Tornados and Rough Weather Open Fair Season at the South Florida Fair
Friday's severe weather had an impact on opening day of U.S. Fair Season which always kicks off at the South Florida Fair, and with more bad weather in the forecast throughout the weekend.
West Palm Beach, FL, January 18, 2016 (Newswire.com) - The rides shut down for a few hours while the severe weather was moving through which kept many people away, impacting attendance.
Many vendors and attractions never recovered, even after the weather cleared up, and hoped that more bad weather in the forecast wouldn't prevent the crowds from showing up through the weekend.
"It doesn't affect our business, mainly because both attractions are under cover, but also because we are much more fun than the rest!"
Lenny Secourt, Independent Owner
While most of the over 200 attractions had grim beginnings, others like the Ninja Laser Maze by Mission Impassable as well as its next door neighbor called the Face Dancer, also by the same vendor couldn't be busier. "We've been through every type of weather at various fairs," said Lenny Secourt, independent owner of the two attractions. "It doesn't affect our business, mainly because both attractions are under cover, but also because we are much more fun than the rest!"
Erick Jesup, a food vendor who has been working the fair circuit for 20 years had a different take on the night. "Its a shame, but nothing we can do when mother nature calls," he said. "This isn't the first time bad weather struck and certainly not the last, its part of this business."
With a break in the weather on Saturday, Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt is took the message of sun safety to the South Florida Fair. Schmidt, a melanoma survivor and Palm Beach County resident, appeared from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday to draw attention to the dangers of overexposure to the sun.
Adrenaline junkies can check out four new rides at the fair this year. The Super Cyclone Roller Coaster, which was manufactured in Italy, takes riders on two large drops and turns. Additionally, The Disko places daredevils facing downward on a rotating platform that goes back and forth on a half-pipe shaped truck.
The fair runs from noon to 10pm Mondays through Fridays and 10am - 10pm on Saturdays, Sundays and on Martin Luther King Day.
For more information on the fair, visit www.southfloridafair.com or call 561-793-0333.
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