The 82nd annual Marion County Fair will sport a whole new look at a whole new time during summer 2012.
Citing soaring temperatures frequently approaching triple-digit territory, along with an increasing number of competing events, the fair’s board of directors is moving the event from its traditional July dates to one month earlier. The 2012 Marion County Fair will be held Friday, June 22 through Saturday, June 30.
“We’ve weathered back-to-back summers during which temperatures truly affected every aspect of the Marion County Fair,” said Cathy Clark, newly elected fair board president. “The heat was directly responsible for lower attendance, it created an uncomfortable environment for everyone on the grounds, and bordered on being dangerous for animals on display.
“We also wanted to create some space between our fair and other area big events, such as the Indiana State Fair and Brickyard 400,” she added.
“Changing our fair dates required massive coordination among 4-H, concessionaires and other vendors, performers, and so many others, but at the end of the day, everyone realized this is the very best course of action for the Marion County Fair, now and in the future.”
The dates are not the only changes fairgoers will experience. A new midway operator – Farmland, Indiana-based North American Midway Entertainment – will provide over 40 rides geared for all ages, along with an array of games and fair food.
“We are really excited to partner with this great Indiana firm,” Clark stated. “North American Midway Entertainment will be bringing over three dozen first-class rides and attractions to create a new-look midway that will be very popular with fairgoers of all ages.”
North American Midway Entertainment provides midway attractions to 19 million fairgoers at more than 140 events annually – including 10 of the top 50 fairs in North America, in 20 states and four Canadian provinces (including the world-famous Calgary Stampede). Its roster of Hoosier fairs includes the Indiana State Fair and the Elkhart, St. Joseph, Porter, Lake, Shelby, Howard, Delaware, and Kosciusko county fairs, among others.
The company is known not only for outstanding rides and attractions, but for outstanding guest relations and customer service.
“It’s going to be a very exciting fair, with our brand new midway, on brand new dates, and, hopefully, with weather that cooperates,” Clark said. “We can’t wait to open the gates!”
