Went to the State Fair this weekend, and had a few thoughts:
* GRIPES to the fair upon finding out that the OKZIP giant slide will be dismantled after this fair so they can recover the space. This had become a great new tradition for my kids and me, so naturally they destroy it.
* GRIPES to a sign that showed handicapped "premium" parking is $3. I, fortunately, do not require handicap parking access, but it steams me for someone like my uncle - a korean war vet and later-year stroke vicitim - has to pony up $3 to get access to parking spaces legally reserved for his use. Sure seems that ought to be against ADA regulations.
* GRIPES to the unavailability of tickets anywhere other than the fairgrounds. Homeland stores will gladly sell you a ticket WITH A 30% SERVICE CHARGE, turning a (ridiculous) $8 ticket into a $10.50 ticket. GRRRR. We used to go to the fair several times a year, and grab tickets at the local 7-11 on the way out; but at $8 a pop (and a 12-year-old kid is now an "adult") and a trip to the fair is a $37 trip *just to get in the door* for a familiy of four on paved parking. Forget that multiple-visit idea.
* GRIPES for the persistence of the idiotic Disney on Acid "Agropolis" exhibit. While the "forward area" of the Made in Oklahoma building is crammed to death with people viewing interesting exhibits, half the exhibit space is taken up by this goofy cartoon-like agriculture world that, I guess, is supposed to draw in the kids. While I saw a few in there, it looked more like wasted space to me as families just went somewhere else. It's time for this mess to GO, and give the space back to exhibitors. Guess that makes too much sense, though, eh?
* GRIPES to two state fair employees who chased my 71-year-old mother off a *pedestrian walkway* outside the Hobbies, Arts, and Crafts building because it was blocking access to where they wanted to park one of their golf carts. Last time I checked, I was a paying guest, not a lackey.
* KUDOS to the efforts to keep the grounds (somewhat) clean. Lots of people seen sweeping and collecting trash, etc.
* KUDOS to what seems to be a greater number of vendors back in the Hobbies, Arts, and Crafts building, but I will NEVER forgive former director (and almost fair-killer) Skip Wegner for chasing the Junior Hospitality Submarine Sandwich booth out of the fair a few years ago.
* KUDOS to the Cox Pavilion - the old balloon roof building - for its renovation into a pretty nice exhibit hall.
I don't think the Fair will ever recover from the damage done to it by Skip Wegner and his band of thugs, but at least its worth visiting once...
-soonerdave
Bookmarks