FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thrills, but no Chills delivered at Arizona State Fair
Organizers pleased with final tallies
The glorious Arizona sunshine showered Arizona State Fair attendees with its basking glow during the 21-day run. Although temperatures were warmer than expected, the sun's rays helped to spotlight the assortment of exciting entertainment and attractions, thrilling rides and delectable food options. 15 different acts wowed the crowds in the Coliseum during the 2009 Concert Series. A diverse slate of entertainment rocked the house, including Kelly Clarkson, Bob Dylan, David Cook, Stone Temple Pilots, and John Michael Montgomery and The Honky Tonk Tailgate Party 2009. Not all sounds were limited to the Coliseum, however, as the vibrations of clapping horse hooves, revving engines, wood chopping and clanging metal could also be heard on the fairgrounds this year. The High School Rodeo, Figure 8 Races, Demolition Derby, The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show and The Village Blacksmith show all generated their share of roars and applause. In addition, large crowds gathered to see and hear the All Indian Rodeo which awarded $63,400 in total prize money.
This year featured nearly 10,000 entries from 2,853 exhibitors who continued the Fair tradition of sharing and showcasing their agricultural and creative accomplishments to the community. More than 10,000 ribbons were awarded in 25 different departments including Culinary Arts, Creative Crafts and Collections, Photography, Fine Arts, and Agricultural Sciences. Fairgoers took advantage of 70 rides, 45 games, 110 food booths, 300 commercial exhibitors and hundreds of performances by community groups and local bands.
Animals all shapes and sizes charmed and amazed fairgoers, including the Ham Bone Express Racing Pigs, the World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales, and the Great American Petting Zoo animals. In addition, the Fair welcomed 269 youngsters from all corners of Arizona who brought more than 778 animals for showing and judging. Of that number, 27 champions were auctioned off for a grand total of $42,145 at the 19th annual Junior Livestock Sale of Champions sponsored by Bella Sara and Western BBQ. 15 year old returning champion Cheyanne Keith of Pomerene, Arizona netted the top price at the auction, selling her 1,400-pound market steer for $3,650.
Children also benefited from other programs, including the annual Read and Ride Program sponsored by ABC15 and KEZ 99.9. 4,715 children, ages 5-14, earned 14,145 ride passes by reading three books and completing a report. Supported by Ray Cammack Shows, the program promotes literacy and has awarded 203,751 ride passes to Arizona children since its debut in 2000.
Everyone expects bugs in Arizona, but it came as a surprise to many that this year's Fair food menu included bugs of all kinds, in addition to the usual wide variety of deep fried and on-a-stick options. Fairgoers treated themselves to chocolate covered scorpions, crickets and meal worms, as well as a plenitude of deep fried delicacies: battered bacon on-a-stick topped with gravy, tiramisu, peaches and cream, and frogs legs, to name a few. By the end of the Fair, 21,000 scorpions, 12,000 crickets, and 6,000 meal worms had been sold. In addition, it's estimated that over 10,000 lbs. of sugar, 45,000 corndogs, 30,000 bags of cotton candy, as well as approximately 2-1/2 tons of chips and 165 gallons of hot sauce were consumed at this year's Fair.
The 2009 Fair welcomed 961,436 fairgoers, an 8.8% decline from 2008. Organizers attribute the small drop in attendance to a number of factors, including the current economic downturn, flu concerns and unseasonably hot temperatures during the opening weekend of the Fair. Despite these challenges, fairgoers braved the heat and lathered up with Fair-supplied anti-bacterial products in order to take advantage of the record-setting number of discounts and deals offered. One example of the tremendous public response to Fair bargains was in the We Care Wednesdays program. In its inaugural year, the program exceeded expectations as fairgoers donated 33,506 items for Arizona Stand Down, an outreach organization benefiting homeless veterans, in exchange for free admission on Wednesdays from Noon to 6:00 p.m. Donated items included bottled water, socks and wash cloths.
It's no surprise that this statewide event which brings communities together and demonstrates the best in us continues to entertain and delight children of all ages year after year. ?The Arizona State Fair is family friendly in every sense of the word," says Don West, Executive Director. "The fair offers families a multitude of affordable educational and cultural activities in a safe, clean, and welcoming environment.?
Plans are underway for the 2010 Fair with tentative dates set for October 15 to November 7.
Photos from the 2009 Fair can be downloaded at http://www.photobucket.com/azstatefair