2012 Nebraska State Fair

Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, DesMoines, and the rest of Nebraska and Iowa

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Candleshoe
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2012 Nebraska State Fair

Post by Candleshoe »

A place to share news, rumors, pics, tales and opinions.

The Nebraska State Fair will run from Aug. 24 through Sept. 3 at Fonner Park.
Candleshoe
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Post by Candleshoe »

concerts announced so far:

Charlie Daniels Band, Aug 24th Free
Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Bros Aug 29th, Free
Mercy Me, Aug 30th, Free
Billy Currington, Sept 1, $20
Steve Miller Band, Sept 2nd, $30
Candleshoe
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Post by Candleshoe »

State Fair to add Sky Tram for 2012

The Nebraska State Fair announced on Wednesday that a Sky Tram will be constructed on the fairgrounds for the 2012 fair.

The Sky Tram will be 40 feet in the air and will traverse the distance of four football fields, from the Exhibition Building to the southern tip of the Cattle Barn, said Joseph McDermott, State Fair executive director.

Construction will begin next month, he said, when concrete pilings will be poured before the Sky Tram poles and other equipment are set in place. McDermott said the Sky Tram will be a permanent installation but will only operate during the 11 days of the State Fair. The rest of the year, the tram cables and cars will be stored to keep them in good shape, he said.

http://www.theindependent.com/news/loca ... f887a.html

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iamjacobm
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Post by iamjacobm »

Cool!  I like how they are open air as well.  The Texas State Fair has closed cabins, not the same experience.
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iamjacobm
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Post by iamjacobm »

Uh oh.

http://www.nebraska.tv/story/19217706/s ... ed-in-fire
"High flying fun" gives way to deep disappointment, as a  truck carrying parts of the new Nebraska State Fair Sky Tram crashed and burned in a fiery wreck on the interstate.
Candleshoe
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Post by Candleshoe »

iamjacobm wrote:Uh oh.

http://www.nebraska.tv/story/19217706/s ... ed-in-fire
"High flying fun" gives way to deep disappointment, as a  truck carrying parts of the new Nebraska State Fair Sky Tram crashed and burned in a fiery wreck on the interstate.
Was one of three trucks... so two thirds of the parts arrived and construction is continuing as planned. Company officials are taking inventory to see what exactly needs replacing from that particular load and are hoping for completion on opening day, but State Fair officials are not holding their breath for it to open on time.

We'll see...
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bbtran72
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Post by bbtran72 »

candleshoe you forgot The Fray will also be playing at the fair on friday(31st).  Though tickets are fairly pricey at $40 a peice i'm still going with my girlfriend.
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nativeomahan
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Post by nativeomahan »

iamjacobm wrote:Uh oh.

http://www.nebraska.tv/story/19217706/s ... ed-in-fire
"High flying fun" gives way to deep disappointment, as a  truck carrying parts of the new Nebraska State Fair Sky Tram crashed and burned in a fiery wreck on the interstate.
This sounds like ample material for a C & W song.  Or something on The Onion.
Candleshoe
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Post by Candleshoe »

First batch of photos from a gray but comfy day.

1. Image
Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

2. Image
Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

The Wilber/Claytonia High School Alumni Marching Band

3. Image
Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

4. Image
Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

5. Image
Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

6. Image
Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

7. Image
Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

14. Image
Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

Executive Director Joseph McDermott talks to the press

15. Image
Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

The staging area for the antique tractor parade on Saturday afternoon. Going after the Guinness record with a goal of 1,100 tractors.

16. Image
Nebraska State Fair 2012 by candleshoe, on Flickr

Day one is in the books. The Skytram is running after the final testing on Friday morning. Saturday morning opens to much needed lingering rain showers.
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skinzfan23
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Post by skinzfan23 »

Nice pictures...after going to the Iowa State Fair for 12 consecutive years I think that either this year or next I am going to check out the Nebraska fair.
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nebugeater
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Post by nebugeater »

Nice stuff

I plan on being out there next Saturday.  hopeitis CROWDED for the sakeof the fair!
For the record  NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER    !!!!!!!
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

Great Stuff Candleshoe!
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gisbuxfan
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Post by gisbuxfan »

nebugeater wrote:Nice stuff

I plan on being out there next Saturday.  hopeitis CROWDED for the sakeof the fair!
I don't remember last years numbers for the last Saturday, but I imagine you'll see a few people there.
Candleshoe
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Post by Candleshoe »

Day        2011       2010      2009     2008

Friday      21,875   11,021   10,256   13,020

Saturday  45,127   42,785   52,235   46,513

Sunday    27,654   32,464   40,582   27,143

Monday    16,172   11,479   16,499   17,916

Tuesday   18,195   22,335   19,497   14,360

Wed         24,985   14,602   16,436   15,104

Thursday  14,524   23,269   15,701   16,393

Friday       23,869   26,419   32,297   27,133

Saturday   38,201   37,513   44,566   35,496

Sunday     67,929   53,795   71,627   53,043

Monday     34,512   33,718   47,507   43,016

Total      333,043   309,400  367,203  309,137
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Coyote
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Post by Coyote »

