The Ferris wheel and cotton candy season has arrived.
Officials hope that local county fairs will have increased admissions this summer with carnival attractions and local exhibitors.
Surrounding county fairs have already started. The Eaton County 4-H Fair in Charlotte and the Fowlerville Fair are scheduled to run until July 16. The Ingham County Fair begins Aug. 1.
"We've got everything from the Fireball to the giant (Ferris) wheel," Fowlerville Fair Business Manager Linda Dancer said.
Most Michigan fairs have facilities where local 4-H members and non-4-H participants of varying ages can show livestock and other nonliving exhibits.
4-H is designed for people to explore new skills and interests using a hands-on approach. In Michigan, 4-H is run out of MSU.
Dancer said the Fowlerville Fair has about 700 to 800 exhibitors this year. At the Eaton fair, there are more than 600 4-H and 200 open-class participants entering more than 9,400 exhibits, Eaton County 4-H Fair Board President Theo Savage said.
Local fairs also provide a range of events and special attractions, including demolition derbies, tractor pulls, petting zoos and concerts.
Holt resident Tom Weber said his family is trying to make going to the fair an annual event.
"We generally try to ride the rides, eat some elephant ears and cotton candy, trying to make it a family tradition," he said.
Despite attempts to draw larger crowds, fair officials are concerned about decreased admissions due to the economy.
"We're hoping with the economy, being on the rebound, people will go closer to home than travel," Dancer said.
E.J. Brown, executive director for the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, said increased gas prices have affected fairs as well.
However, Savage said because the weather is good, people are more likely come to the fair.
There are 87 fairs throughout Michigan, Brown said. Other local county fairs, including those in Ingham, Clinton, Jackson, and Shiawassee will be open in August.
Brown said the fairs provide the state with tourism.
The Eaton County Fair hardly makes any revenue for the fairgrounds, if any, Savage said.
"We're lucky we break even at the fair," he said. "And what we do get goes back to the buildings."
Even with the lack of profit, many of the fairs have been going for more than 100 years.
"It gives the people what they want," Dancer said. "It keeps them coming."
