IAAPA presents awards to outstanding exhibitors at 2008 Expo

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on November 20, 2008
Posted in: News. Tagged: .

Travel Daily News
The 2008 Best Exhibit Awards were presented Tuesday, Nov. 18, during IAAPA Attractions Expo 2008 in Orlando, Florida. Honors included Best Exhibit, Best New Product, and Image Award.

The Best Exhibit Awards were divided into sub-categories, depending on size of the exhibit space. The Exhibitor Awards committee has a sub-committee for each category which researches entries and scores them appropriately. The sub-committee chairpersons visit all entrants in each category and review the products, exhibitor demeanor, and overall booth appearance to determine a winner.

The Image Award recognizes the exhibitor(s) with the most attractive booth space. The 2008 Image Award winners were Alterface S.A., 3-D Branded Attractions, nWave Pictures S.A., and MIT Srl.

First place and honorable mention winners in the following categories included:

100 – 200 square feet
First Place: Bleeding Art Industries, Booth 547
Honorable Mention: Perky’s Pizza, Booth 1315

300 – 500 square feet
First Place: Pizzazz Scenic Construction, Booth 2063
Honorable Mention: Custom Creations, Booth 1674

600 – 1,000 square feet
First Place: Hollow 4D Studios, Booth 851
Honorable Mention: SCS Interactive, Booth 1847

1,100+ square feet
First Place: Bob’s Space Racers, Booth 1824
Honorable Mention: MagiQuest, Booth 4862

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2009 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR MEGA PASS MAKES GREAT STOCKING STUFFER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on November 19, 2008
Posted in: News. Tagged: .

Discounted Mega Pass on sale Nov. 20 – Dec. 22

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The gift-giving season is quickly approaching and, if you are searching for that perfect stocking stuffer, the Illinois Department of Agriculture has just what you are looking for. IDOA is offering the 2009 Illinois State Fair Mega Pass at the reduced rate of $50, a ten dollar savings.

The Mega Pass is your child’s ticket to whirling, jaw-dropping adventure during the 2009 Illinois State Fair. The pass gives youngsters access to more than 100 Carnival Midway and Adventure Village rides. The pass is good for all ten days of the state fair, plus Preview Night.

“The best news is that fairgoers can ride as often as they want to,” Illinois State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick said. “Many visitors attend more than one day and, with this pass, you can give the gift of excitement day after day, that will last throughout the entire 2009 Illinois State Fair.”

The reduced-rate Mega Pass promotion will be available Nov. 20 through Dec. 22 and includes a free state fair lanyard. Mega Passes can be purchased in person at the IDOA Building, by telephone, online at www.illinoisstatefair.info or through the mail.

The IDOA Building is located at the corner of Sangamon and 8th Street on the Illinois State Fairgrounds and is open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is (217) 782-6661. Mail order forms are available on the Illinois State Fair website.

The pass is not valid for admission to the fairgrounds or rides on the Skyglider and Giant Slide. The 2009 Illinois State Fair runs Aug. 14 – 23.

Purchase On-line

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The Lure of the Carnie’s Life

Posted by CarnivalMidways.Com on November 18, 2008
Posted in: News. Tagged: .

By MARILEE GRIFFIN: St.Augstine Record
John Wright ran away with the carnival when he was 17, nudged there after he got into trouble with the law.

Daffiney Chapman, left, sits with her daughter Daisy Chapman, 17, middle, and her friend Kayla Diloreta, 15, at the Crossbow Shoot booth during the St. Johns County Fair Saturday afternoon, November 15, 2008. By DARON DEAN, daron.dean@staugustine.com

Daffiney Chapman, left, sits with her daughter Daisy Chapman, 17, middle, and her friend Kayla Diloreta, 15, at the Crossbow Shoot booth during the St. Johns County Fair Saturday afternoon, November 15, 2008. By DARON DEAN, daron.dean@staugustine.com

Now 38, he says he’s cleaned up his life, gushes with pride over his 12-year-old identical twin girls and runs the balloon-popping game at the St. Johns County Fair, now going on in the county fairgrounds in Elkton. And, not surprising for someone who is on the road almost all year long, he’s single.

“It’s hard to be married and be out here,” he said. That’s why his daughters are growing up in North Dakota, where they live with their mother.

“Out here” is the carnival circuit, which is yearlong and countrywide. It’s living in motels and trailers and working long days in all kinds of weather. It’s calling the nomads and wanderers in the next booth “family.” It’s a place where it’s hard to earn a consistent income.

But for Wright and many of his fellow carnies, “out here” is the only life many of them know.

“Once this gets in your blood, everything else is temporary,” said John Wingo of Boca Raton. “Is it wanderlust? I don’t know what else to call it. It beats the monotony of the 9-to-5.”

John Wingo tries to draw in fairgoers to the Rabbit or Iguana Toss booth as Molly Anna Parsons, 7, gives it a try during the St. Johns County Fair Saturday afternoon, November 15, 2008. By DARON DEAN, daron.dean@staugustine.com

John Wingo tries to draw in fairgoers to the Rabbit or Iguana Toss booth as Molly Anna Parsons, 7, gives it a try during the St. Johns County Fair Saturday afternoon, November 15, 2008. By DARON DEAN, daron.dean@staugustine.com

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