Carny Town - Traveling Carnivals, Fairs and Festivals

Something for everyone at Napa County Fair

It’s hard to think of anyone who wouldn’t be interested in at least one activity going on at this year’s Napa County Fair opening at 4 p.m. today.

Helm & Sons Amusements is bringing 21 carnival rides to the fairgrounds, including a 72-foot-tall Century Wheel  — a special type of Ferris wheel with special gondola-type seats lit by LED lights — “so it’s a bit more green than what carnival rides usually are,” said Carlene Moore, the fair’s chief executive officer..

For the past seven years, the Napa County Fair has worked with Helm & Sons Amusements, said Moore, adding that the company is “one of the premier carnivals in California as far as safety and cleanliness goes. We’re very fortunate to get them, because we’re not a large fair ... It’s a great benefit.”

The county fair will also be displaying several thousand entries in arts and crafts, photography, quilting, preserved foods, baking and all kinds of projects for both adults and youngsters. New this year is the division of youth entries by groups involved in 4-H, Scouting and other organized clubs.

Moore said between 20 and 40 antique tractors and trucks will be displayed and the Tubbs Building will feature the Napa Valley Experience, a array of wines from Napa County which Moore envisions will include all of the Napa Valley’s wines.

“We are the Napa County Fair, we should be highlighting what Napa County is all about,” she said. “Obviously, we’re about the wine industry, but olive oil is a growing industry and we have an amateur wine competition.”

For youngsters, the fair has planned “Arts in Action” involving local artists. Among these will be Jeff and Sally Manfredi of Calistoga Pottery, who will be at their potters wheel on Saturday, and Karen Lynn Ingalls who will be painting abstract landscapes and demonstrating soft-block printing.

The Calistoga Arts Center plans to hold mini workshops during the fair, where youngsters will go to the petting zoo, for example, and return to  draw or craft  their favorite animal.

“There will be lots of hands-on activities that are all free with the fair admission,” Moore said.

Also for children will be an interactive circus called “Circus Imagination.” The shows will be held three times a day and youngsters will be invited to join the circus, whether they be lion or lion tamer,  ballerina,  clown or  tightrope walker. The shows will teach youngsters to use their imagination, Moore said.

“Even if you don’t have a video game in front of you, you can use your imagination to put on a whole circus,” she said.

Saturday’s fair events will also feature an Hispanic celebration with music by headliner El Chappo and other bands. The event includes a Mexican bull riding competition with competitors trying to ride the bull as long as they can, rather than the usual seven seconds in traditional rodeo competitions.

The Hispanic celebration starts at 4 p.m. in the Grandstands. The first 500 tickets are $28, which includes fair admission. After that, the ticket price increases to $32.

The fair’s annual barbecue contest will also be held on Saturday, rather than Sunday as in years past, to make room for an “Old Fashioned Family Fourth of July.”

Sunday begins with the annual Silverado Fourth of July Parade at 11 a.m. with floats, clowns, horse-drawn fire rigs, local politicians, old cars winding along Lincoln Avenue to the fairgrounds, which open at noon.

Two hours later, kids and adults can compete in a variety of old-fashioned games, including pie- and watermelon-eating contests, gunny sack races and an egg in the spoon race.

“These are classic, American games for everyone” with lots of prizes, Moore said. The games end at 6 p.m. to be followed by a “California Beach Party,” with bands playing rock and roll and surf music in the Grandstands. At dark, around 9:30 or so, t

via www.sthelenastar.com

Culpeper Vol. Fire Dept. Parade & Carnival | Facebook

Come enjoy the best in family fun before Memorial Day weekend at the Culpeper Agriculture Enterprises. Enjoy carnival games and rides, and all sorts of family fun. Eat great food while helping support the Culpeper County Volunteer Fire Department. Also don't forget to purchase your raffle tickets!

The Fireman's Parade is a festive parade of beauty queens, bands, clowns and cars - an evening of fun for the whole family to enjoy! The parade line-up will begin at 5:00 p.m. and parade will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. Line up will begin at the corner of Main and Piedmont Street and will extend down Old Brandy Road. All entries will be judged exclusively during the procession of the parade. Judges stand will be located at Main and West Davis Street.

For more information - contact the Culpeper Fire Station at 540-825-8777 or visit their website.

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SALE - Welcome Facebook Friends!

SALE - Welcome Facebook Friends!

