Carny Town - Traveling Carnivals, Fairs and Festivals

Warren County Farmers' Fair begins 74th annual run | lehighvalleylive.com

The Warren County Farmers' Fair is a little more interactive this year.

Warren County freeholders announced late Friday that this year's competition for best display in the county government building at the fair will be determined by attendees. Since the competition's start in 2001, a panel of judges decided the winner.

"The winning agency gets bragging rights plus a trophy to keep until the next year's fair," county spokesman Art Charlton said in a news release.

One voter will be selected at random to receive two free tickets for the mud bog competition Saturday.

Last year, the Warren County Mosquito Commission won the top prize.

The fair is making its 74th annual run at the county fairgrounds off Route 519 in Harmony Township.

In addition to the mud bog competition, visitors can pet a cow, watch two demolition derbies and partake in plenty of other rustic activities.

The fair opens at 8 this morning and will be open into the evening. The last day is Saturday.

Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for ages 5 to 12 and free for children 4 and younger.

Veterans get in free today and senior citizens, on Monday.

Also today, Warren Hills Future Farmers of America alumni will hold their sixth annual car show 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine. Registration is $20.

The Flemington and Harmony Speedway historical societies are hosting a car show of their own: the annual Dirt Track Heroes Day by the livestock show building. Many drivers who competed at Flemington Speedway will be appearing 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The historical societies will display vintage and restored race cars through the end of the fair Saturday.

The fair also features its own hot air balloon festival, featuring balloon launches, rides and mass balloon launches nightly.

There is also a traditional arts expo featuring quilts, needle arts and an opportunity for visitors to try their hand at weaving.

Animal lovers will have their hands full with equestrian events each day, an animal exhibit barn, goat, sheep and swine shoes, and a 4-H seeing eye dog show.

The Warren County Fair Queen and Princess Competition is set for 7:30 Monday night.

via www.lehighvalleylive.com

Wisconsin State Fair starts this week, with deep fried beer and deep fried butter | The Republic

WEST ALLIS, Wis. — The Wisconsin State Fair starts this week and it has quite the selection of new foods.

Among the new items are the deep fried beer, deep fried butter and a bacon sundae.

The deep fried beer will be filled with Michelob AmberBock and has cheddar cheese dipping sauce on the side. The deep fried butter is in a wonton and dunked in powedered sugar.

The bacon sundae will include vanilla ice cream, pancake syrup and bacon bits.

Other new foods include fried mashed potatoes, a deep fried bacon wrapped hot dog and sweet corn jalapeno nuggets.

The State Fair runs from Thursday through Aug. 14 in West Allis.

via www.therepublic.com

DELAWARE: Heat kills animals at state fair. | The Daily Times | delmarvanow.com

HARRINGTON -- A second year of blazing temperatures took its toll on fair-goers as well as four-legged and feathered participants at the Delaware State Fair this year.

But the deep-fried sweets, women's cowboy boots and blaring country music were in full effect for the final night of festivities Saturday.

Danny Aguilar, assistant general manager and director of marketing for the fair, said the week's festivities were similar to last year's in that attendance figures had to recover from punishing heat during the first few days.

"The first four days, the heat was just brutal," Aguilar said of the 92nd year of the fair. "But we are on the road to recovery."

The fair began just as a high-pressure dome was allowing brutal heat to cook the area as sun-baked southern air blew down the fair's main drag.

"It's just hard to get out and walk around or do anything in this kind of heat," said Darlene Rohroman, who said this year was the hottest she has seen in six years of trekking from Baltimore for the fair.

Aguilar said the fair saw attendance figures as low as 25 percent of the average during the worst of the heat. But last week, the high-pressure system moved south, allowing patrons to enjoy the dizzying rides, coronary-clogging sweets and a big-ticket music lineup.

Aguilar said attendance has bounced back in the past six days with a projected 40,000 people set to attend Saturday night's festivities. Under normal conditions, the fair averages about 302,000 patrons over 10 days.

Cindy Brode, who has been a nurse at the fair for two decades, said only a handful of people had been treated for routine heat issues.

"There has been less than most years because so many people stayed home," Brode said.

Though there were only minor human heat-related issues, the fair's animals, specifically those housed in the poultry barn, suffered heavily.

The fair attracts livestock exhibitors showing about 4,000 animals that are housed in barns on the fairgrounds. About 1,600 of these show animals are housed in the poultry barn, where the feathered participants share space with rabbits of all sizes.

via www.delmarvanow.com

Construction constricts parking, fair-goers adjust — Maine News — Bangor Daily News

BANGOR, Maine — It was tough to tell what was the more difficult task Saturday at the 162nd Bangor State Fair: Finding shade to get out of a brilliant, blazing sun or finding an open parking spot.

