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Fair food vendor sales fine despite down economy
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FRESH CUT: Vendors at the Canfield Fair cater to thousands of patrons a day. Here, Roger Mace, of Wintersville, slices some meat for a gyro sandwich at the 163rd edition of the fair.
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Michael Snyder a vendor who runs a dart toss game at the Canfield Fair waits for customers Thursday.
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HOT DOG HEAVEN: Leslie Hull, of Mount Gilead, stands in from of his concession at the Canfield Fair. Hull says despite a stagnant economy, many vendors have seen a steady stream of sales.
The stability stems from families sticking close to home this year, some say.
By ELISE FRANCO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD — Business is still booming for many vendors at the Canfield Fair despite the sluggish economy.
Roger Mace, of Wintersville, runs a gyro stand on the main concourse, and said the fair’s patrons have always provided a steady stream of business.
“We love the business here because it’s always busy,” he said. “We’re in a good location.”
Mace said sales have been steady at the Canfield Fair year to year, and they’ve also been steady this year from fair to fair. He said he’s even seen an increase in sales at other fairs this year.
“I think instead of going to Disney or on vacation, people are coming here,” he said. “The economy hasn’t hurt us at all.”
Leslie Hull said the foot-long hot dog stand he runs at the corner of the main concourse has been a fair favorite for decades.
“I’ve been coming here all my life,” he said. “Actually, business is the same as it was last year.”
Hull, of Mount Gilead, said he has four other stands spread across the fairgrounds, and they’ve all been steady.
He said he runs stands at 14 other fairs across the state, and business has been good at those as well.
“So far it’s been pretty consistent,” he said. “We’re doing the same amount of fairs each year. The economy doesn’t impact it.”
Hull said he brings his concessions back each year because of the fair’s atmosphere.
“I like the cleanliness and professional way this fair is run,” he said. “It’s just a really good fair to come to.”
One thing Hull said has changed with time is the type of hot dogs people prefer.
Now, in addition to the foot-longs, the stand sells regular-sized hot dogs and hand-dipped corn dogs.
“The older generation used to have the foot-longs,” he said. “Now it’s the corn dogs. It’s a trend we’ve been seeing.”
Though food sales seem to be steady as the fair kicks off its third day, one game vendor said business has been down slightly. Still, he expects sales to pick up during the weekend when more children are able to attend.
“It’s been down a bit,” said Michael Snyder of Akron, who runs a dart game with various-sized guitars as prizes. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and it’s just the economy.”
Snyder said this is his first year at The Canfield Fair but he noticed that sales have been better here than other fairs this year.
efranco@vindy.com
Gates open at 8 a.m.
Guided senior citizen shuttles available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
TOday
WKBN TV27 Fox 17/62 Day At The Fair.
Grandstand attractions:
k8 p.m.: World’s Largest Demolition Derby.
Free daily happenings:
k5:30 p.m.: Goat-milk-fudge auction and rabbit-meat pens, Coliseum Eight.
k7 p.m.: Market-beef auction followed by market feeder, Coliseum Eight.
Judging Schedule:
k8 a.m.: Market-beef fitting and showmanship, Coliseum Eight; Saddle Horse: 4-H, North Ring.
k8:30 a.m.: Draft horse, East Ring.
k9 a.m.: Sheep, Sheep Barn; Holstein, South Cattle Arena.
k9:30 a.m.: Ponies, Registered Welsh, South Ring; Cattle: Market Beef, Coliseum Eight.
k11 a.m.: Junior Fair Feeder Calf Showmanship, Coliseum Eight; Junior Fair market dairy beef, Coliseum Eight; Ponies: Grade 46” and under, South Ring.
k1:30 p.m.: Ponies: Registered Hackney, South Ring.
k5 p.m.: Cattle: Limousin, South Cattle Arena.
k5:30 p.m.: Cattle: Aberdeen Angus, South Cattle Arena.
k6 p.m.: Cattle: Simmental, South Cattle Arena; Pony Hitches, South Ring.
k7 p.m.: Cattle: Hereford, South Cattle Arena; Pocket Pet Costume Class, Barn 10; Sheep Canfield Lead Line, Sheep Barn.
k8 p.m.: Cattle: Maine Anjou, South Cattle Arena.
Saturday
WYTV News Channel 33 Day At The Fair.
Grandstand attractions:
k8 to 11 a.m.: Draft pony pig iron derby.
kNoon: Harness racing.
k7 p.m.: Truck and tractor pull plus semi pull. Admission $12 for track seats and $10 for grandstand. Youths age 7 to 12, $5.
