News

2009 Ohio fair schedule set

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on December 10, 2008
Posted in: News. Tagged: .

MarionStar

REYNOLDSBURG — Ohioans can start planning visits to fairs for the 2009 season with information released by the Ohio Department of Agriculturelisting the official dates for Ohio’s 94 county and independent fairs and the Ohio State Fair.

The Paulding County Fair will kick off the 2009 fairs on June 16, and the season will conclude Oct. 17 with the Fairfield County Fair. Link to the complete list of state fairs at the right.

Local fair dates are Marion County, June 29-July 4; Morrow County, Aug 31-Sept 7; Wyandot County, Sept 15-20; Hardin County, Sept 8-13; Delaware County, Sept 19-26 and Crawford County, July 18-25.

In addition to setting and approving the dates for the independent and county fairs, the department is also responsible for helping to assure the safety of fair amusement rides, for monitoring livestock shows to help assure honest competition, and for coordinating animal health efforts with designated local veterinarians.

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Proposed North Dakota State Fair Grandstand

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on December 9, 2008
Posted in: News. Tagged: .

North Dakota State Fair Blog
Last week Governor Hoeven released his budget , within it he supported the North Dakota State Fair by allocating $17 million for the construction of a new Grandstand facility. The current grandstand is home to the Fair’s concerts and motor events’ it also hosts fans for the Nodak Speedway races. Growing demand and a deteriorating infrastructure has presented many maintenance challenges. Therefore the State Fair Board is looking to build a new grandstand facility. A new grandstand for the State Fair is critical in maintaining the numbers necessary for future success and growth. For this reason, strong, vocal support for a new grandstand must come from all fairgoers. A new grandstand facility will attract more premiere events, better accommodate spectators and provide for a better overall experience. Help us bring a new grandstand to the North Dakota State Fair by contacting your legislators!

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Jackson County fair brings in the bucks

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on December 9, 2008
Posted in: News. Tagged: .

By JAY HUGHES – SUN HERALD

PASCAGOULA — This year’s Jackson County Blue Ribbon Fair was financially the second-most successful of the past 10 events, according to a report presented to the county Board of Supervisors on Monday.

Fair board member Alan Smith told supervisors this year’s fair took in $169,517.06 and showed a profit, after expenses, of $82,710.06. Only the 2007 fair, with $165,253.31 in revenue and a profit of $84,012.23, posted higher results since 1998 – an 11-year period during which no fair was held in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina.

In other action:

• Supervisors agreed to consider a four-day work week for county employees. Board President John McKay said the idea was floated several years ago, and has been brought up again due to high gas prices in recent months. County department heads were asked to submit, by the third week of January, plans for how they would take care of all their duties with longer hours but fewer days.

• The board approved a final payment of $26,908.36 to Standard Roofing USA for roof renovations at the Jackson County Adult Detention Center, finishing payments on a $269,083.75 contract.

• Supervisors agreed to hire Compton Engineering to oversee interior and exterior renovations of the county’s Jefferson Street Complex for $69,000, a fraction under 7 percent of the estimated $806,000 project cost.

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Fall 2008 IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, FL Provides “Success in Every Direction”

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on November 24, 2008
Posted in: News. Tagged: .

Carousel News and Trader Magazine

Orlando, FL – While the stock market was looking down, things were looking up at the 2008 IAAPA Amusement Park Expo this past week. Produced by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the annual trade show attracted an estimated 24,000 people from a record-setting 100 nations.

Carousels, roller coasters, arcades, concessions, and every imaginable vendor to the industry who was anyone was there.

The world’s largest conference and trade show for the $24 billion amusement park and attractions industry took place at the Orange County Convention Center, Nov. 17 through Nov. 21, with the theme “Success in Every Direction.”

Conference and trade show participants represented amusement and theme parks, family entertainment centers, waterparks, zoos, aquariums, museums, casinos, resorts, developers, themed entertainment designers, consultants, manufacturers, and suppliers.

“Considering the state of the world economy and the fact that this was our second consecutive year in Orlando, we are pleasantly surprised with the attendance at this year’s Expo,” said IAAPA President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Bray. “26,500 people participated in last year’s show in Orlando, which was one of our best events in the past 10 years. To be down less than 10 percent during these tumultuous economic times is amazing.”

More than 13,000 buyers representing more than 5,000 companies participated in the Expo. While some buyer categories experienced a decline in attendance, the number of buyers increased from zoos, aquariums, museums, and science centers. The number of buyers from Western Europe, Middle East, and Southeast Asia also decreased; however, the number of first-time buyers increased 25 percent.

The trade show floor featured 1,154 exhibiting companies on 482,550 net square feet of space. Exhibitors showcased everything from rare antique carousels to new thrill rides, roller coasters, and inflatable attractions, theatrical equipment, souvenirs, high-tech control systems, candy, snow machines, and the world debut of the arcade version of the popular “Guitar Hero” video game.

United Kingdom-based Haystack Dryers’ U.S. Operations Manager Wayne Jacks said, “(The Expo has been) absolutely fantastic, probably the best show we’ve ever done. We’ve had a buzz that’s been insane. We’ve had a group of people around us continuously. It’s been so successful; it looks like we’re going to expand our business in the States based on the show.”

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