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Ohio.com - Fourth of July holiday events

Looking for fireworks, parades or other Fourth of July holiday events? Here's what's happening in the area:

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Akron — The Rib, White & Blue festival, South Main Street between Bowery and State streets and Lock 3 Live, next to Civic Theatre. Concerts, children's rides, inflatables and food concessions, including barbecue vendors. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Saturday and noon to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. There will be no fireworks display over the Akron Innerbelt this year, but a scaled-down version will close the Akron Symphony Orchestra Pops concert at Lock 3 at 9:45 p.m. Sunday.

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Akron fireworks display still on, but will have less bang

Friday's concerts: Blood, Sweat and Beers at 7 p.m., and ZOSO, a tribute to Led Zeppelin, at 8:30 p.m. Friday concerts: Electric Mudd at 7 p.m., and Sharp Dressed Man, a tribute to ZZ Top, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday concerts: Alex Bevan at 3:30 p.m., Zach at 5:30 p.m., and Hotel California, a tribute to the Eagles, at 8:30 p.m. Sunday concerts: Akron & District Pop Band at 3:30 p.m., the Brass Band of the Western Reserve at 5:30 p.m., and the Akron Symphony Orchestra Pops at 8 p.m.

Orrville — Carnival midway with rides, games and food at Orr Park, 6 to 11 tonight and Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Annual car and bike show on West High Street from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday. ASA Girls 14-and-under Fast Pitch Softball Tournament Friday-Sunday. Cornhole toss tournament Friday. Concert at 8 to 10 p.m. Friday with Kevin Blake Weldon. Free bicycle giveaway Friday at 9 p.m. Five girls and five boys will win mountain bikes. Free tickets available to ages 12 and under at firefighters tent each night of carnival. Firecracker 5K Run/1-mile Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. 3-on-3 basketball tournament starts at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Concert at the carnival with Jes'Cause at 8 p.m. in the midway. Fireworks at about 10:15 p.m. Sunday.

FRIDAY

Hiram — Pre-fireworks concert at 7:30 p.m. at Hiram College football field with Foster Brown and Friends. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Hudson — Fireworks at Barlow Farm Park, 9:30 p.m. Parking is available at the JoAnn Stores lot and a shuttle will be running from the parking lot to the fireworks location.

SATURDAY

Brunswick — Patriot Party at the Recreation Center, 3637 Center Road. 1-9 p.m., admission free. Take advantage of the fitness center, gymnasium, track or a swim in the pool. Concert by the Brunswick Community Band at 7 p.m. Fireworks display at 10 p.m. on the high school grounds. Rain date is Monday.

Medina — Fireworks Festival at Medina Community Recreation Center, 855 Weymouth Road, 4-10 p.m. Carnival games, food, inflatables, pony rides and more. Fireworks at dusk on Medina High School grounds. bc July 3

Portage Lakes — The 35th annual boat parade from 1 to 4 p.m., starting at Kieffer Marine on East Reservoir and ending at New State Park on Turkeyfoot L

via www.ohio.com

Cruze on in to Trumbull County Fair

The opening ceremonies for the Trumbull County Fair on Tuesday evening featured the newly crowned members of the Senior 4-H Royal Court and Junior 4-H Royal Court, plus introduction of a variety of elected officials.

But perhaps the biggest celebrity in attendance sat silently off to the side of the Historical Stage to the east of the Dairy Parlor: a black 2011 Chevy Cruze, fresh off the assembly line in Lordstown.

Jim Graham, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112, whose members are building the Cruze, invited everyone to “get in, look around” the car and see why he’s so optimistic that the new small car will be a big hit among car buyers and why that success will be an economic “catalyst” for the area.

“The Cruze didn’t happen by accident,” Graham said. “A lot of people worked very hard.”

The car will be on display all week near the grandstand, though fair organizers say it probably won’t be available for inside inspection all week.

Graham said he was also excited about the activities taking place this summer at the downtown Warren Amphitheater, especially the GM-Pepsi Then and Now Cruze-In taking place July 24.

The Cruze-In will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. on and around Courthouse Square and will feature all of GM’s 2011 cars and a caravan of cars that were built in Lordstown over the years. They will escort a veiled Chevy Cruze to the amphitheater, where it will be unveiled.

Revolution and Phil Dirt and the Dozers, bands playing music of the Beatles and Beach Boys, will play at the amphitheater at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., respectively.

Commissioner Frank Fuda paid tribute to a part of the Trumbull County Fair with a rich tradition: the weather, which for a change is expected to be nearly flawless.

“I’ve been a commissioner for three years, and for three years we’ve had nothing but rain during the fair,” Fuda said, adding that the forecast calls for “nothing but sunshine until Monday, so I’m looking forward to a record-breaking year.”

Winners of fair royalty contests Tuesday are:

Meagan Jackson, Senior 4-H Royal Court queen; and Thomas Shay, 4-H Royal Court king.