Judging schedule:
k8 a.m.: 4-H rabbits, Coliseum Eight; 4-H Saddle Horse, North Ring.
k9 a.m.: Cattle: Jersey, Guernsey, South Cattle Arena.
k9:30 a.m.: Horses: Registered Mini, South Ring.
k10 a.m.: Draft horses: Hitch, East Ring.
k11 a.m.: 4-H Fashion Revue, Auditorium.
kNoon: 4-H Llama costume class, Coliseum Eight.
k12:30 p.m.: Sheep-shearing demonstration, Sheep Barn.
k1:30 p.m.: Ponies: Haflinger, South Ring.
k3 p.m.: Supreme Champion Dairy, South Cattle Arena.
k4 p.m.: Junior Fair: Beef-breeding projects, South Cattle Arena.
k5 p.m.: Cattle: Beef, Shorthorn, South Cattle Arena; 4-H Pocket Pet decorated cage, Barn No. 10.
k6 p.m.: Pony hitches , South Ring.
k7:30 p.m.: Dog agility demonstration, North Ring.
SUNDAY
Y-103 Day At The Fair.
Grandstand attractions:
k8 p.m.: Hank Williams Jr. and George Jones.
Free daily happenings:
k8 a.m.: Catholic worship service, Youngstown Symphony Stage on Concourse.
k9:30 a.m.: Ecumenical worship service, Youngstown Symphony Stage on Concourse.
k11 a.m.: Worship service, International Stage.
k11 a.m.: Praise and worship service, Youngstown Symphony Stage on Concourse.
k1 p.m.: Dress-A-Cow contest, South Cattle Arena.
k1:45 p.m.: 4-H dairy cheese auction, South Cattle Arena.
Judging schedule:
k10 a.m.: Saddle Horse championships, North Ring.
kNoon: Dog demonstration, Coliseum Eight.
k12:30 p.m.: Sheep-shearing demonstration, Sheep Barn.
k1 p.m.: Poultry: 4-H showmanship, Coliseum Eight; Ponies: Leadline, costume and hitch classes, South Ring; Junior Fair goat show, Coliseum Eight.
k3 p.m.: Pocket Pet breed, Coliseum Eight.
k3:30 p.m.: Wee Ones: Showmanship, South Cattle Arena.
k4 p.m.: Junior Fair/Farm Bureau “Ag in the Bag,” Pavilion near Junior Fair.
k6 p.m.: Junior Fair rabbit costume class, Coliseum Eight.
Monday
K105 Day At The Fair.
Grandstand attractions:
k8 to 11 a.m.: Draft horse pig iron derby.
kNoon: Harness racing.
Free daily happenings:
k9 a.m.: 4-H saddle horse show, north ring.
k9:30 a.m.: Rooster crowing contest, south ring.
Judging schedule:
k9 a.m.: Invitational dairy judging: 4-H, South Cattle Arena.
k10 a.m.: Junior Fair goat costume class, Coliseum Eight; Pocket Pets: 4-H showmanship, Coliseum Eight.
k10:30 a.m.: Junior Fair llama exhibition, Coliseum Eight.
k11 a.m.: Adult dairy showmanship, South Cattle arena.
k1 p.m.: Pony exhibitors show, South Ring; Market livestock Showman of Showmen, Coliseum Eight.
k5 p.m.: Dog demonstrations, Coliseum Eight.
Source: The Canfield Fair
Ticket PriceS
The Canfield Fair runs through Labor Day and offers ride and admission prices for fairgoers of all ages.
toDAY
Senior citizens: $5
TODAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY & MONDAY
Adults and youths 13 and older: $7
Youths 7 to 12: $2
Children 6 and under: free
Mulitple-day passes: $15 for a three-day pass and $30 for a six-day pass.
Ride Passes
Today: $15, ride from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday: $20, ride from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Source: The Canfield Fair
Attendance up from 2008
CANFIELD — Attendance for Wednesday was up about 11,000 people from the same day last year.
Fair board member Timm Schreiber said the attendance for Wednesday was 25,663, which was up more than 300 people from the same-day attendance for 2007. On Wednesday 2008, the attendance was 14,690.
“We had a bit of a rainy Wednes-day last year,” Schreiber said.
Quartets’ double play
CANFIELD — The Youngstown Symphony Quartets will perform twice daily in the Floral Building at the Canfield Fair. Kathy Bennett, fair board member, said a different quartet will play each day. The first show is from 11:30 a.m. to noon, and the second is from 1 to 1:30 p.m.
“We’re very pleased to have them,” she said. “I don’t think a lot of people know they’re here.”