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Caroline happy as new home of State Fair
State Fair survey shows older crowd than usual attended this year's event
Date published: 11/27/2009
By PORTSIA SMITH The State Fair of Virginia attracted an older crowd than usual at its new location this year, according a survey of attendees. Survey results show an increase in fairgoers ages 45 and up, and a decrease in attendees ages 12 to 17. These results came from a two-page questionnaire given at random to some of the 248,000 who attended the 11-day fair, which was held for the first time at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County this fall. State Fair President Curry Roberts noted a few of the unreleased survey's highlights to Caroline supervisors at their meeting this week. He did not give percentages on the age breakdown. According to the surveys, about 14 percent said they were from the Fredericksburg or Northern Virginia areas. That's up from 6 percent from last year, when the fair was held in Henrico County. About 68 percent of those surveyed came from the Richmond area. Of those surveyed, 15 percent were attending the fair for the first time ever. About 70 percent attended for the first time in five years, and about 11 percent attended for the first time in 10 years. Roberts said the education level and household income of this year's fairgoers were higher than last year. Overall, 88 percent of those surveyed said the fair met or exceeded their expectations, and more believe this year's fair was a good value for the money compared with last year. The major concerns were problems with traffic and parking, which resulted in a 7.9 out of 10 ranking of the fair's entrance. That's down from last year, Roberts said, and will be a priority for improvement next year. For future use of The Meadow Event Park, fairgoers said they would like to see food and music festivals--specifically country and gospel--and shows for crafts, homes, Christmas, dogs and antique cars. All five supervisors congratulated Roberts for an event well-done and especially thanked him for generating some money for the county. According to Commissioner of Revenue Sharon Carter, Caroline collected $92,000 in taxes from the state fair and the Celtic festival that followed. Roberts also mentioned that fair and school officials are in talks to possibly hold graduation for Caroline schools at The Meadow Event Park's Farm Bureau Center. From the safety standpoint, Lt. Kerry Stiles of the Virginia State Police said his agency made seven arrests, which included a vendor with counterfeit merchandise, a person unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon and a DUI/hit and run. Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
Read more stories about Caroline Date published: 11/27/2009
CAROLINE
(posted by
MGWork
, Nov. 28, 2009 10:43 am)
With the State Fair's new location and successful first outing, plus Del. Bobby Orrock being positioned and aligned as Chairman of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee, just vacated by Phil Hamilton, who stepped down from the position just before House Speaker Bill Howell's staged ethics investigation caught up with Hamilton's qbusiness conduct while still in office.
Caroline County should now prosper, and take its place along side the other Counties being joined together as a REGION.
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