State Fair board OKs carnival contract, names free act

As the time for the 2016 Colorado State Fair draws nearer, Fair leaders and
the Fair board are fine-tuning preparations for General Manager Sarah
Cummings’ first expo.

During Wednesday ‘s regular monthly meeting at the Fairgrounds, Cummings and
the board discussed renewal of the contract with Crabtree Entertainment.

Cummings noted that during negotiations with Crabtree, which operates the
carnival and games on the Midway, its owner expressed an interest in
increasing rates across the board. Noting that the Fair desires to keep any
increases at a minimum, Cummings did agree to a dollar bump in the
dollar-ride day to become $2 Tuesday , with the popular mega-pass increasing
slightly to $98.

Per the agreement, a guaranteed minimum of $450,000 from ride and other
revenues will be met to fulfill the contract. Revenues will be split 50/50
between the carnival operator and the Fair.

The contract, which was OK’d by the board, will be taken back to Crabtree
for execution.

In other matters, as the Fair has been mandated to submit a five-year
operational plan to the state audit office by June 30 , Cummings said an Oct.
1 extension is being sought that would allow her to oversee this year’s
event before finalizing the plan and mission statement. The five-year plan
also must be given to the state Joint Budget Committee by Nov. 1.

A review of an unaudited revenue and expense statement for the period ending
April 30 shows the Fair in a better financial light when compared to last
year during the same period. Before depreciation, the Fair has logged a net
income of $375,840, as compared to $175,852 in 2015.

This year’s free entertainment in the American Furniture Warehouse
Amphitheater will feature a slate of tribute bands as well as two TV
entertainers.

Jake Worthington, a finalist on “The Voice,” is slated to perform, as is
“American Idol” alumnus Richie Law. Among the tribute acts are those
mimicking Journey, The Beatles (Fab Four), U2 (Under a Blood Red Sky) and
Van Wholen, who combine the best of The Who and Van Halen.

On the Fairgrounds, the free acts will include the Wizard’s Challenge, an
interactive STEM-based exhibit, illusionist Sean Watson, Sea Lion Splash,
Wild About Monkeys and Fables of the West, a humor-based Western show.

As for the ticketed shows, Huey Lewis and the News, Foreigner, Travis Tritt,
LOCASH and Chris Janson are signed, with two acts still to be named.