CADILLAC — The Northern District Fair is still three months away from its annual August week in the limelight, but Larry Walsh and other volunteers have been focused on it for months.
As the NDF board president, Walsh understands the frustrations the public has related to the fair. He understands the steady downward trend it has been on over the past several years. There aren’t enough rides or things to do. Walsh has been at the helm for the past few years and he has maintained the same position — it’s going to take time to get the fair back to how it used to be, but it also is going to take the community’s support if that is going to happen.
That isn’t just people coming to the fair, but also people and businesses to lend financial support through sponsorships. While it has seemingly been harder and harder to get people and businesses to sponsor the fair, Walsh said this year is proving to be the hardest so far.
“I know the cost of living is a lot and people are struggling. That’s why we are doing things differently coming into the fair,” he said.
He said the first thing people will notice is the cost to get in. This year, the cost will be $6 per person at the gate and $5 if they preorder tickets each day of the fair, which is scheduled to start on Aug. 12 and continue through Aug. 17. While some might say so, Walsh said that price also includes entrance into the grandstand for whatever event is going on that night.
While that could change, Walsh said with the return of Micro Wrestling not happening this year due to a scheduling conflict with the promotion, it opened the door for them to try this out. Walsh said it is risky, but the hope is people will see the value in admission and come. The idea was to make the fair affordable for everyone.
“I hope in return it will bring more people and help the fair more. It’s a gamble,” he said.
“It is totally different than what we ever have done and we are praying it will work out.”
He also said the fair board is aware of the community’s complaints when it comes to the amusem*nt rides that have been at the fair the past few years. In particular, the board is acutely aware of the complaints people had last year. It is for that reason that the fair board was able to get out of its contract with that amusem*nt company a year early.
While that is good news, Walsh said since that happened in January the options they had for this year were slim. He said there will be rides at this year’s fair, but they will be far less than what he and the board would like.
“I know the community was upset with the ride company, so we got out of the three-year contract in year two. A friend of the fair is going to bring in four or five rides for this year, but we will have more next year,” he said.
He also said they are working to bring in vendors who can do fair food this year because that is as much a part of a good fair experience as the rides, events in the grandstand and the animal barns.
Walsh said he has been in talks with one of the better amusem*nt companies for the past two years. He said it looks like he has worked something out where they will have a contract with that company for the next five years beginning next year. While the chances are good, Walsh said the contract has not been signed so he is not willing to say what company it would be with.
What did say is if the fair can contract with the company it will take the community’s support and attendance to make this work. To have a good ride company, Walsh said is not cheap and can be upwards of $50,000 to $75,000.
“If we can get set in stone with the other ride company for next year, it will do the community a lot better. We have been working on it,” he said.
Kristi Fleischfresser is one of the several volunteers who is working to help bring the fair back to its former self.
To say it has been a difficult task would be an understatement but she has childhood memories of a robust fair that was fun and she wants that to return. She said has taken over advertising and social media. She also is working to help generate sponsorships. While she has been trying to reconnect with the public via social media and spark interest in the fair, she said it has been difficult due to the fair’s recent history and the negativity surrounding it.
“People don’t realize these board members are new. The old board members are no longer here and they are trying to catch up,” she said. “People also don’t understand that the fair is funded by sponsorships. We can get grants to help with repairs but we can’t use that funding to bring in events. That is all paid for through sponsorships.”
As for this year’s fair, Walsh said one of the biggest new draws will be a concert featuring Bernadette Kathryn and The Lonely Days Band. Walsh said the concert is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 14, and will follow a Battle of the Bands. The winner of the Battle of the Band will then open up for Kathryn.
On Monday, Walsh said the Veterans Salute will be back in the Grandstand. He also said they will host a Veterans Appreciation Spaghetti Dinner where veterans eat free. For all others, the cost will be $12 for adults, $8 for children 8 to 13 and $5 for children under 8. The dinner will be a way to honor veterans but also is being used as a fundraiser for the fair.
On Tuesday, Walsh said the Michigan Peddle Pull will be in the Grandstand while there also will be the Garden Tractor Pull. He also said on Tuesday in the animal barns 4-H will be hosting an event open to the public. Finally, on Friday and Saturday, Walsh said TNT will be back with various demolition derby events.
Although they will not be bringing in Micro Wrestling this year due to the scheduling conflict, Walsh said they are looking to find a replacement event. There also will be several exhibits in the civic center as there have been in the past.
As a way to get people excited about the fair, Walsh said they are having a Spring Fling Carnival from May 10 through May 19 at the fairgrounds. It will include fair rides from Native Amusem*nts and a few events in the grandstand.
Walsh said an all-day armband for 10 or more rides that will be at the fairgrounds during the event is $20. The midway will be open from 3 to 8 p.m. but he said if it is busy they will stay open later. There also will be some fair food for people to try.
The events include a Spring Fling Bump and Run by TNT on May 11 and on May 20 there will be the Michigan Micro Motors Cadillac Spring Fling.
With the spring here, Walsh said things will start getting busy for the board and volunteers. All who have given of themselves to help improve the fair are not getting paid to do so. Instead, they have invested their time and energy to make the fair better. Whether that is the improvements to the grandstand track, remodeling of concessions or the bathrooms, Walsh said everyone who is working to make the fair better has volunteered a lot of time.
“We are trying to make the fair better,” he said.
