Monday, July 28, 2008
COLUMBUS (AP) — Fireworks are out and mashed-potatoes-on-a-stick are in for Ohio’s biggest summer party this year.
Officials at the Ohio State Fair are trying to cut costs while offering bargains to try to boost sagging attendance.
The expensive nightly fireworks show has been shelved and fewer TV ads have been bought. Free admissions will be available to early birds arriving before 10 a.m. on opening day Wednesday and will continue through the 12-day event.
Discounts on the $20 wristband for ride admissions are available at local grocery stores. And the mashed-potatoes-on-a-stick join such traditional fare as deep-fried Twinkies, cotton candy and mini-doughnuts.
Fair officials are aware that visitors’ budgets are tight, but with a little planning and attention to the occasional booth with goods for sale, the fair can be a bargain, spokeswoman Christina Leeds said.
“Plan ahead and take advantage of the specials, then take advantage of all the free stuff we have,” she said.
Buy a concert ticket or participate in an event such as the new 5K run, and fair admission is included. Another option is going to the fair on a day when sponsors offer tickets for $3 to $6, a savings from the newly increased adult price of $10.
“The idea is that we get more people to come in, and the sponsors get good exposure,” Leeds said.
Take a picnic lunch — if you can pass up the new mashed-potatoes-on-a-stick, or use the 24 vendors’ food coupons that come with a free newspaper at the entrance to the fairgrounds parking lot each day.
Some of the concerts cost money, but much of the fair entertainment is free. In fair debuts, the Ohio Roller Girls will demonstrate their moves, and the U.S. Double Dutch team will show off jump-rope tricks.
Fair officials hope to increase last year’s paltry attendance of 806,301 to at least 2004’s total of 850,318. They are hoping for the increase even while watching expenses.
“We’re watching every dollar we have and really trying to tighten our belts,” said Doug Smalley, finance director of the Ohio Expositions Commission.
That’s why fireworks were eliminated as part of $150,000 in Ohio Expo Center budget cuts.
As always, the weather will significantly influence crowd size.
Last year, sizzling temperatures fried attendance. This year, fair manager Virgil Strickler hopes that dry, moderate days will keep the crowds coming.