THE BALLOON MAN

Big Fresno Fair ends on busy note

GARY KAZANJIAN / THE FRESNO BEE - Fairgoers stand in line for one last chance at some food Sunday at The Big Fresno Fair.

Oct. 17, 2010 By Marc Benjamin / The Fresno Bee
Thousands shrugged off cooler weather, occasional raindrops and overcast skies Sunday to take in the last day of The Big Fresno Fair.
Fair officials said they are confident this year's attendance will exceed last year's tally of 514,000 visitors.
The final count should be completed today or Tuesday, officials said.
Occasional raindrops weren't enough to stop Robert Aguilar, his girlfriend, Jodie Biggs of Clovis, and her two sons from catching the fair's final day.
"We are out here having a good time," said Aguilar, of Los Angeles, as the boys climbed the steps of Catfish Falls. "We're not leaving."
Seated a few feet away with his wife and young daughter, Guillermo Enriquez of Fresno said his children were looking forward to the fair.
Sunday was their first chance to go.
"I'll just stay where it's covered," he said of the rain threat.
Other than the first and last days, when light rain fell, weather was the major reason for the fair's success this year, said John Alkire, the fair's chief executive.
"The weather has been just near perfect," he said. "I would say we are ahead of last year at the same time. Concessions are up, food and beverages are up and our gates should be a lot stronger than last year."
One of The Big Fresno Fair's more experienced hands, Ron Boeger, who has operated the Happy Day Pony Ride concession at the fair for 45 years, agreed that the crowds were strong and that the economy may have had something to do with it.He said Valley residents will come to the fair for their vacation as an economical way to have fun without going out of town.
Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/10/17/2121903/big-fresno-fair-ends-on-busy-note.html#ixzz12klVCYTg