Jane Gibson, Senior 4-H Royal Court princess; and Brian Benton, Senior 4-H Royal Court prince.

Tatum Sheets, Junior 4-H Royal Court queen; and Jimmy DePizzo, Junior 4-H Royal Court prince.

via www.vindy.com

Oswego County Fair opens

Looking for family history, a caricature, some saw dust or a politician?

Starting tomorrow at 10 a.m., the buildings open, the rides begin, the music plays, the animals are groomed and the activities are abound during the 153rd annual Oswego County Fair.

Opening day is Senior Citizen Day with a spelling bee to begin at 10 a.m. Seniors will also compete in an Oreo stacking contest scheduled for 11 a.m.

Harness racing begins at noon and a saw dust hunt for those 12 and under will start at 1:30 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. The annual parade kicks off at 7 p.m.

Friday is Agriculture Appreciation Day and fairgoers can partake in a paper airplane contest, sawdust hunt, and a skillet tossing contest. Pony pulls are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the grandstands.

One of the most popular fair events, the demolition derby, starts at 6 p.m. at the grandstands.

Saturday, fairgoers will have the opportunity to meet their county representatives at the traditional Legislators Day. An antique tractor pull is scheduled for 11 a.m. and the truck pulls begin at 7 p.m.

The fireworks display will take place at dark.

The Fourth of July at the fair is Family Day and highlights include a classic car cruise-in at 11 a.m., saw dust hunting at 1:30 and 3 p.m., pie eating contest at 4 p.m. and demolition derbies at 5 p.m.

The fair concludes July 5 with Children’s Day. A special Halloween costume parade will highlight the day with cash prizes given in several categories and special children’s events will be ongoing throughout the afternoon.

The garden tractor pulls begin at noon and the traditional baby contest is at 10 a.m.

The fair provides an opportunity to showcase the county, particularly agriculture and continues to offer many of the same contests and events that have been held for decades.

The fair has many events that are ongoing throughout the six-day event, including interactive gaming, caricature drawings, school bus safety demonstrations and weaving, spinning, tatting, crochet and chair caning demonstrations.

Local historians will be on hand with historical displays of their respective towns and villages and scrap-booking and family history are a part of the information available. On site photograph scanning will be available, as well.

Plenty of exhibits will be on hand with animals and local arts and crafts, collections, canned and baked goods and antiques featured in many categories. The winners of the best in class receive blue ribbons and cash prizes. Exhibits to be considered for judging are due today.

Music is provided by local bands, and are generally sponsored by local politicians, who are often seen throughout the fairgrounds on most days. Legislators Shawn Doyle, Milferd Potter, Margaret Kastler and Barbara Brown are active participants in the fair committee and are fixtures throughout the event.
For those interested in meeting candidates running for office this year, most will have individual booths.

While candidates can meet and greet the public, sponsor events, and gather nominating petition signatures, they are prohibited from actual partisan campaign activity on the fair grounds.

The buildings close at 9 p.m. each night with the exception of the final day. The buildings are open 5 to 8 p.m. for exhibitors to collect their belongings.

via www.valleynewsonline.com

The popular pigs will be back at the Saratoga County Fair - The Saratogian News: Serving the Saratoga Springs, N.Y. region (Saratogian.com)

The 169th annual Saratoga County Fair will include the Lions & Tigers Big Cat Show, or “Close Encounters of the Exotic Kind.”

But don’t look for bears or elephant rides.

“DEC put the kibosh on the elephants: no rides, no human-elephant contact,”   said Kevin Grupe, fair manager, referring to the state Department of Conservation.

But the racing pigs will be there, as they have been for more than 20 years. “The racing pigs are a perennial favorite. The two questions at the gate: Where’s the bathrooms, and where’s the racing pigs,” Grupe said.

The Glengarry Bhoys and Black 47 will be among the musical groups performing.

New at the fair this summer: a NASCAR simulator car and firefighter safety show. Demolition derby, rodeo, truck pulls and tractor pulls are also scheduled.

Another new feature: a strongman competition, with log pulls and tire rolls.

“We stick with the traditional fair: fun, animals, kids, lots of entertainment,” he said.

For more information, visit www.saratogacountyfair.org .

via www.saratogian.com

Gruesome injury didn't deter Petaluma fair crowds | Petaluma360

Despite a gruesome accident on the first day in the carnival midway, the Sonoma-Marin Fair finished its five-day run with an increase in attendance over last year, organizers said.

“We’re still counting tickets,” spokeswoman Vicki DeArmon said on Tuesday. “We know it was up, but by how much we don’t know.”

