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Rides, Food Featured at Cape Coral St. Andrew Festival

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on January 13, 2009
Posted in: News. Tagged: .

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by mae yousif-bashi
Deep-fried swirls of dough covered with a few heavy rounds of powdered sugar.

Funnel cakes are a favorite for many carnivalgoers, but 14-year-old Matthew Garcia likes his with a mix of The Freak Out, a ride that’s about 80 feet tall.

“It spins and goes up and down, kinda like a Ferris wheel but goes all over the place,” said Garcia of his favorite ride at the upcoming St. Andrew Festival at St. Andrew Catholic School on Del Prado Boulevard.

“I like to eat a funnel cake before just to see what it feels like.”

Garcia and his sister Ariel, 12, are students at St. Andrew Catholic School and have been going to their school’s festival for the past four years. This year’s festival begins at 6 p.m. Thursday and runs through Sunday. Despite the slumping state of the economy, volunteers believe the 18th annual event will still draw thousands with plenty of rides, games and tasty treats for the whole family.

Parking and admission for the event is free, and wrist bands are selling for an advanced price of $55 at the school until 4 p.m. Thursday. Wrist bands give buyers unlimited access to rides throughout the four days of the festival. Otherwise, individual tickets must be purchased for games and rides.

The festival is the school’s largest fundraiser. Last year’s festival brought in $125,000 in net profits, allotting $100,000 for school operations. The extra $25,000 was divided between all families at the school to give them a break on their registration.

For the first time, parent volunteers such as Janeth Garcia, 41, will be receiving the money to use at their discretion this year.

While her son enjoys sweets and spinning, Janeth Garcia’s daughter, Ariel, saves her hunger for the festival’s french fries and Pharaoh’s Fury, a ride resembling a boat that swings from side to side.

According to carnival worker Shane Strong, foreman of The Freak Out, each ride is assembled by at least two people, a foreman and an assistant, who make sure all of the pieces, some up to 700 pieces per ride, are in good shape. State inspectors will also be checking each ride for safety before Thursday.

“We’re not allowed to run it with out it being checked,” Strong said. “If it’s not inspected, we have to take it down.”

The festival features 22 rides as well as favorite carnival snacks such as cotton candy, candy apples and hot dogs. The treats are mostly made by parent volunteers such as Crystal McCormack, who has been helping out with the festival for several years.

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Two women sentenced for charges related to carnival worker’s murder

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on January 13, 2009
Posted in: News.

News 2
A judge sentenced two women to 10 years in prison Tuesday for their roles in the 2006 murder of a carnival worker in a North Charleston motel.

Judge Roger Young handed down sentences for Sandra Barnes, 40, of Summerville and Alana Niesen, 41, of North Charleston after each pled guilty to charges that included armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.

The charges stemmed from the shooting death of Robert Vargo, a carnival worker, during a robbery.
Prosecutors said the women and two men attacked Vargo at the Budget Inn on Fain Street, where he was staying while he worked at the Coastal Carolina Fair.

The two men are already in prison for their roles in the murder.

Review of the 124th Annual Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (MAFE) Annual Convention

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on January 12, 2009
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

DESPITE TOUGH ECONOMY, MICHIGAN FAIRS AND CARNIVALS ARE OPTIMISITIC ABOUT 2009
By Michael Prelesnik – Matt’s Carnival Warehouse

The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids was the site for the 124th annual Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (MAFE) Annual Convention, held January 8-10, 2009. The convention featured a trade show, banquet, hospitality suites, workshops, round table discussion sessions, a Showcase, and Mega Raffle drawing night. Over 1200 fair board members and fair officials were in attendance at the convention.

Despite the tough Michigan economy, show owners and fairs were optimistic and excited to begin the Michigan Fair Season this summer. All major shows that play Michigan were represented at the MAFE Convention.

Skerbeck Brothers Shows, of Escanaba announced their recent purchase of a Mulligan Wheel from Belle City Amusements of Deltona, Florida. According to Co-Owner Bill Skerbeck, the wheel has already been transported to winter quarters in Escanaba, and new paint is planned before the wheel’s Michigan debut in April. New dates on the 2009 route the show will be playing include Laporte, Indiana as well as the Croswell Agricultural Society Fair in Croswell, Michigan. Additionally, a two year contract extension for 2010 and 2011 was finalized with the Ingham County Fair, of Mason. Joining Bill at the convention was co-show owner, Joe Skerbeck, their mother Arlene, Bill’s wife CJ, Jamie and Sonja Skerbeck, Dustin and Cindy Skerbeck, Carly Skerbeck, and Nicole Skerbeck.

Representing Elliott’s Amusements of Mason at the convention were owners Tracy and Debbie Elliott, Tracy’s Dad, Jim, their son Nick, and concession manager Nate Rowe. The Elliott’s signed two new fairs for the 2009 season, the Oceana County Fair in Hart and the Huron County Fair in Bad Axe. Other recent fairs added to their summer route included the Berlin Fair in Marne and the Cass County Fair in Cassopolis. According to Tracy, the show just acquired a Mack Himalaya from Dick Carl as well as four tractors purchased from Arnold Amusements. Late in the fall, the Elliott’s purchased a Show Me Grab from Phyllis Mercurio of Detroit. Jim reported he has sold his Lemonade trailer, and will be purchasing another one in time for the show spring opening in Lansing on April 8.

