July 2010 - Amusement Today

July 2010 AMUSEMENT TODAY 33MIDWAYwww.AmusementToday.comCARNIVALSBRIEFIowa State Fair topick up residentsstate-wideThe Iowa State Fair, DesMoines, has announced anew bus service that willtransport fairgoers to thisyear’s event from 75 differentlocations throughoutthe state.The fair will run Aug.12-22.Called the State FairExpress, the service is offeredthrough a partnershipbetween the Iowa State Fairand Windstar Lines.Each State Fair Expressticket, which is rangingfrom $20 to $40 dependingon location, includes:•Round trip transportationon a deluxe WindstarLines motor coach;•Fair admission;•A complimentary bottleof water;•Fair coupon book offeringfood and drink discountswith more than $30in savings;•Daily Program withmap of the Fairgrounds;and•Easy pickup and dropoff in the Fair’s North Lotat Gate 15.The State Fair Expresswill arrive at the Fair at approximately10 a.m. andwill depart at 5 p.m.Lori Chappell, StateFair spokesperson, said inannouncing the State FairExpress that the new servicewould provide stateresidents better access to4See IOWA, page 34FAIRS FESTIVALS REVENUESUPPLIERSAllegan County Fair officials create theSpring Flair as fundraiser for main fairPam SherborneAmusement TodayOfficials at the Allegan(Mich.) County Fair didn’twait around to see where theymight be able to pick up extrafunds that could be put towardpremiums paid duringfair time.The new fair manager,Saree Miller, and her staff createda new event, the SpringFlair, as a fundraiser for themain event set this year forSept. 10-18.“And, we did quite well,”Miller said. “Even with someweather challenges.”The Spring Flair, whichran May 21-23, was held inconjunction with a lawn show.It also included three days ofagricultural events, exhibits,and seminars presented bysponsor Home Depot.Skerbeck Brothers Shows,Michigan City, Ind., broughtin 22 rides.“I was amazed at howmany rides they brought,”Miller said. “We had contractedwith them for 18, but theykept calling and saying theywere bringing in another ride,then another. I said that wasfine with me.”Skerbeck Brothers alsoprovides the midway for theAllegan County Fair. The carnivalbrings in about 30 ridesfor that event.The Spring Flair drew anestimated attendance of 6,000paid. Admission for thoseover 10 years of age was $3.Those 10 years and youngerPHOTO COURTESY ALLEGAN COUNTY FAIRAllegan (Mich.) County Fair officials held the Spring Flairthis May as a fundraiser for the Allegan County Fair, set forSept. 10-18. The funds raised at the spring event, which ranMay 21-23, will go toward premiums paid out in September.Skerbeck Brothers Shows, Michigan City, Ind., playedthe Spring Flair. That show also plays the county fair.get in free. There was one dayof grandstand entertainmentconsisting of a dual demolitionderby (both off-road andregular demolition derby).That event had a separate ticketprice of $5.Miller feels attendancewould have been even higher,but bad weather dampenedthe turnout. She called therainy weather the first day “amonsoon.”“Our attendance was verylow that day,” she said. “OnSaturday, the weather waspretty nice and we had a goodcrowd. But, then on Sunday, itwas hot so it was another lightday. But, overall, we still mademoney.”And, it will be held againnext year, without the lawnshow. Miller said responsefrom the lawn show was notthat favorable.“I think by late May, peoplearound here are sort ofout of the lawn show frame ofmind,” she said.Next year, it will just becalled the Spring Fair. Grandstandentertainment will beadded for an event each day.“We don’t know whattype of entertainment as ofnow,” she said. “I am sure wewill have the demolition derbyagain. But, as far as musicalentertainment, we have beentalking with a local radio stationabout something. So, wewill see.”Fair officials began lookingat supplemental eventsfor the county fair premiumswhen the State of Michiganpulled funding for premiums.In addition, the premiums forharness racing have dippedover the years.The fair used to hold asmany as nine days of horseracing, but that number hasdecreased over the years tofour. Then, last year, the statecut the number of days totwo.“The fair is now payingfor two days so we can stillhave a total of four days of racing,”she said. “We started thatlast year. We do very well withour horse racing. We drawgreat crowds during the day. Itis our lunch crowd. Our ridesdon’t open until the afternoon,because schools are in duringour fair.”The Allegan County Fairwas very successful last year.The event averages slightlyover 200,000 guests. SkerbeckBrothers reported a recordgross on the midway of$311,018 during the 2009 run.Major musical entertainmentfor the 2010 fair includesShinedown with Rev Theoryand Sore Eyes; MontgomeryGentry with Colt Ford; andTerry Fator, from America’sGot Talent.Other entertainment includesdemolition derbies,tractor pulls, rodeo, duck racesand petting zoo.Factory Wholesale Pricing! • Over 100 Designs Available! • Ask us about our show specials!Hey Therecowboys!Come and tryour hot westerndrinkware!for a surprise, click on Adventures of sipperellaat www.sippersbydesign.comToll Free: (800) 395-9980 • email: Ldsippers@aolcom • www.sippersbydesign.com