ERIN, Tenn. – The Houston County Fair board members said this year’s entertainment vendor backed out last minute, leaving them without rides, food, or any entertainment.
A lot of work goes into putting on a carnival. With five thousand people expected to visit the 9th annual Houston County Fair board president Jason Schmidt was hoping it would be their best. "We were supposed to have 10 to 12 rides at the fair this year," he said.
Yet, when Michigan based Maple Leaf Amusements didn't show up to a fair in nearby Decatur County, fair board manager Robin Freeman started to worry.
"We knew we had the same carnival company, so we were like oh no," she said. "We started calling."
They got the bad news soon after. "They just told me they were not going to show up," said Schmidt. "They just told me Friday morning."
So the field once planned for rides, has been a parking lot. As you can imagine, board members were disappointed and frustrated with the vendor. "You've let down the community here," said Schmidt. "What are these kids going to do? There's stuff for the adults to do, but these kids are going to need something to do here; shame on ya."
Freeman said they've had to do a lot of improvising this year. "They're going to sell popcorn, they're doing a shooting gallery, they're doing the fishing game for the kids," she said.
She wanted everyone to know however, they did try their best to bring in rides. "We talked to about every carnival that's ever participated in the area and everybody was already booked," said Freeman.
So the fair had to go on, said Schmidt with or without maple leaf amusements. "We hope people will still come and support and help us," he said.
Maple Leaf did not offer a reason for not coming, so legal action was still an option. The fair runs through Saturday.
