TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Enthusiasts Hang On For A Fair Finish

ADVERTISEMENT

By YVETTE C. HAMMETT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2008

TAMPA - When it's a national holiday and families don't have to play hooky to make it to the Florida State Fair, well, life is good.

Good for the families, and good for those who produce the annual event.

Even before the final count came in, fair organizers said this year's attendance is expected to come close to last year's 500,000 visitors.

"If the weather wouldn't have been a little tricky today, we probably would have passed that number," said Chuck Pesano, the fair's executive director. "I'm going to guess we'll be at around 480,000."

Monday was the last day of this year's fair. Pesano said he expected to have an unofficial attendance number by 10 a.m. today.

Some venues were a bit quiet Monday, but the midway was clearly the hub of action. The spider woman side show got little attention, but the line at the Enterprise and the Himalaya thrill rides stayed steady.

"Honey, when we went backward, it was bad," said a harried Bessie Robinson, 64, after stepping off the Himalaya. She was bold and brave enough to slide into a seat next to her 7-year-old granddaughter, Kyah Robinson. Both are from St. Petersburg.

"I'm crazy doing this kind of stuff at my age, but I do it for her," Bessie Robinson said, squeezing her granddaughter before the two dashed off to another ride and to hunt for pizza, Kyah's favorite.

Luke Hunter, 14, and Charlie White, 13, both of Tampa, hauled gigantic mesh bags filled with prizes they won playing midway games. And it wasn't even noon yet.

"I made the first shot on the basketball game," Charlie said, holding up a bag filled with a basketball, a stuffed Donkey Kong doll and other prizes. His mother, Kim White, said she was well-prepared to be the keeper of the loot as the boys headed for the rides.

Life was more low-key on the other side of the fairgrounds, where a sizable group listened to fair favorite Dennis Lee perform "I Did It My Way" in the Family Theater while bison and sheep mingled with toddlers and teens in the livestock tent.

Brittany Bennett, 10, of Port Orange, brushed an Ayrshire cow while her sister, Brooke, 11, was ready to head for the Ferris wheel.

"We drove for two hours to get here," Brittany said. "The animals are one of my favorite things to do. I love animals."

Stella Riches of Seminole stood nearby.

"I sent my husband and daughter to go ride the rides so I could be alone with the animals," said Riches, patting a black-and-white calf as it nibbled at her bluejeans.

"We waited until the last day because there was no school and no work," she said. "I'll be here as long as I can hold up."

The fair opened Feb. 7. This year, it had a new attraction: La Plaza, a courtyard area with a Latino theme.

"It was very well-received," Pesano said. "It was an experiment, and everyone really liked it. We hope next year to take it a step further."

Also new this year, fair organizers produced a Las Vegas revue called "Glitz." Pesano said it was a hit.

"We'll give good consideration to doing something similar next year," he said.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 657-4532 or yhammett@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT