Alabama National Fair Gets Ready to Open the Gates
Before the rides light up the night sky and the smell of funnel cakes fill the air, there is a lot of work to be done.
“Anywhere from a week to 2 weeks to get everything set up. The rides come in and they get set up. We’ve been working on it all year . The fair staff and Kiwanis have been working on it all year long. This is the culmination of it. We’ll start working on 2015 when we get this one opened up Friday night,” said Randy Stephenson, GM of the Alabama National Fair.
Until then, food vendors are cleaning their truck getting everything ready to fire up the fryers.
There will be 64 rides and some new things as well.
“We got some new shows. A new circus this year– completely different circus. We got a Pirates of the Caribbean show, high wire act with pirates fighting and stuff. It’ll be neat,” said Stephenson.
Of course, there is a fair favorite that is setting up shop as well.
“Ham Bone Express 3, the swiftest swine off the line!”
Charlie Boger and his wife travel the country racing hogs.
“Yes ma’am, from New York City to California to Florida and to the great state of Alabama,” said Boger.
It’s a job they do all year long and one they have learned to appreciate.
“Told my wife one time, I said I don’t feel like doing this today, and she said they pay you good to do this. Somebody in the crowd is having family trouble, trouble with their children, marital problems, if you can make them smile and forget everything for 20 minutes, that’s your job. And I say it’s not a bad way to look at it,” said Boger.
Throughout all the fun to be had at the fair, officials say there is more to it than just that.
The Alabama National Fair has given back 7 million dollars to non-profit organizations and another 3 million to awards and prize programs through livestock shows and creative living centers.
“It’s all about charity,” said Stephenson.
For more information on the fair, click here.
