The fair is moving!

[Dawn Longworth]

I sent an email to Dick to ask for the Fair hours of operation...since they are completely different this year, I just thought it would be a good idea to post them on the home page so people dont show up at 1pm and the gates not open until 4pm.  Plus I need to get that info to Dist 4 for direct patrol....THANKS!     (Oh, and I attend a meeting downtown at 7pm the same night as the Fair meeting, so I have not been able to attend....If I miss more than 2 of the Cincinnati meetings, our neighborhood looses funding--its a requirement that all neighborhoods have to do).  Plus, even though I am part of the Task Force...I still dont know the hours of operation this year...if I dont know, how are others supposed to know...you know?? 

[Valley Cat]

Dawn,

On the bottom, left side is a tidbit about looking for volunteers for various areas. It lists the hours workers are needed.

If you need more info, let me know.

Mike

[Dawn Longworth]

Mike,
I was looking on the Hamilton COunty Fair web site for hours of operation for this years Fair....I know they dont open until 4pm, but have they gotten a list out to publish on the Fair home page the hours of the Fair this year?  I wanted to send an email out to some of the Hartwell residents that I have email addresses for to encourage them to volunteer to help watch barns, tell them about the parade and encourage them to enter items in the Fair...   Jeff also asked me to get Dist 4 to detail the area and I would like to send the Captain an email with the Fair times too!!
THANKS for your help!!!! Dawn

[unhappy]

I'm sure that they also looked at the attendance at these times.  Most people work and would not be able to attend during those times anyways.  I would think that during working hours the attendance was not very high.  Maybe the CRC can meet with the Fair people and arrange for a day to bring the kids and open the fair just for them.

[Valley Cat]

Dawn,

I like the idea of you contacting CRC this early. This gives them plenty of time to work with Dick, parents, counselors and others to make sure the kids can attend one or more sessions.

We are probably looking at this from different angles. I'm thinking about the person who rented a booth and needed to be there all day, every day, and for a large part of the time sold nothing. They ask themselves if the cost, the hours they have to work and what they sell is worth it.

You look at it from the visitors' point of view - nothing wrong at all with that - and think people might not be able to attend if they want because of the hours.

But my answer is if no vendors show up, and the rides are as crappy and shut down as often as they were last year, will anyone really care about attending.

Mike

[Dawn Longworth]

I understand your points Mike but I just think that opening the gates that late might not work for a lot of people.  I have already called Cincinnati Recreation Commission about the late closings since they bring summer camp kids to the Fair during the early opening hours and feel it is unfortunate that those children might not be able to go to this next Fair.  I hope they will reconsider the operating hours.

[Valley Cat]

Dawn,

To be honest, there doesn't seem to be a lot of difference in how hot it feels between 3:00 and 5:00. As for free days, AFAIK, the fair still intends on holding them. I also believe the No Sunday thing is because the ride company could not be there Sunday, though I may be wrong (if you belong to the fair's forum, www.hcasmarket.com/forum/ you can ask there. They want the best rides possible, as well as many as they can get and I think this was the only way to accomplish both.

Regarding the deputies, I think Dick ought to look into the option of appointing constables. If they are licensed police officers he (or Pat) may be able to hire them at a much lower cost. One sticking point would have to be if they would be covered by insurance or not.

Mike

[Valley Cat]

The fair grounds are available for rent most days of the year. They would love to have groups rent it - give them a call!

Mike

[Dogtown]

Why hasn't the fairgrounds made itself available for use year round, for all the various kinds of specialty buy/sell/trade shows that could potentially rent the buildings? Go to the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis for a terrific display of what I mean. They hold camera, coin, gun, furniture, pet, craft, auto parts, etc. shows there, sometimes several on the same weekend.

 Right now, for example, gun shows are packed to the rafters with people wanting to stock up before the incoming future POTUS and Congress make it illegal to do so. (Not gonna posit whether or not those frenzied buyers are correct, at least in this thread.) And since earlier this year Ohio pre-empted all municipal firearms laws, whether Cinciinnati realizes it or not, the way has now been cleared for gun shows to once again be held inside the city limits.

 My point is you can't hold a fair once a year for a week, ten days, whatever, have the property sit unused the rest of the time, and expect the facility to be viable, even with the city/county propping it up with tax dollars.

 

[Dawn Longworth]

I think it is a terrible idea.  What Fair doenst have at least 2 weekend open days and then doesnt open until 4pm?  That is the craziest idea ever--this is not the way for Hamilton County to set itself apart from the other County Fairs in the state.  Why is there a need for 6 officers during the day and how is the Fair reaching out with educational venues when the place is not open to the large groups which attend during the free days and early afternoon before the heat of the day kicks in?  I'm just really surprised.

[Valley Cat]

Dawn,

By far, the largest expense at the fair is security. At $30/hr. per deputy, and at least six guys working, that's $600 per day the fair saves. Plus, Steve doesn't need to book as many groups. I think it will also make it seem like there is a lot more going on because there is less time to try and fill.

Mike

[Dawn Longworth]

Wow...I dont remember anything being mentioned about the start time of 4pm when I first heard this announcement.  I dont know about that one.  I perfer to come earlier due to the heat of the day.  I really surprised by this and dont think it is a good move at all. 

[Valley Cat]

Dates, not locations. It will be held from Tuesday, August 11 through Saturday, August, August 15. Another change, it will not open until 4:00 each day except Saturday, when it will start at noon.

Dick Ingle, the fair's manager says there will be way more, as well as much better rides and games this year compared to previous years.

Mike