs the Labor Day weekend fair as saying it will not take place this year. The newspaper says development near Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield is squeezing out the fair that drew thousands each year. Chesterfield Police Chief Ray Johnson says he learned of the cancellation during a staff meeting on Wednesday. The late County Executive Buzz Westfall launched the first fair and air show in 1992

State Fair Doubling Some Vendor Fees - Des Moines News Story - KCCI Des Moines

Link: State Fair Doubling Some Vendor Fees - Des Moines News Story - KCCI Des Moines.

For 30 years, G & L Clothing has set up shop at the fair, but this year they're having to think long and hard if it's worth the price. Frank Marcovis said he's upset the fair is doubling his fee from $4,000 to $8,000. "It causes us to pause after being there 30 years," Marcovis said. "We have to decide in the long run if it's worth it to put that much expense into it." WaterWorld workers said they need a lot of space for their hot tubs. Their vendor rate jumps from $8,000 to $16,000. Another vendor told KCCI that the fair is charging $20 a square foot, which is twice the going average for a year of renting store space in West Des Moines. "Obviously it was an economic based decision. It was going to be incremental or a one time jump and we chose to do it in one," said Lori Chappell with the Iowa State Fair. Chappell said the rate change is the first increase in 5 years. She said there's a waiting list to fill the spots of those who vendors who pull out. "We have attrition every year, about 10 percent. New faces and booths can be exciting," Chappell said. Critics argue that the increase will force out the smaller vendors. They said predict that the fair will lose its local flavor to big corporations who can absorb the high cost.

State Fair attendance rises 7 percent - Denver Business Journal:

Link: State Fair attendance rises 7 percent - Denver Business Journal:.

The Colorado State Fair had a 7 percent increase in attendance to 485,038 in 2007 from the previous year, according to a report released Thursday by Carnivalwarehouse.com. The Colorado fair, held in Pueblo each year, was held Aug. 24-Sept. 3. Last year's jump in attendance was an improvement from 2006, when attendance dipped 2 percent to 452,014 from the previous year. The Colorado State Fair ranks No. 38 on Carnivalwarehouse.com's list of the United States' largest fairs, rodeos and other events. Among the top 50 events last year, the State Fair of Texas in Dallas drew the biggest crowd, with 2.05 million visitors. Together, the 50 largest events attracted 41 million visitors in '07. "Extreme heat hurt many fairs in the Midwest [last] summer," Matt Cook, Carnivalwarehouse.com's president, said in a statement.

County Fair back in the black 01/31/08

Link: County Fair back in the black 01/31/08.

After scratching and clawing its way out of $55,000 worth of debt, Frank Rochowiak, president of the Wayne County Fair Association, is proud to announce that the fair is $20,000 in the black thanks to a large turnout for last year's event and a number of fund-raisers held throughout the community.

Hoffman: Legal? This booth's for you | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Link: Hoffman: Legal? This booth's for you | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle.

One of the most contentious issues of the 2008 presidential campaign is immigration, particularly from Mexico. Each candidate has a position. The Democrats and Republicans can't agree, not even among themselves. Lou Dobbs of CNN is practically having a stroke every night screaming about illegal immigration. Frankly, it's a complicated issue, and many Americans don't understand all the complexities. I will explain it in the simplest terms. Because Congress has failed to renew legislation concerning the H2B guest worker program ... you may have to wait a little longer when you buy a funnel cake on the Carnival Midway at this year's Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Or eat a deep-fried Twinkie, or walk through the Fun House or win a prize by sinking a free throw through a "not regulation size" basketball hoop. Many of the carny workers will be amateurs this year. "The H2B worker program has worked fine for many years," said Mike Ousey, owner of the Pennsylvania Dutch Funnel Cakes booths at the Rodeo. "Each year, I hire people from Mexico to work the fair circuit. Some of them have been with me for years. These people have an H2B work visa. They work hard, pay U.S. taxes and obey all of our laws. They do a tremendous, honest job and then return home to Mexico at the end of the season.%0

Saint Arnold Brewing Company Offers a Football Fan’s Fantasy

Link: Saint Arnold Brewing Company Offers a Football Fan’s Fantasy

Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com) may not be advertising in this weekend’s Big Game, but it is hoping to win the battle for buzz with an out-of-the-bottle innovation: Saint Arnold Fried Beer. Saint Arnold Brewing Company is the oldest craft brewery in Texas.

Developed by Houstonian Matt Schlabach and his team, the Carnies, Saint Arnold Fried Beer was the winning recipe in Saint Arnold’s One Pot Showdown this past weekend. Made with Saint Arnold Winter Stout, Saint Arnold Fried Beer is a delicious finger food that would make a great addition to any Super Party. Second place went to the Guzzlin’ Gourmets for their “Amberized Green Chili,” with the Backyard Militia’s “Brown Ale Pumpkin Soup,” taking third.

“Saint Arnold is proud to contribute to the growing understanding that beer is a great complement to food and can be a terrific ingredient as well,” said Brock Wagner, founder of Saint Arnold Brewing. “We may not have a Texas team to cheer for this year, but we sure can show our friends in New York and New England how to throw a great party.”

The recipe for Saint Arnold Fried Beer is available at www.dpkpr.com/friedbeer. The recipe for Amberized Green Chili, which uses Saint Arnold Amber Ale as an ingredient, is available at www.dpkpr.com/amberizedchili

Hanging out.

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Air show will fly no more

Link: STLtoday - Entertainment - Visit St. Louis.

The St. Louis County Fair and Air Show will fly no more. The popular Labor Day weekend tradition that has drawn crowds to the Chesterfield Valley has been squeezed out by development near Spirit of St. Louis Airport, according to a source close to the nonprofit board that runs the fair and air show.

Peach festival gets reprieve- MassLive.com

Link: Peach festival gets reprieve- MassLive.com.

The Wilbraham Peach Festival will go forward. It had been in danger of being canceled because of a shortage of volunteers. Coordinator Jennifer Nowak who put out a call for volunteers last week said, "We had a great response." This year the Wilbraham Peach Festival, which is in its 24th year, will be Aug. 15, 16 and 17 at Fountain Park off Tinkham Road.

Chimpanzees ride horses at Charlotte fair

Link: Chimpanzees ride horses at Charlotte fair.

Cowboy bull riders, chimpanzees on horseback, theatrical trapeze artists and lots of homegrown crafts and livestock are expected to draw thousands to the Charlotte County Fairgrounds starting Friday. The 10-day fair will be packed with events for all ages. "Everything is looking great," said Pete Galizia, president of the Charlotte County Fair Association. "The weather is going to be great. I think we're going to have a good fair."