Saturday, September 11, 2010

GEORGIA STATE FAIR, MACON (MAY 2010)

Through his camera lens, pioneer commercial photographer, Basil Clemons (1887-1964), captured over 200 images of circus images. Breckenridge, Texas: 1921 Photograph of Gentry Brothers Clowns by Basil Clemons.

OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR---

http://www.okstatefair.com/

MORE PICTURES FROM THE CIRCUS MODEL BUILDERS EXHIBIT AT NY STATE FAIR (STEVE KEELER)

LUCERNE COUNTY FAIR--DALLAS, PA

Steve Swika's S & S Amusements on the Midway

Fair offers animals, amusement

Shawn Thompson, 2, of Wanamie, Newport Township, is wary of getting a slobbery lick Wednesday from Smokey, a 1-year-old Newfoundland owned by Duncan McDonell of San Antonio, Texas. McDonell has a pet I.D. tag booth set up at the 48th annual Luzerne County Fair at the Luzerne County Fairgrounds off Route 118 in Dallas. At right, the fair, with its rides, exhibits and shows, runs through Sunday.

COLE BROS CIRCUS--AUGUSTA, GA--SEPT. 8 & 9th

Friday, September 10, 2010

THIS YEAR AT THE YORK FAIR!

Asplay in Memorial Hall East

Royal Hanneford Circus!
3 shows daily and 4 shows on Saturdays in Memorial Hall East

The 245 Annual York Fair Opens Today

9:51 AM EDT, September 10, 2010

The 245 annual York Fair kicks off today at 10 am. The first York Fair was held back in 1765 making it the oldest fair in America.

Workers spent the last few days setting up all of the rides, games and exhibits. There are several new features this year including three new rides, a live animal birthing center, and for the first time ever professional wrestling.

Admission is $6 for adults, children 6-11 are $3 and 5 and under are free.

For more information on the fair go to http://www.yorkfair.org/

THE BURY FAMILY---70 YEARS AT THE YORK FAIR!

FAIR FOOD--YORK PA

YORK FAIR OPENS VIDEO

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.

Robert Dunn, circus performer

Onionhead, a clown with UniverSoul Circus

MARY LENDZION, FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Robert Dunn has been a clown all his life. (At least that's what his mother tells him.)
But since he took his act from the streets of Harlem and the Bronx to the UniverSoul Circus about 13 years ago, he's been getting paid for it.
Dunn, whose clown name is Onionhead, now lives in Dunnellon, Fla., but still refers to himself as "the clown from the 'hood."
"When clowning came into my life, everything changed for the better," he says. "I like that I can be part of helping people to leave their worries behind for a little while.
" Dunn's schedule stays full these days.
UniverSoul Circus travels 11 months out of the year and is bringing its current production, "We Play Too Much!," to Chene Park in Detroit starting today.
He recently spent some time clowning around with the Free Press
Read more: Robert Dunn, circus performer freep.com Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20100909/ENT05/9090305/1035/ENT/Robert-Dunn-circus-performer#ixzz0z5xbwWlI

Sacramento SPCA Calls For Circus Boycott
Dennis Shanahan FOX40 News September 8, 2010

SACRAMENTO: The Sacramento SPCA is adding its voice to those who oppose the use of animals in traveling circuses. Executive Director Rick Johnson is calling for a boycott of the The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, which begins a four-day run at ARCO Arena beginning Thursday night.
"The Sacramento SPCA is opposed to the use of wild animals in circuses and other shows because of the stress, cruelty and physical, social and psychological deprivations that the animals inevitably suffer," Johnson said in a statement released Wednesday. "As an organization, we feel strongly that the traveling conditions that circus animals endure is inhumane, and that alone should prohibit the use of wild animals in traveling shows of any type."
But according to Janice Aria, director of animal stewardship for the circus, a great deal of time and expertise goes into selecting which elephants thrive in the circus environment, and which ones are more suited for Ringling Brothers' 200-acre center for elephant conservation in Florida. Those that do perform are given a lot of stimulation, according to Aria. "We bring piles of sand to every venue where we play because they love to roll in it and throw it all over themselves. There are logs and tires, and there actually are commercial elephant toys," she told FOX40.
Whether or not people choose to attend the circus, they can rest assured that the animal care is being scrutinized by local animal care specialists. The City of Sacramento passed an ordinance in July giving the city's animal care services department the authority to inspect any traveling animal exhibition. Inspectors will be checking up on the circus every day while it's in town.
One of those inspectors, Penny Cistaro, assured FOX40 that the circus is cooperating fully. "They have given us answers, shown us anything that we ask to see, and it's been an easy process," she said. Copyright © 2010, KTXL-TV

