Another year, another county fair back in town. The fairgrounds were full of colorful rides, delicious food, fun games, and even live animals. However, even with such fun, there are lingering fears and rumors concerning the fair. Some fears such as, the safety of the rides, the safety of the environment and food hygiene concerns.
The main concern is the rides. Although ride operators follow strict regulations and inspections, it is important for fair attendees to follow all safety guides as well. It is extremely rare for a ride to break down and result in a fatality. However, the most common mistakes are ignoring the safety measures in place, staying within the height and weight limit.
Those rules are in place to keep everyone safe, and some people still choose to find loopholes. Some ignore height limitations and basic requirements such as keeping your hands inside the ride. Rides are set up extremely fast, and they also travel long distances. Many worry because they feel the rides are not secure to the ground, or they may break down easily. However, the rides there go through many test runs each day to make sure everything is running smoothly. A ride operator stated, “Setting up requires lots of planning and coordination.” Even during the fair, they have different safety measures and procedures for the rides.
Another concern is the fair's environment. This includes the people, security, and surroundings. The fair takes place at the Silver Spurs Arena, which is located right off State Road 192, which is a major road. At the fair's peak, the traffic can become potentially dangerous, including parking.
On top of this, the fair is home to various violent threats. The fair is especially popular among the local high school students, and when you mix the two, this causes many fights to breakout. This discourages people from wanting to go to the fair, because people become worried that a fight can spiral out of control. However, their security measures include, having officers patrolling, bag searches, even metal detectors. They are aware of these concerns, so they try to make it as safe as possible.
Food stands can also be concerning. Food is a big part of any fair. This fair is no different, they have stands that range from sweet, to salty, to savory. Where do the food and the trucks come from? Food trucks and stands come from various places, local or distant. As one person operating the truck said, “Some trucks can travel miles, while others stay local.” This can cause worry about sanitation. However, these booths are regularly inspected just like the rides. They have just as important standards to deliver the safest food.
All and all, the fair is heavily inspected and a fun yearly event.