Cars lined both sides of almost all the streets within a four-block radius of the Bangor fairgrounds and as soon as one would leave its spot, another car or truck was waiting to take its place.

“We went over to the main parking lot off Main, but right when I got there they said they were full,” said Megan White, who drove into town to hit the fair with friend Emily Hallowell. “So we came back over here and got one of the last spots in the [BDN] newspaper lot.”

White said the extra 10 minutes it took to find a spot and the $5 parking charge were no big deal.

White came to hang out with her brother and get a doughboy. Hallowell had a different reason for coming.

“This used to be an annual thing, but I haven’t been in quite a few years,” said Hallowell, who lives in China. “Why this year? I just wanted to get out of town.”

That wasn’t the same reason for the Hannan family of Bangor.

“We parked a little further up from where we normally do, but it wasn’t too bad,” said Ed Hannan. “We have to come and have at least a doughboy and some fries.”

Although Bass Park executive director Mike Dyer said the recently begun site preparation and work for the new Bangor arena would have “no impact on the fair,” the building of four construction office trailers on the left parking area off Dutton Street has eliminated about 40 parking spaces.

Kylie Hackett, a Bangor Y welcome center associate working as a parking attendant at the fair lot off Dutton at the main entrance, said she wasn’t hearing any complaints about parking.

“We haven’t had any problems except trying to get out, because now one side is closed off. So that’s the only issue,” Hackett said of the two-lane entrance compacted into one.

Hackett’s main concern Saturday was staying hydrated in the heat.

“We have a bus full of water and Gatorade and we keep a bottle with us all the time,” she said.

Longtime Bass Park employee Dick Pendleton of Bangor was working the entrance off Buck Street. The part-time security attendant said there were few issues regarding parking.

“Not today anyway. I haven’t noticed anything,” said Pendleton, who has worked the fair for nine of the 11 years he has been employed with Bass Park. “They’ll just park all the way up the street here and onto the other streets to get a place.”

via bangordailynews.com

Barbecue contest returns to Missouri State Fair in Sedalia - KansasCity.com

Kansas City is nationally acclaimed for its barbecue — and it’s not too late to remind fellow Missourians of that.

The upcoming Missouri State Fair has brought back the barbecue contest and it’s taking participant entries, but the deadline is Monday. The contest will host up to 30 teams competing in burger, wing and bratwurst categories.

An entry form can be found on the fair’s website at www.mostatefair.com.

The barbecue contest is Aug. 12.

The 109th Missouri State Fair, whose theme is “It’s a Show-Me Thing,” runs Aug. 11-21 in Sedalia.

Prompted by Missouri musician Rhonda Vincent, fair officials also have organized a new all-day bluegrass festival, said Tammie Nichols, marketing director for the fair.

Regular admission will get fairgoers into the majority of the festival on Aug. 17. Those wanting to see Vincent perform that evening will need to buy a separate ticket, ranging from $10 to $20.

Other attractions include carnival rides, concerts, agricultural expos, a farmers market, robotics exhibits, the governor’s ham breakfast and the first lady’s pie contest, which is taking submissions through Thursday. Tickets to the governor’s breakfast are $20 and include fair admission. Last year, the event sold out.

The last Saturday of the fair is the “sale of champions,” when prized livestock will be sold. Last year, the sale brought in $100,000 for scholarships.

“It’s a great way to support agriculture,” said Mark Wolfe, director of the state fair. “Plus, where else are you going to see a steer that sells for $25,000? That’s got to be some good steak.”

For those looking for something a little different, a street fair planned for Aug. 13 will showcase ways that advanced technology is affecting the farming business. Wolfe particularly encourages kids who might be interested in a technology-focused career to attend.

“You can still be very involved in agriculture and not be a farmer,” Wolfe said.

Regular daily admission to the fair is $8 for adults and $6 for seniors. Children ages 6 to 12 get in for $2, and those 5 and under get in free. On Aug. 14, active military personnel and veterans get in for free and their families for $1.

For those looking to spend a little less, admission is $5 after 5 p.m. Aug. 14-17 and $4 on Aug. 18. There are also discounted ticket prices for the first and last days of the fair.

Through Aug. 15, people who take canned goods to a Ford dealership will receive a dollar-off coupon. The collected food will be distributed to six food banks across the state.

To find more information about special events, tickets and schedules, go to www.mostatefair.com or call 800-422-3247.

via www.kansascity.com

Quincy Herald Whig

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. -- The Brown County Fair kicks off Tuesday with more of one of its signature events.

On Saturday, "we've added another tractor pull. That's the only difference in the lineup from last year," Fair Board President Gene Dixon said.

