While meteorologists were predicting a hot and humid fair last week, Mother Nature became increasingly kind to fair patrons and 4-H members after the event arrived.
So far, overall Bartholomew County Fair attendance appears to be slightly above what it was at this time last year, fair board co-director Susan Arnholt said.
Due to dangerous levels of heat and humidity, the lowest turnout took place during the fair’s opening day on June 21, Arnholt said.
“Only about 5,000 people showed up,” she said.
While weather conditions remained steamy Saturday, several residents still turned out for the first of two demolition derbys, she said. The second derby will take place at 7 p.m. this Saturday.
Due to unstable weather, both days of the weekend had about 1,000 fewer patrons than average, Arnholt said.
But as the heat began to ease off, attendance improved. The Triple Bar J Rodeo was a key reason why an estimated 10,000 visitors turned out on Monday, she said.
Although its been eight years since four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart retired from professional racing, “Smoke” still pulls in a huge, devoted hometown crowd during his foundation’s annual race at the fair.
The threat of severe weather arrived Tuesday evening, but the rain held off long enough to allow Stewart’s All-Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets race. The race helped to pull up fair attendance to about 12,000 – about 1,000 more than last year, Arnholt said.
Since Wednesday is the only day that offers unlimited rides from 4 p.m. until closing for $25, the so-called “Kids Day” can have a significant financial impact on the entire nine-day event.
Before the midway opened, there were brief periods of rain Wednesday throughout the county. Radar showed heavy precipitation with possible thunderstorms that appeared to be heading toward the fairgrounds. As a result, few people were walking the midway from 4 to 6 p.m., fair board treasurer Janet Clouse said.
But as it turned out, the precipitation remained a mist or light rain, and after the threat of storms was over, several folks hopped in their vehicles and headed out to the fairgrounds, she added.
About 14,000 patrons showed up Wednesday – up from the same day last year by about 500 people, Clouse said.
With the exception of a 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms Saturday, the remaining days of the fair should be dry with afternoon highs in the mid to upper 80s, according to the Accuweather forecast.
Fair attendance is estimated on a daily basis through a formula involving counting parked vehicles, fair officials said.
