Friday, September 10, 2010

YORK, PA FAIR OPENS

Free favorites return to the York Fair in 2010
Betty Bury, 83, reminisces with her granddaughter Nicole Harman, 12, both of York City, about the experiences she s had running the Johnny Eagle s Lunch food stand at the York Fair. (Michael Felletter Photo)
AMANDA DOLASINSKI, The York Dispatch 09/09/2010
Forget the gravity-defying rides and deep-fried foods. This year at the York Fair, you can see a live birth.
Fair officials are presenting several free attractions with admission into the York Fair this year, from racing pigs to a hypnotist. But Mike Froehlich, York Fair general manager, is most excited to share a live animal birth.
"One of the things we're trying to do more of this year is showcase agriculture," he said at a preview reception Wednesday night. "That's one of the main reasons people come to the fair."
Froehlich said sheep and swine will be at the fair, and he will make announcements over the public address system when a birth is coming.
Fairgoers can also check out
other free attractions, including an 80-foot dive into 32,000 gallons of water, a NASA exhibit and a musical performance involving trash cans.
"All these things are free now," Froehlich said. "I don't like to bring a group back more than two or three years in a row, but you would not believe the e-mails I get. People love Vocal Trash."
Rick Reithoffer, CEO of Reithoffer Shows, is also bringing new attractions to the York Fair this year. Rides aren't free -- $19 for a wristband for the day -- but Reithoffer said he believes they will still be popular this year.
Full Tilt will make its debut in York Friday. Riders will sit in theater-type seats on a platform that spins around an axle about 75 feet in the air.
"You think you're falling off," Reithoffer said. "Kids love it."
Reithoffer is also excited to show off the vibrant lights on his rides, featuring 96,000 LED lights this year. Because they are expensive, transitioning his rides to using LED lights will be gradual. A standard light bulb costs about 11 cents and an LED light bulb costs $2.15, he said. So far, seven of his rides are entirely lit up by LED lights.
"We're reducing the amount of power (used) to the show and at the same time, we're making the show more beautiful than ever," he said.
The York Fair begins Friday and runs through Sunday, Sept. 19. Gates open at 10 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday and noon Monday through Thursday.
Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children 6 to 11, and free for children 5 and under. Free admission for certain groups is offered every weekday and on Sunday, Sept. 19.

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