Carny Town - Traveling Carnivals, Fairs and Festivals

Hudson Reporter - State Fair makes return Old standbys new attractions come to Meadowlands

Hudson Reporter - State Fair makes return Old standbys new attractions come to Meadowlands.

It looks like consumer confidence may have jumped up this month, and some believe the ailing economy is on the mend. But recession-weary families still seek savings and are pinching pennies where they can. Organizers of State Fair Meadowlands understand this. They say they’ve planned this year’s fair, scheduled for Giants Stadium Fairgrounds in East Rutherford from Thursday, June 25 through Sunday, July 12, with an eye towards value. “We didn’t want people to stay away from the fair because they were worried about money,” said Michele Tartaglione, managing director of the fair. As usual, the state fair will debut some fun new attractions and bring back many old favorites from the past. The 18-day affair will include more than 150 rides, pig races, an educational petting zoo, a wildlife gallery, and nightly entertainment.

'Naked Brothers Band' headlining kids festivities at California Mid-State Fair - Breaking News - San Luis Obispo

'Naked Brothers Band' headlining kids festivities at California Mid-State Fair - Breaking News - San Luis Obispo.

Nat and Alex Wolff, stars of the Nickelodeon television series “The Naked Brothers Band,” will headline Kid’s Day festivities at the California Mid-State Fair. The musical brothers complete a musical lineup that includes country star Tim McGraw, “American Idol” singers Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, hip hop group Black Eyed Peas and classic rock acts KISS, Journey, REO Speedwagon and Styx. The fair runs July 22 through Aug. 2.

Minnesota State Fair Free Entertainment

St. Paul Legal Ledger.

The the Original Wailers, made up of Bob Marley’s band members; Minneapolis pop-rock group Quietdrive; Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue; and western and comedy group Riders in the Sky. Other free acts scheduled to perform at the 2009 fair include country duo Joey & Rory; the Barbary Coast Dixieland Show Band; rockabilly artist Deke Dickerson; bluegrass band Monroe Crossing; the White Iron Band; African-jazz group Yawo; rhythm and blues group the Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound; string band Pert’ Near Sandstone; the vintage-swing Café Accordion Orchestra; the Front Porch Swingin’ Liquor Pigs; comedian Sean Emery; and nationally known a cappella group Tonic Sol-Fa. The ShenaniGuns Comedy Wild West Show will bring a Texas town to life near the fair’s Heritage Square. The show features slapstick comedy and will be performed three times daily. The entire lineup of grandstand and free entertainment artists is available at www.mnstatefair.org.

Providence Carnival Canceled Over Toxic Chemical Concerns | ABC 6 | News

Providence Carnival Canceled Over Toxic Chemical Concerns | ABC 6 | News.

A carnival in Providence has been canceled because of concerns the kiddie rides and midway games would be on land contaminated by toxic chemicals. The Providence Journal reported Friday that the city's Zoning Board of Review denied Patrick Conley's bid to hold fairs, carnivals and concerts on his waterfront property, which once was the site of a gas manufacturing plant and petroleum storage depot. The carnival, which was to start Thursday, was one of four major events booked this summer. Conley held events last summer with one-time approval from the board and was seeking permanent permission. He said he presented testimony from an environmental engineer saying the property was safe. But the board's chairwoman says the risk of exposing children to toxic chemicals is too great.

SF Community Examiner: Are carnival rides safe?

SF Community Examiner: Are carnival rides safe?.

This is the time of the year cities, counties, clubs, etc, have "Carnivals" come to their area to help celebrate their causes. The carnival rides have to be inspected every time they set up. Most of the time, the local cities, counties, and the state do the inspections. Once they pass, they can used the rides, as long the safety releases and stops are working. As an example, in Sacramento, it was found on a Ferris wheel a safety item that prevents people from falling out, when the wheel stops, was not working properly: The Ferris wheel was closed down for several hours until it was fixed and inspected. Last year, in a small community, in the foothills of the Sierras, several people got jerked around because of a major problem, which was shown that the carnies did not follow through with their inspection. It cost the carnival and their sponsor a fortune in legal actions. Therefore, if you have any questions about carnivals equipment, ask for the inspection slip. Carnival rides are expected to be safe to ride. You can expect when a ride is closed down, it is for some safety factor. In one community, a ride was closed because the carnival people started the ride before it had a safety inspection. When the ride was checked, the inspectors found the safety hand break was not working, and for some reason they could not get it to work---it was torn down and put away. By the way, this weekend in Foster City, CA, the rides at the Foster City Art and Wine Festival have been approved and ready to go. Oh! If you haven't attend the Art and Wine Festival, you will be missing a good way to see "FREE" entertainment. There is, usually, two areas of free entertainment---in front of the Recreation Center and near the Senior Citizen Center. Also, the food and art exhibits are very interesting to see. Foster City is located near the beginning of the San Mateo Bridge going east

the daily: Carnival midway opens to revelers at 5 p.m. tonight

the daily: Carnival midway opens to revelers at 5 p.m. tonight.

The 2009 La Grange Carnival will begin Friday, May 29, at 5:00 p.m. with the opening of the midway along W Harris Ave, featuring rides, amusements, food vendors and a beer garden.

Contra Costa County Fair arrives in Antioch - San Jose Mercury News

Contra Costa County Fair arrives in Antioch - San Jose Mercury News.

