Carnival & Fair News

Opening with free admission for attendees who donated canned goods to the Manatee County Food Bank, the Manatee County Fair in Palmetto, Fla., drew a packed midway despite cold weather. The event featured an impressive carnival from Strates Shows with 38 rides, including four new to the fair this year, a wide array of food vendors, varied attractions and exhibitions, and daily major livestock exhibits.

While all the fun the fair offered was eagerly anticipated, the chilly temperatures on opening night were not. Even so, attendance was strong, and fairgoers came prepared for the cold. The fair's early-in-the-year dates have coincided with cold temperatures in the past, although this year's cold spell was particularly intense, reported Danny Alfonso, CEO and manager of the Manatee County Fair.



Freeze warnings across the Sunshine State brought temperatures that dropped into the 40s on opening night, accompanied by wind. Undeterred, crowds still showed up on January 15, bundled in parkas and hats.

The fair ran 11 days, closing on January 25.

Crowds enjoyed what Alfonso described as “any kind of food you can think of,” from buffalo chicken wraps, pizza, elephant ears, funnel cakes, cinnamon rolls, seafood, and nachos to fried Oreos and kettle corn.

In addition to opening night's canned food drive, Kids Day on January 19 offered free admission to children with a school ID, and Senior Day on January 21 provided $6 admission for older adults.

Regular admission, now in the fair's 110th year, was $10 for ages 13 and up and $6 for children ages 6 to 12 and military personnel. Children 5 and under were admitted free. Strates Shows unlimited ride armbands were priced from $25 to $30, with the higher price on weekends.

While ice cream sales were slow due to the cold, warm donuts from Peachey's Baking Company, a traditional fair favorite, were a big hit. Donuts were also featured on closing day during the annual donut eating contest. Participants from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office won this year, overcoming an 18-15 deficit to defeat the North River Fire Department, their closest competitor. Another food-focused competition was the annual corn dog eating contest at the Kiwanis Corn Dog Truck, which included a children's division. The annual charity Barbecue Cook-Off Competition celebrated its twentieth year.



Other popular attractions included the elaborate hay bale decorating contest for 4-H and FFA clubs, livestock judging events, and the fair queen pageant. Arts and crafts displays also drew crowds, as did the Master Gardeners area, which offered horticulture classes and displays. Among the most popular exhibits were a miniature train display, the results of a quilting challenge, and LEGO and other building competitions.

Livestock on display included breeding and dairy cattle, dogs, heifers, horses, poultry, rabbits, steers, swine, and goats. Steer and swine sales were held on both Saturdays of the fair. Poultry showmanship and dog agility performances were also featured events.

Strates Shows opened its season at the fair, offering rides ranging from the Ferris wheel to thrill rides such as the Thunder Bolt, Cliff Hanger, Music Express, Fireball, and Yo-Yo. A dedicated Kiddieland provided attractions for younger children. Also popular were Strates Shows' classic Venetian double-decker carousel and the Wave Swinger. This year marked the company's 103rd year providing carnival entertainment, according to Marty Biniasz, the company's fair and community development manager. Strates Shows is in its second year providing rides for the Manatee County Fair.



Beyond the carnival, the fair featured live milking demonstrations and hosted the Jurassic Kingdom Dinosaur Show, the Cowboy and Cowgirl Circus, and Puppy Pals Live. New this year was the Battle of the Beats Drumline Competition, showcasing drumlines from local middle and high schools. Daily attractions included mobile glass-blowing exhibitions, the Turn Around Petting Zoo, and live professional wrestling in the fair's UCW Arena. The Fritzy Brothers One Man Circus entertained crowds while riding a unicycle around the fairgrounds, and Lynn the Mime and Pirate Man Dan offered daily strolling performances. The roaming Turbo Tractor provided photo opportunities for children. The well-attended and loudly contested Hog Calling Contest was another big draw.



On the fair's main stage, entertainment included magic acts, an open dance showcase, and performances by Lance Biddle and The 301 Travelers, Eric Von, and Joyful Sound from the First Baptist Church of Palmetto.

In addition to providing family entertainment, the Manatee County Fair serves as the first fair of the year in Florida, ushering in a season that includes approximately 45 agricultural fairs statewide.

A community tradition for decades, the fair annually draws more than 100,000 attendees. Although this year's official attendance numbers were not available at press time, crowds appeared consistent with past years and reflected the fair's theme, “Family Fun for Everyone.”