State Fair of Virginia ends until next year
Credit: DEAN HOFFMEYER/TIMES-DISPATCHTThree-year-old Kaylee Martin of New Kent County rode the carousel Sunday at the State Fair of Virginia.
By: JEREMY SLAYTON
FROM: The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: October 10, 2011
Sadie Lynn held on to the saddle horn with her right hand as she leaned to the side of her horse, dragging her left hand in the dirt.
Her mount, Shotgun, thundered around the ring while Lynn hung dangerously close to his hooves.
Gravity-defying tricks from Lynn and the All American Cowboy Chicks drew exclamations of amazement from the crowd.
The Texas-based trick-riding entertainers set the tone Sunday for an awe-filled final day of the State Fair of Virginia at Meadow Event Park in Caroline County that ended with fireworks and a concert from country-music trio The Band Perry.
Concertgoers arrived early for the performance, grabbing spots as close to the stage as possible.
Dee Beverly and her family placed their lawn chairs about three rows back. To secure the prime real estate, they arrived at noon, some seven hours before siblings Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry took the stage.
Early Sunday afternoon, Beverly sat with her 16-year-old daughter, Allyson, while the rest of their family enjoyed the other fair offerings; later they would switch.
It was the family's fifth concert of the 11-day fair — performances by Tracy Lawrence, the Marshall Tucker Band, Lee Brice and Craig Campbell were the others.
"We wanted to make sure we had good seats, and we figured the place was going to get crowded fast," Dee Beverly, who lives in Caroline, said of the early arrival.
"Especially since (The Band Perry) is a popular band," Allyson added.
Organizers of the State Fair of Virginia say the event is hitting its stride during year three in rural Caroline after 63 years at the Richmond Raceway Complex in Henrico County.
The fair passed the 227,000 visitors mark — last year's total — on Saturday and gates were open Sunday until 9 p.m.; total attendance figures this year were not immediately available. In 2009, the figure was 247,958 people.
"I do think people are adjusting; they come now with an understanding of the layout and how to pace yourself, prioritize your visit," said the fair's president, Curry Roberts. "It really is like going to a fair in the park, and that is what we set out to achieve."
Steve and Darlene Watson of Richmond sat in the cool shade on an otherwise warm afternoon, sharing a bowl of homemade ice cream. Darlene had just finished her volunteer shift at the Virginia Cooperative Extension booth, fascinating inquisitive youth by showing them worms.
The couple took some time to enjoy the fair after Darlene's shift ended and spoke highly of the green space at the cleaner, rural setting.
"There is a lot of education stuff for kids here; that's really worthwhile," said Darlene Watson.
Her mount, Shotgun, thundered around the ring while Lynn hung dangerously close to his hooves.
Gravity-defying tricks from Lynn and the All American Cowboy Chicks drew exclamations of amazement from the crowd.
The Texas-based trick-riding entertainers set the tone Sunday for an awe-filled final day of the State Fair of Virginia at Meadow Event Park in Caroline County that ended with fireworks and a concert from country-music trio The Band Perry.
Concertgoers arrived early for the performance, grabbing spots as close to the stage as possible.
Dee Beverly and her family placed their lawn chairs about three rows back. To secure the prime real estate, they arrived at noon, some seven hours before siblings Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry took the stage.
Early Sunday afternoon, Beverly sat with her 16-year-old daughter, Allyson, while the rest of their family enjoyed the other fair offerings; later they would switch.
It was the family's fifth concert of the 11-day fair — performances by Tracy Lawrence, the Marshall Tucker Band, Lee Brice and Craig Campbell were the others.
"We wanted to make sure we had good seats, and we figured the place was going to get crowded fast," Dee Beverly, who lives in Caroline, said of the early arrival.
"Especially since (The Band Perry) is a popular band," Allyson added.
Organizers of the State Fair of Virginia say the event is hitting its stride during year three in rural Caroline after 63 years at the Richmond Raceway Complex in Henrico County.
The fair passed the 227,000 visitors mark — last year's total — on Saturday and gates were open Sunday until 9 p.m.; total attendance figures this year were not immediately available. In 2009, the figure was 247,958 people.
"I do think people are adjusting; they come now with an understanding of the layout and how to pace yourself, prioritize your visit," said the fair's president, Curry Roberts. "It really is like going to a fair in the park, and that is what we set out to achieve."
Steve and Darlene Watson of Richmond sat in the cool shade on an otherwise warm afternoon, sharing a bowl of homemade ice cream. Darlene had just finished her volunteer shift at the Virginia Cooperative Extension booth, fascinating inquisitive youth by showing them worms.
The couple took some time to enjoy the fair after Darlene's shift ended and spoke highly of the green space at the cleaner, rural setting.
"There is a lot of education stuff for kids here; that's really worthwhile," said Darlene Watson.
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