To the editor:
The Northern Maine Fair president says that it is an agricultural fair and, because of that, the rides are secondary and pretty much inconsequential. If he wants to hide behind a moniker to lessen the importance of the fair rides – he should call the fair what it truly is – “The Northern Maine Harness Racing and Tractor/Truck Pull Fair Event.” Without those events the fair wouldn’t exist and while I feel that the agricultural aspect is good and some would say popular – I say if that is all that’s there then the fair wouldn’t draw crowds and produce a profit at all.
I appreciate the fact that most fair organizers and workers are volunteers – I think that they, rightly so, probably get free fair tickets for all family and friends so coming in the gate doesn’t affect the fair folks too much. I was just thinking worst case scenario a family of 5 (two adults and three teenage children) decide to go to the fair. The family would pay $35 to get into the gate, then for each one to ride on a ride twice would cost $60. (Let’s not even talk about bracelet day — $135 entrance and rides) That’s $95 for entrance and two rides each and this is not counting food and games which could easily bring this family’s total to probably close to $200 for one day at the fair.
Why don’t we use our County Cousins down in Houlton’s example and charge folks $10 entrance to include all rides? Just doing that would save that same family $45, which isn’t much, but in these tight economic times could be the difference between deciding to go to the fair or not going.
I say give our neighbors a break, think outside of the box and see what happens. I will bet that the crowds increase along with the revenue.
Karl J. Saucier Sr.
Washburn
