GILLETT, WI (WTAQ) – The Oconto County Fair is underway, but this year, one main fair attraction is missing.
No carnival rides or games will be found.
Fair Board Director Chris Engebretsen says Spectrum Entertainment canceled their one year contract with the Fair and said he believes it came down to a lack of money that the company made on tickets.
“Last year that was a factor. There was just nobody riding the rides.”
He says being a smaller fair leaves them a disadvantage when companies are looking for ticket money.
He said the board did not have a chance to find another company so they took a different route.
This year the fair will have nearly a dozen inflatable bouncy houses, all with different activities.
The Michigan company offerings include bounce houses, wall climbing, bubble soccer, an obstacle course, three-line bungee rope, a carousel walk, a castle maze, a basketball shooting game, and boxing with oversize soft rubber gloves.
“That is going to be an all-day wristband for 10 dollars.”
The wristband will be all-you-can-bounce for the day and is good even if you leave and come back that day.
Engebretsen understands not having carnival rides and games will disappoint many people but says the fair usually brings in a majority of the crowd for grandstand entertainment, food, and the animals, all of which they will have.
“We are an ag fair, there is no doubt about it. Our exhibits are huge and we are at almost an all-time high at the barns.
The bouncy houses are all you can bounce for a day for 10 dollars.
The fair runs through Sunday at Zippel Park in Gillett.