Back: Nate Rowe, Elliotts Concessionaire Manager, Jim Elliott, and Tracy Elliott. Front: Nick Elliott and Tony Anderson co-owner of Schmidt Amusements. Photo courtesy of Michael Prelesnik

Back: Nate Rowe, Elliott's Concessionaire Manager, Jim Elliott, and Tracy Elliott. Front: Nick Elliott and Tony Anderson co-owner of Schmidt Amusements. Photo courtesy of Michael Prelesnik

Despite the tough Michigan economy both the Elliott’s and Skerbecks were confident about having good attendance during the upcoming season. A general trend at the convention was to hold the line on ride specials, wristband prices and gate admission. Many show owners felt that despite the rising operation costs, this just wasn’t the season to raise midway pricing for Michigan fairgoers.

Ivan Arnold was at the convention and mentioned there is a list of ambitious projects being conducted at Winter Quarters in Florida. The Zipper, Tilt-a-Whirl, 1001 Nights, and Raiders are all being sand blasted and powder-coated for the 2009 season. The new look of the Zipper and 1001 Nights will debut at the Florida State Fair in Tampa in February. Although no new dates were added to the Arnold’s Michigan route, Ivan stated this season the show has maintained the same Michigan route as last year, and he was excited about the rides being re-built and was looking forward to a strong summer in Michigan.

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Manatee Fair is Building Towards its Thurday Open

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on January 9, 2009
Posted in: News. Tagged: , .

HERALD STAFF REPORT
PALMETTO — Set-up of the midway has begun for the 11-day Manatee County Fair, which swings into action in six days.

From the looks of things at the northwest Palmetto site, the 2009 fair shouldn’t be affected by America’s economic downturn. Gate tickets will be sold for between $2 and $7. Children 5 and under are free.

As has been the case at the current location since 1951, fair queens are to be crowned, steers are to be sold, country bands are scheduled to crank up in the big tent, and corn dogs will be consumed in quantity from next Thursday at 5 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 25, at 6 p.m.

Jeff Blanton holds up a part of The Dark Ride for assembly.

Jeff Blanton holds up a part of The Dark Ride for assembly.

Most days, the midway run by Belle City Amusements Inc. will accept thrill seekers from noon to midnight. An armband for the midway costs $18 to $20.

Early in the proceedings, Fair Queen Katy Kopstad will give up her crown to the 2009 beauty.

Some of the key dates and times for animal events are:

The Dairy Show on Friday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m.

The 4-H and FFA Youth Swine Show and Sale, Saturday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m.

The FNGLA Youth Plant Show and Sale on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m.

The Dog Show on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m.

The Goat Show on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m.

The Steer Showmanship Show on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m.

The Steer Show on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m.

The 4-H and FFA Youth Steer Show Sale on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m.

Photos by TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE/ttompkins@bradenton.com Rick Pegus works to get the Scorpion set up in the ride area of the

Photos by TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE/ttompkins@bradenton.com Rick Pegus works to get the Scorpion set up in the ride area of the

The Manatee River Fair Association and hundreds of volunteers will put on the fair — as it has since after World War II.

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Summer pastime is fair game for Solon creator

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on January 7, 2009
Posted in: News. Tagged: .

By SUE HOFFMAN

One of America’s favorite summer pastimes is going to the county fair, according to Solon resident Joanne Farinacci.

“Fairs are about American agriculture and part of American history,” she said. “Families that bring their produce and their animals flock to the county fair with pride. One of my favorite parts besides the animals is the crafts the women bring in, the quilts and baked goods. Their work takes tremendous dedication.”

Her own memories of attending the Canfield Fair while growing up in New Middletown, near Youngstown, abound. “We’d get up at 6 and have a quick breakfast,” she said. “Mom worked at the church tent. My brother and I spent the whole day at the fair. Businesses in town would have signs that they were closed for the fair. After the fair ended on Labor Day, farmers and participants would pack up Tuesday to go home, so school would not start until Wednesday.”

The fair, presented by the Mahoning County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, celebrated its 162nd year last summer, from Aug. 27 through Labor Day, Sept. 1.

When their three daughters, Natalie, Emily and Leslie, were growing up, Mrs. Farinacci continued the tradition of attending the Canfield Fair.

“I like being at the fair,” said Mrs. Farinacci, who moved to Solon with her husband, Dr. John Farinacci, 24 years ago. “It’s just fun. Every time the fair ended, we’d be blue it was over. You had to wait another year to go to the fair.”

That was until Mrs. Farinacci designed and produced a board game that recreates much of the fun and entertainment a county fair provides. After two years of working on design and production, she sold her first 100 copies of the County Fair Game at the Great Geauga County Fair in Burton last summer. The game is now being sold at Borders Books in Solon and Mentor and Hershberger Housewares, an Amish department store in Middlefield, as well as by mail order.

With $85 of play money, players place their markers in the parking lot, enter the ticket gate and roll the die. Like the real fair attendees, they have multiple choices of what to do next. Should they buy cotton candy, shop for a tractor or try to win a best-of-show ribbon for harness racing at the grandstand? Should they take a photo at the top of the Ferris wheel or win a badge for joining the fall choir or finding their lost brother?

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