"Our crowd is horse races and tractor pulls," he said. "Each fair is kind of known for something. That's where we're the biggest -- and we're the only fair having pari-mutuel (wagering) again, too."

The fair runs through Saturday on the fairgrounds in Mount Sterling and offers a wide variety of family-friendly events.

The biggest draw, Dixon said, is Friday night's tractor pull, the only Grand National pull held in the Tri-States with competitors from several states.

"The tractor pull really is the one that brings the crowd," Dixon said. "We're just about to where there's no place to park left on the fairgrounds."

Local competitions, and competitors, provide another drawing card for the fair.

"Anything with local participants -- the queen contest, the kids tractor pull -- is a big thing for us. You do have a good crowd of people," Dixon said.

Local horse racing connections also bring more people out on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

"We have a lot of horses stabled, raced and trained right here on the fairgrounds. That helps make our horses a big deal," Dixon said. "You go from there, go with what you do the best."

Admission is free for anyone 16 and under and $8 for everyone else, except on Friday when the price is $20.

Special carnival armbands for $15 are available 6-10 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Parking is free.

-- dhusar@whig.com/221-3379

FAIR HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday
• 7:30 p.m. — Miss Brown County Fair Pageant and Little Miss and Mr. Contest.
Wednesday
• 7 p.m. — Harness Races under the lights featuring pari-mutuel wagering.
Thursday
• 5:30 p.m. — Kids Grand National Pedal Tractor Pull
• 7 p.m. — Harness races with feature race “The Taser Gun”
• 8 p.m. — Teen dance
Friday
• 7 p.m. — Finals for Kids Pedal Tractor Pull
• 7:30 p.m. — Western Illinois Grand National Tractor Pull
Saturday
• 9 a.m. — Kids Day
• 1 p.m. — United Pullers of America tractor pull
• 7:30 p.m. — Demolition Derby

More information about the fair and a complete schedule of events is available by calling 773-3939 and online at browncofair.com.
The Whistle Stop Depot Museum will feature a scavenger hunt, special exhibits and free ice water during the Brown County Fair.
The scavenger hunt will lead visitors through the museum featuring displays of military history, vintage clothing, antique dishes, coverlets and woven goods, railroads and equipment used by early doctors.
The Brown County Historical Society is offering a first prize of $50 or your choice of any Brown County History book; second prize will be $25 or choice of a history book. Winners will be notified Saturday, Aug. 6, the final day of the fair.
Special exhibits for the fair include tools restored by Ron and Michele Busen, a collection of dishes and figurines made in Occupied Japan and saddles by Jim Jones, whose father was the famous “blind cowboy” and trick rider Jessie (Bud) Jones.
The museum and the one-room Ferguson School, both on the Brown County Fairgrounds in Mount Sterling, also will be open during the Fall Festival and on Sunday afternoons in the fall.

via www.whig.com

American rodeo pride | PressDemocrat.com

The American spirit was in the air at the Sonoma County Fair's Wine Country Rodeo Friday night as Tracy Hinson, Miss Wine Country Rodeo, raced around the arena on a white horse waving an American flag.

Photo Galleries

• Sonoma County Fair Rodeo

Onlookers in the crowd removed their cowboy hats as she rode to the tune of "God Bless America," and they cheered as a handful of horses came charging into the arena.

Right out of the gate, a cowboy was thrown off a bucking horse.

"These horses are born to buck," the announcer said. "Take a good look, ladies and gentlemen. That's what America is about."

Cowboys rode fast after calves, swinging their lassos, catching the youngsters and jumping off their horses to quickly tie their legs. Some missed and slid in the dirt, while others completed the task so fast that if you blinked you'd miss it.

Jon Banister, a retired cowboy from Petaluma who competed in rodeos for more than two decades, watched the team tie-down roping competition from the sidelines. He stopped competing in rodeos after he had kids, but brought his son along to watch the show and checked the Little League playoff scores on his iPhone during breaks in the action.

"There's not a lot of sports out there that we can say are our own," Banister said. "It's an American tradition, rodeo. This is our sport."

A wrangler slid off his horse to rope a steer, but instead rolled over the animal, and then the steer trotted over him. Despite the drama, the cowboy was able to get up and walk away, relatively unscathed.

"That hurt," Banister said. "A little rough on the cattle, too."

The rodeo will continue at the fairgrounds at 8 p.m. today, and winners will be announced at the end of the competition.

via www.pressdemocrat.com

County Fair a Family Business for Volunteer of the Year - Lawrenceville, NJ Patch

Very few people keep any one job for more than three decades, especially when they’re not being paid for it.

But since 1976, Edison’s Sheila Angalet has done just that, serving as a volunteer for theMiddlesex County Fair every summer for 35 years. And this year, the Middlesex County Fair Association has recognized Angalet by naming her Volunteer of the Year.

