1st-day attendance is up

1st-day attendance is up

CANFIELD — Ticket booths saw a 3 percent boost Wednesday over last year’s first-day total, said fair board member Timm Schreiber.

A total of 25,311 visitors passed through entry gates Wednesday, up slightly from last year’s first-day admissions total of 24,589, he said.

On the midway, ridership was up Wednesday as well, according to officials from the Bates Bros. Amusement Co. The company reported a 15 percent increase over last year’s first-day figures.

Strong attendance rates on the first day are a good sign, Schreiber said, but weather has the strongest influence on turnout.

Fair officials expect attendance totals to continue to climb throughout the weekend. Saturday and Sunday attendance rates generally vary from 85,000 to 100,000 per day, said Schreiber.

Opening ceremonies

CANFIELD — The South Range High School Marching Band kicked off the Thursday opening ceremony of the Canfield Fair. The event took place on the main concourse stage where Gov. Ted Strickland participated in the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

The band played part of its football halftime show that included a song from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie. After the presentation of the colors by the Civil Air Patrol from the Air Force Reserve base in Vienna, fair board members spoke briefly about the fair’s history.

Robotics group at fair

The Northeast Ohio FIRST Robotics Association will have a news conference/informational session and demonstration at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Technology Building, to announce formation of a new alliance of four area high schools’ For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology robotics teams.

NEOFRA is a coalition of the current four area FIRST Robotics teams aimed at sharing resources and best practices, conducting joint training for team members, and promoting and growing FIRST in other schools throughout Northeast Ohio.

Representatives from all four NEOFRA teams — Chaney, Champion, Girard and Warren G. Harding high schools — will host a display and demonstrate their 2007 season robots in the technology building.

NEOFRA also will have a car in today’s demolition derby at the grandstand. The car is driven by Girard robotics alum Mark Plant.

Fair photo gallery

For a photo gallery of the fair, visit www.Vindy.com/more.