As the merry-go-round began its slow spin Saturday at the Columbus Fair, 4-year-old Kalani Perry sat comfortably on his black horse, grabbed the pole in front of him and held on for the ride.
With each go-around, the smile on Perry”s face grew while his hair flowed gracefully in the wind. Perry”s dad, Ed, stood by his side and wrapped his arm around the child.
For the Perrys, attending the Columbus Fair has become a family tradition since they moved to New Hope from Hawaii several years ago. This year, the family wasn”t disappointed as fair organizers added three more rides and offered helicopter tours.
“We”re having a blast,” Ed Perry said after he and Kalani exited the merry-go-round. “We”re just enjoying the day. It”s beautiful weather. We”re having a great time.”
Saturday was the final day of the Columbus Fair. It began Tuesday and ran throughout the week.
Patrons were greeted by a Ferris wheel, miniature roller coaster, bumper cars and dozens of other rides. There also were games, prizes, exhibits and a host of other family-friendly activities.
While some children and their parents rushed from ride to ride Saturday, others sat in the shade and ate funnel cakes, cotton candy and candy apples. Some munched on hamburgers, hot-dogs and French fries, or sucked down cold beverages to beat the heat.
Despite “better” crowds on Saturday, Columbus Fair Association President Bob Burns said attendance this year was down compared to previous years. He thinks people are gravitating more toward amusement parks like Six Flags, along with bigger fairs and carnivals, as opposed to smaller fairs like Columbus. Other fair employees cited the down economy when asked about the drop in attendance.
But the sparse crowds meant thin lines for families like the Perrys, who said the lure of a small-town fair is too much to pass up in an area where they admit it is hard to find activities for their children.
“Every time there is a carnival here, we come,” Ed Perry said.
As part of the fair, Annette Pennington was named Sweepstakes Grand Champion for a quilt she completed. Nadine Cochran was named Sweepstakes Reserve Champion for a plant she grew.
Additional prizes were awarded for best floral arrangements and best crops, among other categories.
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