“I believe I got the letter from (Fair Association President) Alan (Habiak) in April, said Angalet. “I was very pleasantly surprised at the honor and very proud. My family was very excited by the news as well. All of my children felt it was well deserved.”

True to the nature of her honor, Angalet is looking forward to this year’s fair as much as any of the 35 she’s been involved with.

via lawrenceville.patch.com

Carnival operator sees rides as a way to overcome fear

MUSCATINE, Iowa — When her young sons ask her if they can ride some of the fastest, highest, scariest- looking rides on the carnival midway, she sometimes balks.

“They love the rides — the faster and crazier the better,” said Renae Richmond, 28, as she and her sons Jose Richmond, 11, and Marcus Richmond, 10, walked the C.D.A.C. midway Thursday at the Great River Days Reunion on the Muscatine riverfront. “I’m always worried when I let them try anything new.”

When her sons asked to ride the 70-foot tall  Tomahawk, Richmond looked a little concerned, as she observed the high-flying pendulum.

It was the first time her sons asked to get on the ride that swings from side to side and eventually spins completely around.

Ride operator Raymond “Porkchop” Drew of Savannah, Ga., said he often gets questions from concerned parents and even kids who are a little apprehensive about getting on the ride.

Drew, 39, tells them they don’t have to be afraid and tries  to reassure them.

He and his fellow ride operator, Matt Bowman, 21, of Kewanee, Ill, double-check to make sure all                  

passengers are securely strapped in place before the ride takes off.

Drew sees the ride as more than entertainment, it also provides an opportunity to challenge oneself.

“Fear is something people let control them,” he said. “If you can overcome fear, you can overcome a lot of other things in your life.”

Bowman said he looks forward to trying the Tomahawk this summer.

“I’ve never been on it before,” he said. “But now with two of us operating it, I can get on while he runs it.”

As Renae Richmond watched her boys climb into the big metal cart that would soon propel them into the sky, she took some photos, waved and smiled. She said her husband, Scott Richmond, tells her boys enjoy doing daring things, especially as they get older.

“I give in a little bit more now,” she said.

Online: Learn more about Great River Days at http://www.greatriverdays.com/

Today’s Great River Days offerings include:

* Great River Day’s Arts and Craft Fair that runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

 * Great River Days Parade 11 a.m.

* Daschund Doggy Dash  2 p.m.

* Ping Pong Ball drop 3 p.m.

Great River Days Concert Series:

Tonight’s concerts include Hear Kitty, Kitty at 7 and Seven Shy at 8:30.

 Quiet Riot takes to the stage following a 10 p.m. fireworks show

Admission to the concert is $15. There is no admission to the festival.

via www.muscatinejournal.com

Classic Capital EX games | Capital EX News | Edmonton Sun

It’s not everyday you can say you got paid to play midway games at Capital EX.

But Friday afternoon, that’s what I got to do as I was given a challenge to see how many prizes I could win with $20.

I decided that with a limited budget I would have to be choosy about which games I played, to maximize my winning potential.

I started off with a ball toss game, where the goal was to get it into one of the coloured cups, spread sparingly on the board.

For $5, I got eight tries, and after a few attempts, I managed to sink one.

“And we have a winner!” the carnival worker said as he handed me a stuffed giraffe.

Next up was a midway classic, Whack-a-mole, which also cost me $5. Not only do you have to whack the suckers that pop up, but you have to get the most points.

As the bell rang, I just kept hitting the board as fast as I could, and was dumbfounded when I was declared the winner.

I was very excited when he handed me an Angry Bird, which happens to be my favourite game on my phone.

So with $10 left, and two prizes in tow, I was feeling pretty good about my haul.

I wondered if others had been so lucky. I stopped to talk to Sandra Lavoucer and her grandson Braden playing a game of skeeball.

She agreed that the games aren’t always the best value but said she loved to see her grandkids have fun.

“It’s just for the fun of it. It’s not always the best price, but they love it. And it’s something you only get to do once a year.”

I decided to take on a game of skeeball myself, I got 12 balls for $6, which I felt was a pretty good value.

Until I didn’t win anything.

Feeling defeated, I strolled over to the water shooter, and I had my game face on.

I pushed that trigger as hard as I could, while staring up above and watching the tight race unfold.

I managed to win a Jamaican banana, adding to my prizes.

Like me, Dylan Middagh and Rylie Solowonieuk were trying to win some prizes.

“Ohhh. One more.” said Middagh, as he tried to sink a ball at the basket toss.

But also like me, the two were out of money.

So for $20, I got an angry bird, a giraffe, and a Jamaican banana. But I also had tons of fun, which I think was the point anyway.

via www.edmontonsun.com