By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
JEFFERSON — Kids Day, filled with balloons, games, rides, prizes and plenty of sunshine, spelled a day of success Wednesday at the Ashtabula County Fair.
For the second day in a row, fair-goers carried cups of ice instead of umbrellas, jamming the midway and creating long lines to most of the rides.
“Welcome everyone to a beautiful fair day,” said Everett Helfer, fair board member and master of ceremonies at the Bubble Gum Blowing Contest. “You couldn’t ask for a better day.”
Helfer’s attitude reverberated across the fairgrounds as crowds of children, parents and grandparents poured through the gates for Kids Day. Children got in free and rode rides for only $4, while the sponsor of the day, The Star Beacon, gave away thousands of free balloons.
Lori Haffa of Williamsfield stood in line early in the day with three of her four children, waiting to buy the ride wristband. Her youngest child, a newborn, was at home, she said.
“The children are excited to see the animals and ride the rides,” Haffa said.
Seven-year-old Zoe Haffa said she wanted to ride the swings.
Once the rides opened at 11 a.m., movement along the midway slowed, as people seemed to be everywhere.
Britney Moyer, 12, of Ashtabula, stood in line for the UFO ride.
“It’s fun,” she said. “You stand up, and it goes around really fast, and you stick to the wall.”
Lynsey McClure, 11, of Andover, participated in many of Wednesday’s games for children, including the water-balloon toss.
“I almost won,” she said.
Shelby and Drew Morgan of Jefferson, ages 11 and 8 respectively, won the balloon toss and received coupons to Subway for their effort.
Madison resident Allie Deist, 8, took home a stuffed dolphin toy, thanks to some nifty balloon-popping with a dart.
Fair board secretary Darla Vargo said everyone is very happy with the attendance, so far. Tuesday opening day’s numbers skyrocketed to 3,058 paid admissions at the gate, she said.
“That’s higher than the last few years,” she said.
She credited the sunny weather. That number doesn’t count all of the 4-H members, advisers and concession stand operators who came to the fair, she said.
