CULLMAN, Ala. – The 2020 Cullman County Fair is in full swing after the remnants of Hurricane Delta attempted to put a damper on the festivities. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s how to quickly deal with the unexpected. This week, beautiful weather is forecast, and Cullman County Fair Association President Charlie Childers is optimistic about the upcoming fair week.
Monday afternoon, the midway was bustling with students as they enjoyed the traditional day set aside for them to enjoy. In the Coca-Cola Theatre, Fair Queen Representatives were on the Cullman Tribune stage rehearsing. On the midway, families enjoyed freshly squeezed lemonade, fried Oreos, great carnival games, the Flying Pages and the many rides.
Childers, who was overseeing the pageant rehearsal, said, “Things are going as we expected. Saturday we just closed (due to rain). We thought that was the best thing to do. We didn’t want anybody to come in for 30 minutes then have to leave and not get their money’s worth. Today has been crowded, and that is good for us.”
Last Thursday, opening night was slower than normal due to area football games being moved up to avoid being rained out by the inclement weather. The smaller crowds for Friday were likely due to the anticipation of the approaching rain.
“It’s supposed to be beautiful the rest of the week, so we are expecting a decent crowd overall,” said Childers. “We had one of the best open cattle shows. It was packed and it turned out really well. Peinhardt Farms has been here, and we had our dog show last night.”
An impressive number of girls has registered for this year’s fair pageants.
Childers reported, “Between the five different age groups of the pageants, we have 70 girls, which is more than last year. We are expecting a huge night tonight (Monday). We have 21 girls tonight and 21 juniors Thursday night and 13 teens Thursday night, so that’s going to be some big nights for us.”
The 2020 Cullman County Fair Queen Pageant will take place Tuesday, Oct 13 at 7 p.m.
This year’s sideshows have been a big hit, drawing large crowds for each performance. The Circus Magic Show is a fun break from the rides, especially for the younger kids. The Flying Pages Trapeze and Motorcycle Show is also generating a lot of buzz. The talented troupe performs each night at 5:30 and 7:30. You might even get a chance to stand in the Cage of Death during the show!
Kissel Entertainment is the carnival company at this year’s fair, and Childers praised the job is has been doing since the opening.
“They are doing a great job of wiping things down after every rider,” he said, “so I think that’s been really good.”
Face masks are encouraged but optional for guests, but the Kissel staff has remained masked at all times.
The fairgrounds are a bit soggy after the heavy rains over the weekend, so choose footwear wisely. This week’s sunny forecast should help dry the ground quickly.
Added Childers, “We’ve done a lot of work on that and the parking lot, and by tomorrow (Tuesday), I don’t think you’ll have to worry about muddy shoes. It’s supposed to be beautiful, so come out and see us!”
Click here for the fair calendar.
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