Fair a smashing success

CELINA - The 2021 Mercer County Fair will almost certainly set a new attendance record once final numbers are known, fair manager Cara Muhlenkamp said while offering a recap of a week that saw huge crowds, many smiling faces and vendors running out of food.

By almost every measure, the Country Nights, Carnival Lights-themed fair was a success, with numerous high quality 4-H projects and animals and first rate entertainment acts, shows and grandstand events, together attracting what likely was the best ever turnout.

"It has been an absolutely fantastic week," Muhlenkamp said on Thursday, her voice hoarse from exhaustion.

Though she did not yet have exact figures, Muhlenkamp said she's confident that significantly more people came through the gates this year than during the 2019 fair that saw a recording-setting 75,000 people over its seven-day run.

"Just from glancing at it, in comparison to 2019, we're up significantly on attendance," she said.

In fact, aside from last year, when fairs across the state were forced to scale down dramatically because of the state's COVID-19 mandate, the Mercer County Fair has enjoyed an upswing in crowd numbers and revenue during the last several years.

"We've been working real hard to grow our fair and improve our fair and just make the county proud of us," Muhlenkamp said.

The Aug. 13 country bands double-bill of Sawyer Brown and BlackHawk was sold out; Also, Grammy Award-winning, platinum-selling Casting Crowns was well received on Saturday night, proving to be the fair's most successful Christian concert yet.

"Everything went really well, actually," Muhlenkamp said. "We saw a record attendance for the Christian concert. It's growing really well. We're excited with it. We can't wait to announce who we have for next year."

Other notable acts enjoyed by fairgoers were the Chicago-based Honey Bear Dancers, a family-oriented show featuring singing and dancing. Tumbleweed Crossing drew about 300 people daily for comedic wild west gunfight stunt shows. Performers with the Flippin' Steampunk Aerial and Acrobatic Spectacular put on energetic shows every day of the fair.

"And I would say we probably saw anywhere from 150 to 200 people at a majority of the aerial acrobatic show, also," Muhlenkamp said.

Dock Dogs, which features canines and water, returned to the fair this year. It was born in 2000 to create a nationally recognized competitive sport based on rules and precedents in track and field competitions, according to the company's website.

The midway was packed with carnival rides and games - and hordes of excited children - many wearing $12 wristbands that allowed them to go on as many rides as they wanted to daily.

"Definitely some of the longest lines I have ever seen here at the fairgrounds since 2007 as I started here in the office," Muhlenkamp said.

4-H members showcased projects that they had poured themselves into substantially larger crowds than last year.

"It was a successful year between the junior and senior fair and we saw a lot of increased numbers. We had an additional 60 head of hogs that came in," Muhlenkamp said. "I know (the beef show) ran well into the late evening and we started it at 3:30 in the afternoon. Definitely seeing some good numbers."

Fair officials also held an open goat show for the first time.

"That went over real well," she said. "We're excited with how things went."

A special guest, Marla Calico, president of the International Association of Fairs and Expos, made an appearance at the fair on Tuesday. IAFE, based in Springfield, Missouri, a voluntary, nonprofit corporation serving state, provincial, regional and county agriculture fairs, shows, exhibitions and expositions. The Mercer County Fair is one of nearly 1,200 of IAFE's members worldwide, according to a news release.

Calico in the release indicated she was looking forward to seeing the expansion of the county fairgrounds and meeting with fair board members.

"She just wanted to come out and see firsthand all the good things that we were doing, and she was excited with everything," Muhlenkamp said, noting it was an honor to have Calico make an appearance at the fair.

Fair officials last week debuted a new gate and parking setup in an effort to expedite the flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. General admission parking was moved down Market Street to the general admissions gate. Motorists proceeded down a drive and parked their vehicles in a new expanded lot area. Golf carts and other transports were available to offer fairgoers rides from the parking area to the admittance area.

Gate A on Riley Street was designated for walk-thru entrance only and gates B, C and D on Market Street were designated for handicap and event permit parking, campers and grandstand event participants.

"We heard far more compliments about how (attendees) like to be able to just pull in, get off the road and park and then come up to the gate," Muhlenkamp said.

It also made it easier for vehicles to get in and out of the fairgrounds on concert nights.

Officials plan to make minor adjustments to the setup next year.

"We do know that we have a couple of things that we'd like to work through as far as incoming traffic and pedestrians … so we'll be adding some additional roads and access points just to kind of help make that a little bit easier transition there," Muhlenkamp explained.

While seemingly quite pleased with how the fair unfolded this year, Muhlenkamp did point to one area of disappointment.

A handful of vendors who had committed to showing bowed out at the last minute due to lack a staffing, she said.

"We did have a few bare spots that was frustrating for us because we work so hard to bring a variety of concessions to (attendees)," Muhlenkamp said. "When we lose one of them, it's disheartening to have that after you've worked so hard for it."

In the coming weeks, fair board members and fair staff will reflect on this year's event, going page-by-page through the fair-book to weigh positives and negatives.

"It's really all about how we can improve and do the best job that we can for the citizens of Mercer County," Muhlenkamp said.