ORANGE COUNTY, CA FAIRGROUNDS MAY BE SOLD

The fair midway is quiet at The OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa prior to opening in this August 5, 2010 aerial photo.JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

COSTA MESA – The company that would operate the Orange County fairgrounds under an agreement with Costa Mesa would be allowed to hold other fairs at the site under terms approved Tuesday night.The City Council signed off on a few issues that were outstanding when it agreed to the deal two weeks ago.Approval by the Legislature is still needed to complete the sale of the state property to the city. The purchase would be financed by Facilities Management West, which would also run the fairgrounds.The sale's future was cast in doubt Tuesday when Assemblyman Jose Solorio, D-Anaheim, who had sponsored legislation approving the sale, announced he was dropping his support.If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger approves of the terms, he could still find another legislator to include the legislation in the budget process.read more at: http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-265481-property-fairgrounds.html

Thursday, September 9, 2010

What's Cooking On The Circus Train? - Video - KCRA Sacramento

OPENS THIS WEEK

BE SURE AND VISIT LITTLE RICHARD'S FOOD STANDS!

AND DON'T FORGET LARRY SNYDER'S TOO!

CLICK ON OPENS THIS WEEK TO GO TO WEB SITE!

ULSTER COUNTY FAIR, NEW PALTZ, NY

Britney Spareribs, Rush Limhog and Lyndsey Loham were some of the competitors who were hamming it up during a popular show that's become a tradition at the Ulster County Fair -- the pig races, put on by Robinson's Racing Pigs, a company based in Florida.

Neath’s Great Fair grew out of a violent time of blood and turmoil

Pic: Linsey's Tunnel of Love 1960 by National Fairground Archive, University of Sheffield Library

Sep 8 2010 by Robin Turner, Western Mail (from walesonline.co.uk)

ONE of the oldest annual fairs in the UK is taking place today – for the 730th time.
But visitors walking amid the bobbing balloons, busy trade stalls and whirling waltzers at Neath’s “great fair” will mostly be unaware of the bloody turmoil that gave birth to the event in medieval times.
The fair, which takes place on the second Thursday of September, can trace its origin back to an original Charter granted in 1280.
It was signed by the flame haired Gilbert “The Red” De Clare, whose family had helped William the Conqueror take over England in 1066. He ruled with an iron fist.
In the mid 1120s, Earl Robert of Gloucester had established the western frontier of the Norman lordship of Glamorgan on the banks of the river Neath. Norman knights were granted land in the area for their loyalty, but the local Welsh population did not take matters lying down.
It was said the banks of the river Neath were the most dangerous part of Glamorgan, as the Normans and their supporters suffered ferocious attacks from well armed bands of locals.
According to Sheffield University-based Professor Vanessa Toulmin, director of the National Fairground Archive, the granting of fair charters was done to encourage trade.
She said the 1280 Neath Fair Charter was almost certainly granted to give those who had suffered from raids a chance to do trade and sell their goods.
George Eaton, writing in The Story of Neath’s Fair, which was published to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the event, said the aim was to encourage the demoralised burgesses to recover from the traumatic experiences of warfare and siege.
read more at:http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/09/08/neath-s-great-fair-grew-out-of-a-violent-time-of-blood-and-turmoil-91466-27222686/