Nice numbers  :lol: I was wondering how they would compare this year. Thanks for posting!
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Post by Candleshoe »

We went out on Friday morning and returned in the late afternoon while it was drizzling and people were largely indoors. Then, we returned last night around 6. Not the best time to be estimating crowds, so I haven't a clue if it's above or below so far.
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Post by Candleshoe »

2012 attendance through Sunday: 94,776, compared to 94,656 in 2011 and 86,270 in 2010
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Linkin5
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Post by Linkin5 »

Candleshoe wrote:2012 attendance through Sunday: 94,776, compared to 94,656 in 2011 and 86,270 in 2010
Good news!  This thing should have been moved to GI years ago.
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Post by Candleshoe »

More scenes from the fair...

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DSC_9029 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9048 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9080 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9192 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9137 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9315 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9318 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9323 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9337 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9352 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9366 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9370 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9376 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9418 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9420 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9427 by candleshoe, on Flickr

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DSC_9458 by candleshoe, on Flickr

18.
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DSC_9485 by candleshoe, on Flickr

19. It's a boy!!!
Image
DSC_9498 by candleshoe, on Flickr
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Linkin5
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Post by Linkin5 »

Nice pics!
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nebugeater
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Post by nebugeater »

For the record  NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER    !!!!!!!
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Coyote
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Post by Coyote »

Thanks for the pics candleshoe and nebugeater! It looks so much different than Lincoln.
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Coyote
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Post by Coyote »

Just read that it ends today. So again thanks for the coverage!
Candleshoe
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Post by Candleshoe »

Looks like you put in a full day, nebugeater! Nice shots!
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nativeomahan
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Post by nativeomahan »

Great photos!
Candleshoe
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Post by Candleshoe »

A few more...

Image
I need more Oom pah pah! by candleshoe, on Flickr

Image
Beef Sundae. Mmmmmm! by candleshoe, on Flickr

Steve Miller Band

Image
Steve Miller by candleshoe, on Flickr
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skinzfan23
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Post by skinzfan23 »

Thank you guys for the photos...very nice.  I really do think I am going to have to visit the Nebraska State Fair next year.  You guys did an amazing job capturing some of the fun of the fair.
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Brad
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Post by Brad »

Great Shots Guys!
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nebugeater
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Post by nebugeater »

The OWH is reporting that attendace to the 2012 far was up over last year


http://www.omaha.com/article/20120904/N ... 49924/1718

The Nebraska State Fair reported an attendance increase for the second year in a row, drawing nearly 337,000 people during its 11-day run that ended Monday.


Fair officials said Tuesday attendance increased by about 1.2 percent compared to 2011's figure of 333,043.
For the record  NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER    !!!!!!!
Candleshoe
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Post by Candleshoe »

nebugeater wrote:The OWH is reporting that attendace to the 2012 far was up over last year


http://www.omaha.com/article/20120904/N ... 49924/1718

The Nebraska State Fair reported an attendance increase for the second year in a row, drawing nearly 337,000 people during its 11-day run that ended Monday.


Fair officials said Tuesday attendance increased by about 1.2 percent compared to 2011's figure of 333,043.
Great news! Between the drought, the record heat and an opening Saturday being rainy (which was actually quite welcome) it was a big question mark as to how attendance would finish.
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nebugeater
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Post by nebugeater »

For those that have not attended the State fair In Grand Island, or for that matter for the last few years in Lincoln you really need to find a day next year and attend.  I have attened the Ne State fair for at least a day every year since 1980 for sure and probably longer.   I was on record at the beginning at the begining of the move discussion that I didn’t like the idea of the move to GI.  It was never about GI not being able to do it right though.  After attending on Year 1 in GI they won me over and they are doing things right.  It has gotten better each year.  It is a threefold reason for success IMO.  1) Grand Island wanted it, and many in Lincoln didn’t.  2) The director of the fair knows what he is doing and has been with the fair for a few years longer than the GI location.  And 3) Most importantly THEY ARE SPENDING MONEY.  The last 10 + years in Lincoln that never happened and the facilities fell apart.  Not sure who is to blame there.  The fair was originally supported by the horse racing $$ in Lincoln and as that dried up no attempt was made to find alternate means.  This changed right before the move and then there was funding to make things right.


All that being said I am glad that it is in Grand Island and successful.  I am sure that since there was little support to merge a new location with the Lancaster Events center if it would not have went to GI it would have just ended.  There is too much there for the youth of the state, Omaha youth too if they choose. I see it continuing to grow.  As I look around the new fair in GI I see a lot of things that are lifted from the Iowa State fair and providing the platform for a successful, growing event.


Is it the Iowa, Texas, or Wisconson State fair?  No  Will it be?  Probably not.  Does it need to be?  No, it is the Nebraska State fair.  If they say the course that they have set the first three year in GI it will be a growing great event.  Everyone from the Metro needs to attend at least once with an open mind and take in the experiance.  You will have a great day if you just let yourself.
For the record  NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER    !!!!!!!
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