PRESCOTT – When the Nevada County Fair rolls around later this year it will feature a carnival and midway for the first time in years
Cathy Jones, outgoing president of the Nevada County Fair Association, presented the Nevada County Quorum Court, at its January meeting Tuesday, with options for a carnival for the fair, while asking for help to fund it.
She presented two packages, one with a giant slide, kiddie fish ride and bounce house combo would cost $5,000 for the Friday and Saturday of the fair. While the second package would include a gyroscope, bungee jump, trackless train, mindwinder, marval combo, princess combo, obstacle course, inflatable slide, Hulk blow up and an Elsa blow up with staff to operate everything. This, she said, would cost $6,000 for the two days.
She said without the court’s help the fair wouldn’t have survived, adding the association has been trying to get a carnival for the last five years, but it’s proven to be nearly impossible because of cost. The problem, she said, is the county fair is too small for most carnivals to make any money.
Under the deal with the Hot Springs-based company, she said, the fair association would guarantee them making $5,000 or $6,000 and would pay for any amount the carnival falls short of this figure. Normally, she added, the company charges $10,000 for its larger package. She told the court the association members could sell tickets in advance to help raise money to meet the cost, but asked if the county couldn’t help as well.
Nevada County Clerk Julie Oliver said the court appropriated $6,000 for the association’s budget. It was agreed $3,000 of the association’s budget could be used to help guarantee the fees for the carnival.
Jones said the association will handle all the advertising. It was decided early ticket sales could be done at local businesses and banks, along with the schools in the county. The carnival will be at the fair Sept. 18-19.