×

New Offerings Highlight Kickoff Of Chautauqua County Fair

The Chautauqua County Fair kicks off in Dunkirk today. Several new rides are expected this year. P-J file photo

DUNKIRK — Veteran attendees of the Chautauqua County Fair can expect to see some new rides this year, as Powers & Thomas Midway Entertainment is making its first ever appearance at the fairgrounds in Dunkirk this week.

“We’re bringing the biggest ride that’s ever been there in the history of the fair,” said Charlie Belknap of Powers & Thomas. “It’s a ride called Speed. It’s 100-foot tall and it produces almost 4 Gs on your body when you’re on it. It’s a special ride from Italy.”

Speed is especially suited for thrill-seekers.

Belknap and many of his platoon of rides were setting up for the fair Sunday.

Other new rides include:

¯ The Swing Buggy: a music ride that features free-swinging ride cars that move up and down the hills and valleys of the ride. It runs forwards and reverse.

¯ Quadzilla Park: a Jurassic Park style 4×4 truck ride for adventurous kids that goes over a bridge and through various turns and tunnels.

¯ Monster Trucks: A newly refurbished kiddie ride that lets kids drive their very own monster truck.

Belknap said that Powers & Thomas offers unique family rides that are separate from kiddie rides.

“These are rides where the parents can interact with their children on the rides,” Belknap said. “Rather than the parents standing there watching the kids on the rides then taking the kids home, the parents can ride with the kids.”

Belknap said the fairgrounds will be populated with large umbrellas for older attendees.

“Instead of standing in the hot sun, they have a place where they can sit down,” He said.

The umbrellas might come in useful should the rain come as forecasted for today and Tuesday.

Belknap said the fairgrounds will be beautiful, clean and well-lit.

“Our safety record is phenomenal for ride safety,” Belknap said. “Everything is clean and well lit with LED lights.”

Another new feature this year is called Camel Kingdom, and area of the fairgrounds where attendees will have the opportunity to ride on rare camels.

According to the manager of Camel Kingdom, there are snow white dromedary camels – single-humped camels – and some are spotted camels from the Canary Island.

“There’s about 100 in the US and 1,000 in the entire world,” he said. “They’re a rare breed that you won’t see anywhere else in the US besides here in Camel Kingdom.”

The fair starts today at 1 p.m. and goes until 11 and continues to Tuesday through Sunday from 1 to 11 p.m.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today