Fair managers expect full carnival operations today
Posted: Aug 8, 2012
Dennis Bragg - KPAX News
MISSOULA - Western Montana Fair managers remain hopeful the fair's carnival vendor can work out problems that made some fair goers and carnival fans pretty cranky on the event's opening day.
For many, the Western Montana Fair's opening day is all about the carnival, giving parents and kids a break in their summer routine. But Tuesday turned out to be more frustration than fun for some fair goers, a point not missed by Fair Director Steve Earle.
"It's real clear some of the rides didn't get here on time and they were a couple of hours late getting started last night," Earle said. "They did discount the all-day passes, or the POP tickets as we call them, $14 last night to compensate people."
What happened in Missoula Monday isn't dissimilar to other problems that have been trailing Royal West Amusement and Inland Empire Shows this summer's fair season.
The company, operated by Todd Keenan and his wife Becky, sends units to fairs all over the region.
At the Central Montana Fair in Lewistown, last week's 4 County Fair in Shelby, and even a month ago in Boise, there have been reports of delays and equipment problems, Earle said.
"We're going to have serious conversations with the carnival vendor," Earle said. "I know Todd well and I know he's tried hard to get this thing going and it will be up and going today. And we had three more rides come in last night, couple more generators. And here comes one right now. So, we'll get it."
Earle said they'd do everything in their power to make people happy.
But Monday's problems, coupled with the other fair reports, have Earle and his staff considering different options. The fair's issued a request for proposals to see if there might be a new contractor available.
Since the carnival is a contracted fair vendor, any refunds or reimbursements will be up to Royal West. But Earle says the fair is confident the rest of this year's event will go smoothly.
"Outside of getting out my tools and helping them put the rides together, which I don't really want the responsibility for," Earle said. "We'll be going and going strong and hopefully we've got another nice day and people having fun."
Royal West hasn't had problems at every fair this year. A weekly newspaper in Fremont County, Wyo., where the company operated a carnival last week, said there were none of the complaints we've seen here in Montana.
Dennis Bragg - KPAX News
MISSOULA - Western Montana Fair managers remain hopeful the fair's carnival vendor can work out problems that made some fair goers and carnival fans pretty cranky on the event's opening day.
For many, the Western Montana Fair's opening day is all about the carnival, giving parents and kids a break in their summer routine. But Tuesday turned out to be more frustration than fun for some fair goers, a point not missed by Fair Director Steve Earle.
"It's real clear some of the rides didn't get here on time and they were a couple of hours late getting started last night," Earle said. "They did discount the all-day passes, or the POP tickets as we call them, $14 last night to compensate people."
What happened in Missoula Monday isn't dissimilar to other problems that have been trailing Royal West Amusement and Inland Empire Shows this summer's fair season.
The company, operated by Todd Keenan and his wife Becky, sends units to fairs all over the region.
At the Central Montana Fair in Lewistown, last week's 4 County Fair in Shelby, and even a month ago in Boise, there have been reports of delays and equipment problems, Earle said.
"We're going to have serious conversations with the carnival vendor," Earle said. "I know Todd well and I know he's tried hard to get this thing going and it will be up and going today. And we had three more rides come in last night, couple more generators. And here comes one right now. So, we'll get it."
Earle said they'd do everything in their power to make people happy.
But Monday's problems, coupled with the other fair reports, have Earle and his staff considering different options. The fair's issued a request for proposals to see if there might be a new contractor available.
Since the carnival is a contracted fair vendor, any refunds or reimbursements will be up to Royal West. But Earle says the fair is confident the rest of this year's event will go smoothly.
"Outside of getting out my tools and helping them put the rides together, which I don't really want the responsibility for," Earle said. "We'll be going and going strong and hopefully we've got another nice day and people having fun."
Royal West hasn't had problems at every fair this year. A weekly newspaper in Fremont County, Wyo., where the company operated a carnival last week, said there were none of the complaints we've seen here in Montana.
No comments:
Post a Comment