UPDATE: Richmond Fair could start July 24 or July 31
Now, organizers of the Richmond Fair say it's on -- if plans fall into place. It could begin as early as next Friday, July 24, or it could begin Friday, July 31, they say. It would run for 10 days.
Earlier today, the president of the company bringing a fair to The Diamond said the fair would not take place this Sunday, July 19, because his organization had not gotten the necessary permits from the Richmond Police Department.
However, Mark Lovell, president of Universal Fairs Inc., said this afternoon that the dates the fair will take place have been pushed back to two possibilities.
For details, see tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.
-- Jeremy SlaytonReader Reactions
It’s such a shame how the RPD are having this organization jump through loops to bring some entertainment to the City. And in reading prev posts, ppl are saying that its not helping the city, but so what??? It is something for the ppl of the city to do during these summer days that is not so expensive. Everything does not have to be profitable to the City to take place. They already took the State Fair and I know I will not be traveling to that one so I was excited to know this one would be coming and closer than before w/the same attractions and fun.
Some posters are just negative about everything being done in this city/state, but I wonder sometimes, could it be because they don’t have any bright ideas of their own???
I am interested in going and hopefully things will be taken care of sooner than later so that I can take my daughters and eat a funnel cake and italian sausage….ummmm. :)
HAHA Rayzor, good one.
I would suggest before anyone starts putting down the people trying to put on this fair they do some homework. Here’s a link:
http://www.universalfairs.com/content/view/14/62/
Not exactly a ‘fly by night’ outfit, eh? Work started on this effort over two months ago, but officialdom put up numerous roadblocks.
As for those thinking this is all about profit for the people putting on the fair, aren’t we living in a capitalistic society? Another fact is that anytime there is an event at the Diamond surrounding merchants always see increased sales. The planners of this Fair came here with the intent of not being here just one year, but 20 years. Just look on their site to see the numerous fairs they run all across the country.
For those harping about the only ‘real’ fairs being the State & Chesterfield fairs I pose you two questions…what counties are those fairs in, and does the City of Richmond have a fair? This Fair was/is to be the inaugural, eventually to be moved to a better location, and expanded.
It’s not just usual fair fare, by the way. Over 75 local musical acts were slated to perform. That’s right favorites from OUR city of almost every genre.
By having stiff officials, unwilling to compromise for the benefit of OUR community, all Richmond area citizens are the real losers in this deal.
This carnival-looking- for- a -parking- lot is certainly tapping into the nostalgia vein that “state-fair-of-virginia” fans seem eager to display.
If it resembled anything regional at all I expect there would be a lot more support. There is actually very little news except the carnival promoter keeps promising to do his paperwork. “Poor planning on his part does not constitute an emergency on the part of the city”
It’s just a carnival of which there are dozens within easy drive every summer. Junk food, scary rides, games designed to be unwinnable, if we’re lucky a tunnel of love.
Sure could use more of that in this town.
I heard a rumor that there is a group of Richmond Fair supporters who are doing a feasibility study on where to hold the fair. Should they use an existing facility like the Diamond? What about having it in Shockoe Bottom? Or why not that huge area in Manchester just across the river? Just don’t step on anything historic!!!
I don’t see why the City of Richmond should bend over backwards to accomodate someone who didn’t use commonsense and apply for the required permits prior to advertising an event.
While this is being touted as the “Richmond Fair” it isn’t a city sponsored event and the RMA, while they leased the Diamond parking lots aren’t a sponsor either. This is a privately run business and the profits will go directly into their pockets and not the City’s.
Health safety issues, such as running water and restroom facilities, sanitation, police and other emergency personnel are important considerations when scheduling an event that could draw 1,000’s of people. It cannot be orchestrated within days.
Is it possible that the reason Henrico County, and now the City of Richmond is putting up so many obstacles to this Fair is someone isn’t getting their ‘palms greased’? Is it possible VA State Fair is flexing political muscle to prevent any competition? Security issues at the Henrico site from the highly priced Henrico police, then when the site moved to the Diamond it became health inspection issues, security issues again (resolved when the Fair company agreed to put up $100,000 for private security). Then all of a sudden it was parking issues…where does it end? (Note: The Carytown Watermelon Festival has drawn over 100,000 people for the past 6 years I’ve been booking the musical acts there, and parking is certainly an issue in that primarily residentual neighborhood)
Something is rotten in the State of Denmark/Richmond here, don’t you think?
It looks like the organization putting on this “fair” did not plan accordingly. Usually it takes several months to get all of the permits, authorizations, etc. in place before actually setting up. This sounds like a fly-by-night job. Besides, who wants this “fair” to run for 10 days?? This is nothing but a money-grabbing organization flimflamming the city.
Sometimes the city can drag its feet unnecessarily, but this organization is the one who is at fault here.
Give me the REAL fairs—State Fair of Virginia or the Chesterfield County fair! These fairs are community-minded, entertaining and educational. Whereas, this “city fair” only wants your bucks.
I hope this organization loses its shirt on this “fair” so we won’t have to deal with it next year. Good riddance.
This is outrageous. Why is the City being so difficult to deal with?
I hope the organizers pick a different location next year, one that isn’t encumbered by such an idiotic government.
With no real pre-planning and a changing date, this can hardly be a “fair” in the traditional sense of the word, such as the Virginia State Fair is or the Chesterfield County Fair, but rather a simple traveling carnival! In which case the need for adequate security is doubly important!
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