ReprintPrint Email Font Resize Contra Costa County Fair arrives in Antioch By Paula King East County Times Posted: 05/29/2009 12:00:00 AM PDT Although the opening date is earlier and the run shorter than in the past, Antioch Mayor Jim Davis is proud that the Contra Costa County Fair remains synonymous with his hometown. "You can't think of Antioch without thinking of the fair, and you can't think of the fair without thinking of Antioch," he said after Thursday's opening ceremonies. "It is still part of Antioch's history." Davis has fond childhood memories of attending the fair after school got out for summer, and he said it is still an honor for Antioch to host a county event. He hopes that new exhibits and attractions can keep up residents' interest in the fair. An announcement of free admission on opening day until 3 p.m. drew crowds of stay-at-home moms with strollers in tow and seniors leisurely walking down the midway. Families and friends savored typical fair cuisine, including fried food on a stick and sweet treats. Red Hat Society member Isabella Villasenor came to take advantage of free admission early Thursday for all red hatters in full regalia. Villasenor, decked out in an ornate red and purple hat, listened to live country music and enjoyed a snow cone near the 4-H barn.

Flying Fish Festival begins today on Santa Catalina Island | Outposts | Los Angeles Times

Flying Fish Festival begins today on Santa Catalina Island | Outposts | Los Angeles Times.

Huell Howser will be grand marshal at this year's Flying Fish Festival, taking place today through Sunday on Santa Catalina Island. Held to celebrate the return of flying fish to waters off the island, the annual event has a myriad of activities scheduled. Kicking things off this evening is the Taste Around of Avalon, at which attendees can sample fare from local restaurants. Boat and kayak tours will take place each evening, when the fish are most active and can be lured closer to the vessels using lights. Other activities include a parade, a street fair and beer garden, musical entertainment, live marine touch tanks, garden tours and children's crafts. The festival this year coincides with the 80th anniversary of the iconic Casino Building, where a dance will be held Saturday evening. Admission will be $19.29, to commemorate the building's opening date. Flying fish can be seen near Catalina from May to September. While they don't actually fly like birds, their unusually large pectoral fins enable the fish to take short gliding flights above the surface of the water.

Showmen's Museum back on track, gets $1 million donation

Showmen's Museum back on track, gets $1 million donation.

RIVERVIEW - A $1 million anonymous donation has jump-started stalled plans for a museum that will highlight the colorful history of carnivals and those who run them. A lack of available money had put the International Independent Showmen's Association Museum plans on hold for months, long enough that zoning approvals for the property had expired, said Beau Pugh, a member of the International Independent Showmen's Association. Changing the zoning from residential to a planned development would allow a museum in a residential area. Museum officials went back to the county's Zoning Hearing Master May 18 asking for a waiver, since the showmen's association offices are already located on Riverview Drive and the museum will be located next door. "We had an anonymous contribution that will put a big dent in getting the project going," Pugh said. If the zoning is approved by the county commission, the association will get plans for the museum out to bid, he said. A zoning hearing recommendation is due today. The matter is scheduled to go before the Hillsborough County Commission July 21. Gibsonton and Riverview have for decades, been a wintering ground and retirement village for those in the carnival industry. Twenty-five trailers at the association's offices house a world-class collection of carnival rides, midway food stands and side-show displays. The association has already invested about $1 million in a 25,500 square foot museum building shell on the site. And even with the big donation, another $1 million is needed to get the museum fully operational, said Chuck Mayo, who serves as a voluntary archivist for thousands of carnival photos passed down through the generations. "This is a big step for us," Mayo said. "An even bigger step is raising the money. We need another million and that is based on how soon it gets done, since construction prices still keep going up." Still, getting the project back on track is a big plus, Pugh said. "We have such a large collection of stuff, including an antique wooden Ferris wheel that will be put together as the centerpiece for the museum. "So many from around Gibsonton and Riverview come from the carnival industry," Pugh said. "People think we still live in tents and have no teeth." This museum, Pugh said, will give the public a much more intimate look at the carnival and the life that surrounds it. Pugh, whose father and grandfather started a carnival, is still traveling with Reithoffer Shows along the Eastern Seaboard, along with his dad. Like him, about 85 percent of the association's members still travel, he said. Many of the rest live in retirement areas in southern Hillsborough County. Mayo, who is semi-retired, started about a year ago, archiving thousands of pictures of carnival life dating back to the late 1800s. Already, about 250 photos are on line and accessible to the public through the University of South Florida's archive page. Go to www.museumoftheamericancarnival.org, then click on the association's logo and follow it to the USF site. "The museum will be a real showcase for carnival memorabilia," Mayo said.

Lincoln County Fair Coming in August - lincolncountyrecord.com

Lincoln County Fair Coming in August - lincolncountyrecord.com.

Are you planning to attend the 2009 Lincoln County Fair?? Mark your calendars-- August 7-8 2009 is the fair. If you have been bemoaning the lack of a county fair these past few years, now is your opportunity to vote with your feet and support the fair. We have been busy adding events. There will be fun walk, run, bike ride through Condor Canyon sponsored by the Panaca Fitness Center early Saturday morning. Later there will be a motorcycle trail ride. Friday morning there will be a gymkhana. Do you or your organization have an idea for fun activity for the fair? Are you part of a performance group that might be interested in performing at the fair? The fair committee appreciates everyone who expressed an interest in participating in the fair. We are still looking for more organizations, businesses, or individuals to sponsor activities during the fair. The fair committee is also still looking for more volunteers to help with the fair. Contact Jule (Matt) Wadsworth of Panaca for more information.