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Fair crowd slightly down
Published Monday, November 2, 2009
Photo by Michele Gerlach
The midway was very busy Friday night, when fair organizers said the crowd topped 3,500 people.
Attendance at the Kiwanis Covington County Fair last week was slightly down compared to 2008, as fair organizers dealt with a down economy and with competing against Halloween and related events.
Fair board member Dee Catrett said total ticketed attendance for the week was 11,011, or $34,630 in gate revenue. In 2008, $38,474 was brought in from gate revenue and 11,960 tickets were sold.
The busiest night was Friday, when 3,527 people attended the fair. Wednesday, which was “family night,” had an attendance of 1,750, and Saturday had 1,675. Lowest attended days were Sunday (777) and Tuesday (734).
Saturday’s fair attendance was significantly down from last year; in 2008, Saturday was the busiest day by far, bringing in $15,866 in admission revenues. This year, several factors hurt Saturday’s attendance — namely the threat of inclement weather and Halloween-related activities such as Andalusia’s “Halloween on the Square.”
“It appears we may be less than last year, when you total everything up,” said Wayne Bennett, vice president of the fair board. “That’s probably almost entirely attributable to Halloween on the Square, and the competition there. We didn’t do nearly as well Saturday as we have in previous Saturdays.”
Preliminary reports, which did not include Sunday’s totals, listed gross revenues at $58,206, and the club’s percentage of midway sales was $20,570.
Expense reports were not readily available Monday. In the past, expenses have averaged about $25,900.
The dates for next year’s Kiwanis Covington County Fair are Mon., Oct. 18, through Sun., Oct. 24, 2010.
“We will avoid Halloween next year,” Bennett said.
Andalusia Kiwanis Club President Casey Thompson said the event would not have been a success without the help of club members and volunteers. He especially thanked the Florala Tri-Cities Kiwanis Club, which manned the midway concession stand, and also thanked Andalusia Regional Hospital employees who volunteered at the fair, whether they were club members or not.
“On behalf of the Kiwanis Club, I’d really like to thank Andalusia Regional Hospital for helping us out,” Thompson said. “Not only financially — they were one of our corporate sponsors — but also with their volunteers. There were a lot of hospital employees working the concession stand; when I visited, it seemed like there were two or three out there every night. We just really appreciate it.”
Comments
Posted by bluesclues (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have 3 school age kids, by the time I would have paid the charge to get them and myself inside, paid for armbands for all 3 of them to ride, paid for them each to play a game or 2 and food and cotton candy and such from the concession stands, I would have spent a paycheck for a week.( Thats grocery money )..NO WAY!..They UP'd the price at the fair on everything this year from the armband prices to the games to the food. Its just a way to take your money in a couple of hours. I didnt take them and dont regret it...We are eating good this week:)
Posted by biscuitsandhoovergravy (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I quit giving my money to the carnys a a long time ago. If you think they dont take in a bundle drive south of town and take a gander at Portemonts spread.
Posted by Jama (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The fair this year was terrible! I went with a friend, rode two rides and left extremely dissappointed. Every ride was a smaller, less fun version of the rides they've had in previous years.
...Or maybe I'm just getting old? Idk.
Posted by soccermom22 (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I refused to pay what was wanted to get in and ride! Cost has went up every year and it has gotten to a ridiculous amount to just ride. I would not waste my money for no more fun than would have been had at the prices they wanted.
With 2 kids and me and my husband we could not have afforded to even make it a family outing!
Posted by princess7 (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, so I am going to say the same thing I did about the Halloween on the Square. If you lived in a place that did nothing like this, you might not complain. I have been pleasantly surprised by the fair the past two years that I have taken my children. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a nice family outing for us. No, it's not cheap, but try going to the Peanut Festival in Dothan. It's not the cheapest in the world, but come on. Don't go if it's that bad. I have been very impressed by the fair. I'm used to the piddly little fairs that come to the Wal-Marts every now and then. I enjoy seeing the livestock, the vendors, and the prize-winners. It's a fun night for us and I am grateful for the Kiwanis club that puts it on. Thank you!!
Posted by ccresident09 (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 5:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have always supported the fair because it's a community event, however, over the past few years, I wouldn't waste my money there! The prices have gone out the roof for what is there! The carnival rides are too expensive. I wish it was affordable so all families could go and enjoy the evening in Andalusia. The livestock and contest entries are always awsome, but too expensive to take the family, sad.
Posted by Thankful (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have read in the NWF Daily News that the fair in Ft. Walton has taken into consideration the economy and lowered their prices. Check it out, in might be a great family outing at an affordable price!! I did not waste my time with the county fair either, we went to the Peanut Festival. Much more for the little ones to ride.
Posted by momof3boys (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with princess7.....thank you to all those who worked so hard to get this event together for us to enjoy, if we chose to do so. If there were no activities going on in our area, these same people would be complaining about that too. A special thank you to the people involved with the talent contest. My son was a participant and everyone was very nice and made sure that we all had a great time. As for the price, we all choose what to spend our money on and, for me, it was well worth the investment to see my kids smiling faces and remember the time when my parents did the same for me. Thank you Kiwanis Club and all volunteers!!!!
Posted by charlie_murphy (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i am new to this area but would like to suggest an idea to make the fair better next year. have an adult only night and get the chicks from the red garter revue to have a pole dancing contest. there are at least a thousand guys in covington county that would lay down 20 bucks to see that.
Posted by kitty (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lol, Charlie. that's not very "family oriented"!
It was not in our budget this year to go. we usually go and hope to go next year.
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