Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Nevead County fair won't include carnival rides

The Nevada County Fair will not have carnival rides this year. The decision, according to Nevada County Fair Board President John Henderson, is due to a lack of money.

Henderson said he met with carnival operators early this year and said none were willing to provide rides for the county fair unless the fair board pledged $5,000 to $8,000. Henderson said that a carnival wont generally make that much money while in Nevada County and that would mean the fair board was responsible for making up the difference.

Henderson said he understands that its a mater of economics.

It costs so much to travel, he said, adding that insurance is also expensive. If theyre not going to make money, theyre not going to do it.

Henderson also cited the disaster with last years carnival.

The group that were here last year packed up on Friday and left, Henderson said.

He said that one issue facing Nevada County is that the district fair will follow in just a week, and that fair is able to attract a larger carnival. At least some Nevada County people opt to skip the smaller rides locally, waiting for that district fair. That cuts even further into the revenue a carnival could expect in Nevada County.

Henderson said the Hempstead County fair has not had rides for several years, though the district fair that soon follows typically has a variety of rides.

Henderson said the carnival issue has recently seen some changes. He said that several years ago, the carnival owners paid the fair 15 percent of the money earned from rides and a set amount for each food vending booth. That amount changed over the past few years until the carnival owners were keeping 100 percent of their profits. The demand for a guaranteed amount is just the next step in that trend.

The other fair events will go on as usual, according to Henderson.

Its going to be the same thing weve always had, minus the carnival.

Area churches and organizations were invited to provide food, games and booths. He said hes certain that some local groups will be selling concessions so that at least some of the traditional fair food is available.

The livestock show, rodeo, exhibits and pageants will go on as usual. There will also be special music three nights.