Another successful Fair & Stampede

Now that the livestock has been loaded into trailers, spurs packed away, cotton candy remnants cleaned from the grounds and carnival rides disassembled, the 2007 Kitsap County Fair & Stampede has finally come to a close.

“The event turned out really well,” said Kitsap County Fair & Stampede President Doug Dillon.

With more to offer than fairs in the past, Dillon said the attendance numbers soared to more than 38,000 people this year.

“It was really good,” he added with a laugh. “We had a good crowd (this year).”

Dillon added that the concessions, without totals from the beer garden, earned more than $64,000.

Although the Fair was smooth sailing this year without many troubles, Dillon said the one change the Fair board is thinking about making next year is compacting the vendors and keeping Fairgrounds Road open to VIP parking.

“(Having vendors on Fairgrounds) didn’t work like we thought it would,” Dillon added.

Along with the rodeo and Xtreme Bulls, Dillon said some of the favorites of the Fair was the Kid’s Pedal Tractor Pull, Exotic Animal Barn and the concert entertainment by Grand Funk Railroad and Craig Morgan.

“They put on one heck of a rodeo,” he added with a laugh. “The exotics were really cool, everything went really smooth. From the entertainment we had this year, we need to step it up for next year because this year worked so well.”

Dillon added that both Grand Funk Railroad and Craig Morgan each brought in $6,200 from their concerts (from paid seating).

Another change for next year will include expanding the passport program to more booths throughout the Fair and ordering more mock passport documents as well.

“It was a great Fair,” Dillon added with a laugh, “A great year.”

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