Barbour Fair Sees Record Crowd
By BEN SIMMONS, Staff WriterArticle Photos
Automobiles were backed up for more than two miles on U.S. 250 in Barbour County Monday evening as hundreds of people waited anxiously to get into the Barbour County Fairgrounds. The evening was highlighted by the Grand Feature Parade and concluded with a karaoke contest and carnival rides. Today's activities feature a Demolition Derby at 7:30 p.m.
Bruce Short, co-chairman of the advertising and publicity committee, said no official attendance number was recorded Monday evening, but he believes the amount of people attending was the largest turnout for the Grand Feature Parade in several years.
"The amount of people who came out tonight was just amazing," Short said. "We had a record number of units in the parade and record number of people watching. We had a lot of kids and a lot of proud parents watching their kids go by tonight. That's what fairs and parades are all about. It's a time for us to show off the youth of Barbour County, and I think we did it very well tonight."
Several local businesses, bands, dignitaries and nonprofit organizations participated in the annual Grand Feature Parade. This year's theme is "Where Adventures are Great." Following the parade, trophies were given in several divisions.
The winners included: Non-commercial - first place, Relay for Life; second, Good Samaritan; third, Boy Scout Pack 63; Commercial -first place, BC Bank; second, Maces Pharmacy; third, Freedom Bank; Twirlettes - first place, Robin's Rockettes: second, Dazzling Stars; third, Dazzelettes of Elkins.
Monday's parade served as a tuneup for the Philip Barbour High School Marching Band. Director Victor Iapalucci said the parade was the first of the season for his students and he was pleased with their performance. Other bands participating in the parade included Belington Middle School, Philippi Middle School and Kasson Middle School.
"The fair means a lot to Barbour County and I'm glad the kids had the opportunity to be here and perform," Iapalucci said.
The fair offers lots of fun for the entire family. Throughout the week several activities are scheduled including carnival rides, livestock exhibits, ATV races, musical entertainment, professional wrestling, bingo, arts and crafts and more.
Philippi residents Izzy and Heather Mayle said they enjoyed the opportunity to spend time together with their 4-year-old daughter, Isabella, who had fun on the carnival rides.
"My favorite part is seeing all the people," Heather Mayle said. "It's fun the see old friends that you haven't seen in awhile."
"I like to take it all in," Izzy Mayle added. "The rides, the people, the entertainment, together they all add up to one good time."
If livestock exhibits, music entertainment and motorsports aren't enough to lure folks to the fair, there is always the food. Several vendors are set up on the hillside and offer nearly anything one could want to eat. The fair serves as a substantial fundraiser for several local groups including the Philip Barbour High School Boosters, 4-H clubs, the Junior Lions Club and various church groups, among others.
Today is Senior Day at the fair, with a $3 admission for seniors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Several activities are planned including the opening of commercial and competitive exhibits and the market animal weigh-in. Later, the demolition derby is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
"The demolition derby always attracts a big crowd," Short said. "Rain or shine, it's going to go on. It gets a lot of attention. Everybody in this area likes it. If you said you weren't going to have the derby, there would probably be a rebellion in the county."
Several other events are scheduled throughout the week including professional wrestling and lawn tractor races on Wednesday, Youth ATV races and county musician Chuck Wicks on Thursday, adult ATV races and county music group Whiskey Falls on Friday, and a variety of activities on Saturday including musicians Halfway to Hazard and Ocean City Skyline.
Admission is $8 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and $10 on Friday and Saturday. Advance tickets are available at all the Barbour County banks and Poling's Store on U.S. 250. Tickets are also available by calling the fair office at 823-1328. For a full scheduled of events, visit www.barbourcountyfair.com.