She said an official count should be ready by the end of the week. The fair, the first of the season in the Sonoma County area, averages about 65,000 patrons a year.

Within 90 minutes of the fair’s opening on Wednesday, a carnival worker lost his lower leg when he stepped onto the tracks of a moving roller coaster. He wasn’t working on that ride and midway officials said they had no idea why he went around barriers that enclosed the Wacky Worm ride.

The married East Bay man in his 20s, whose name has been withheld by authorities, is still in the hospital, DeArmon said.

“He is recovering. He did get up in the hospital and walk around,” she said.

Cal-OSHA inspectors said last week that the ride was operating safely, its operator followed proper procedures and the carnival company trained its employees correctly. Their full report isn’t expected for several months, a spokesman said.

Carnival owner Harry Mason said the man inexplicably entered the ride’s area through a gate and put himself in harm’s way.

Fair leaders said the increase in attendance this year may have been prompted by the variety of activities available, including a daylong Dog Lovers Festival in conjunction with the Worlds Ugliest Dog Contest that has gained worldwide notoriety.

via www.pressdemocrat.com

Waffle on a stick is perfect for carnies - SlashGear

Summer is here and the kids are under my feet constantly as I try to work every day. One thing I can count on as soon as my 5-year-old daughter rolls her crazy-haired head out of bed is that she will want her “waftuls” otherwise known as waffles. Shortly after the waffles are eaten, she will want her first of 157 popsicles of the day.

I am thinking if I had this new waffle iron from Triangular Concept that makes roughly triangular waffles on a stick, I might be able to save myself a bit of time. The waffle iron cooks the waffle goodness on a stick. This would work well at the carnival next to the fried Snickers bar on a stick.

The clean up of all those little grooves in the waffle iron would be a massive pain in the rear. The waffle iron will cook four of the waffles at once in less than two minutes.

via www.slashgear.com

State fair: No 2010 home beer/wine contests

SALEM, Ore. – Law enforcement officials are putting a stop to the home-brew and home-wine-making competitions at this year's Oregon State Fair.

KATU reported on the glitch in state law that at the time put the home-brewing competition in jeopardy. Late Friday, Oregon State Fair Manager Connie Bradley learned from the Department of Justice that the law requires both its beer and wine competitions to be shut down.

"The issue has to do with the judging," Bradley said Monday. "Judges are considered the public, and we cannot have the public tasting amateur wine or beer."

The Homebrew Beer Competition has been going on for 22 years at the Salem fairgrounds. The Amateur Wine Competition would have been in its 31st year.

The Oregon State Fair runs Aug. 27 to Sept. 6, 2010.

Earlier this year, we're told a county fair official asked the Oregon Liquor Control Commission about whether the 30-some-year-old Oregon law indeed made it illegal for members of the public to taste home-brewed beer. Over the past month, officials with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department then worked with the OLCC and the Department of Justice to find a way to hold the event and still comply with state law, but were unable to so. Late Friday, the word came down: 

"Regretfully, the Oregon State Fair has been forced to cancel the amateur beer and wine contest for the 2010 State Fair in order to comply with state law ...  The law in question – ORS 471.403 – [says...] 'No person shall brew, ferment, distill, blend or rectify any alcoholic liquor unless licensed so to do by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. However, the Liquor Control Act does not apply to the making or keeping of naturally fermented wines and fruit juices or beer in the home, for home consumption and not for sale.'”

To be sure, "We don't sell, and we don't serve to the public," Bradley said. Beers and wines are tasted by judges, just as pies and preserves are, in the weeks prior to the opening of each year's Oregon State Fair. Ribbons are given to the winners in each category.

Nearly 125 wine entries have already been received at the state fair office. Bradley said state fair officials will begin returning wines and issuing entry-fee refunds ($10 per entry) the week of July 5. The amateur beer competition has not yet started, so there are no entries to return or refunds to issue.

The irony is the Oregon State Fair has been holding this home brew competition for years under the same law that is now being interpreted to make the competition illegal. And this in a state known for its microbrews. For example, Oregon is the second largest producer of craft beer in the U.S. and Portland alone has more breweries than any other city in the world, according to the Oregon Brewers Guild.

When KATU reported on the glitch in the law this past week,  many home beer makers were shocked – especially given that a lot of microbreweries spring from people's home brews.

Home brewer Scott Nash has been competing at the Oregon State Fair for three years. He said the fact the state was even taking another look at the law makes him feel like the government is micro-managing home brewers. 

"This is just something else homemade, like a quilt or an apple pie," said home brewer Scott Nash. "[There's] Grandma's marmalade; what's wrong with Scott's beer?"

Though the Department of Justice's determination puts the ki

via www.katu.com