Thousands enjoy ‘Fair, Fun and Friends’

Dawn Patterson, owner of Headlines Salon and Spa in Upper Sandusky, gives Wyandot County Sheriff Mike Hetzel a colorful new do at the salon’s booth at the Wyandot County Fair on Sunday. The effort met its $500 goal with donations still coming in for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The sheriff’s hair coloring was one of the highlights of the fair’s final day.

The 161st Wyandot County Fair has come to a close. Fair-goers had an opportunity to enjoy six days of “Fair, Fun and Friends,” which was the theme this year.
“(The fair) was very successful,” Wyandot County Fair Secretary-treasurer Bonnie Miller said. “Everything was wonderful. All the events were well-attended and there were lots of people here every day. On the first day, we were up 200 (more than last year’s total on the first day).”
According to figures provided by the fair board, paid attendance Tuesday, which was the first official day of the fair, reached 1,369, compared to 1,181 for the first day of the 2011 fair. This year’s fair also saw more people on Wednesday (1,981 this year and 1,729 last year) and Thursday (1,871 this year and 1,729 last year).
On Friday, cooler temperatures and wet weather kept many fair-goers home. This year’s total paid attendance for Friday was 2,629, which is less than the 3,074 total from Friday during the 2011 fair.
On Saturday, the fair rebounded with 6,157 total paid attendance, compared to 5,611 one year ago.
This year’s paid attendance for Tuesday through Saturday totaled 14,007, compared to 14,411 during the same period in 2011. Attendance figures for Sunday, the last day of the fair, were not available at press time.
Eighteen-year-old Anna Massara, of Forest, attended the fair every day.
“I enjoyed showing my animals and spending time with my friends,” said Massara, a student at Upper Sandusky High School. “I enjoyed seeing my friends from other schools that I don’t get to see and just hanging out and having fun.”
Seven-year-old Mary Jane Snyder, of Upper Sandusky, also attended the fair with her family everyday.
“I enjoyed winning a fish because now we have a new pet,” Snyder said. “I didn’t win one of the games, but I still got a toy.”
Snyder also enjoyed the food, naming corn dogs and curly fries as her favorites.
Curly fries also was a favorite fair food for 15-year-old Taylor Sites, of Upper Sandusky.
“I came up (to the fair) almost every day,” Sites said.
Alisha Williams, of Nevada, went to the fair Sunday, but said she had plenty of time to enjoy all the fair has to offer in one day.
“I like the rides and the food,” Williams, 18, said. “The french fries are my favorite.”
The fair board already is looking forward to next year.
“I hope everybody enjoyed themselves,” Miller said. “I hope to see them back next year.”

By CHANDA NEELY
City editor

Posted by Daily Chief on September 17, 2012. Filed under Fair,Featured,Local News,Recent Headlines,Recent Pictures. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry