26 Jul 2011

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FAIR NEWS RELEASE

By Bob Fox

Davenport, Iowa (July 26, 2011) - Some top-notch, free grounds attractions will entertain thousands of people next week at the Great Mississippi Valley Fair.

The 92nd fair is being held Aug. 2-7, at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., in Davenport.

Fair manager Bob Fox says he expects Dallas, the Fire Guy; Robinson's Racing Pigs; Kachunga & the Alligator Show; and Jungle Adventure, a diving show, to be very popular attractions.

Street entertainer Dallas Saupe is known as Dallas, the Fire Guy, and has been providing clean, family oriented entertainment for more than 20 years.

A popular Mississippi Valley Fair attraction for the past several years, Dallas and his escape-artist son, Nicktorious, perform a blend of comedy, juggling, balancing and fire-blowing in a self-contained, high-energy, audience participation show.

Robinson's Racing Pigs return this year to the Mississippi Valley Fair after a brief absence.

In the fall of 1984, Paul and Carlota Robinson started racing pigs. In February of 1985, they took their show to the Florida State Fair, and the act soon became a staple for other fairs around the country.

Since the passing of the Robinsons in the late 1990s, Randy and Sharon Ross have continued the legacy.

Kachunga & the Alligator Show, which has been a popular MVF attraction over the years, began in 1982 as a public awareness program designed to bring alligators and other wildlife to schools to educate students.

Over the last 15 years it has grown into one of today's most popular shows at fairs and festivals.

Jungle Adventure, Fox says, is a high-diving show from Australia. It is new to the fair this year, and will be located not far from MVF's landmark Twin Towers.

Fun Cards, good for daily admission to the grounds in addition to all grandstand shows, are for sale at Hy-Vee stores and the fair office. They are $45 each.

For those without Fun Cards, grounds admission is $10 at the gate for adults and $3 for children 4-12. Children 3 and under are free.

For more information, go to www.mvfair.com or phone (563) 326-5338.

 

-30-

02 Aug 2010

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FAIR NEWS RELEASE

By Bob Fox
Davenport, Iowa (July 31, 2010) -- Many people will never have an opportunity to see a baby chick hatch from an egg. But Gary and Diane Kaasa, who live east of Eldridge, are trying to change that. Their chicken birthing exhibit returns to the Expo Building at the Mississippi Valley Fair for the second year in a row.

The fair runs Tuesday through Sunday, Aug. 3-8, at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport.

"Basically, it's the same as last year," Gary Kaasa says. "We're going to be hatching about three dozen chicks every day at the fair. We've done a similar project for years and years at a school."

Visitors to the Kaasa's booth can watch chicks hatching and can also view an educational DVD about the process. The Kaasas also will be on hand throughout the fair to answer any questions.

This year the couple also will have a mock farm setup on display.

"We have a small barn that will also act as a brooder for the chicks," says Kaasa. "It will have a little picket fence around it so we can leave all the chicks right there at the fairgrounds so people can kind of watch that, too."

A brooder is a heated container used to confine chicks with their feed and water until they are old enough to go outside.

"We had a lot of fun last year," Kaasa said. And the couple heard a lot of positive comments about their exhibit. "According to everybody we talked to last year, we were the most popular thing at the fair."

He said youngsters loved the chicken birthing exhibit because they'd never seen anything like that before.

"The older people loved it, too," Kaasa said. "We heard more stories about chicks being heated by potbelly stoves because it was cold outside and things like that. It was fun to hear all that."

Daily admission tickets to the Mississippi Valley Fair, good for viewing exhibits like the Kaasa's and grounds attractions, are $10 for adults and $3 for children 4-12. Children 3 and under are admitted free.

Fair Fun Cards, which cover daily admission to the grounds and each night's 8 p.m. grandstand show, are $40 each and are for sale at Hy-Vee stores, Taco Bells, the fair office and online at mvfair.com. Grandstand show admission is by Fun Card only.

For more information, click on www.mvfair.com or phone (563) 326-5338.

-30-

26 Jul 2010

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FAIR NEWS RELEASE

By Bob Fox
Davenport, Iowa (July 25, 2010) -- Special days and special carnival ride rates are planned again this year for the Great Mississippi Valley Fair, set for Tuesday through Sunday, Aug. 3-8, at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport.

The special days, devoted to select groups of people, are the first three days of the fair.

Tuesday, Aug. 3 is Special Needs Day, with free admission for those with special needs until 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, is Kids' Day. Children age 12 and under are admitted free that day until 5 p.m. Then Thursday, Aug. 5,  is Senior Day, with senior citizens admitted to the fair for just $5 until 5 p.m.

Wristband ride specials for the huge Evans United Shows carnival are slated for Wednesday, Aug. 4; Thursday, Aug. 5; and Sunday, Aug. 8.

Evans United Shows is selling wristbands those days for just $15, and they're good for unlimited rides from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"The special wristband ride prices are quite popular, particularly among families and young people," said fair manager Bob Fox.

Individual ride tickets still will be sold, he noted, for those who don't want unlimited rides.

Aside from the reduced admission rates on Special Needs Day, Kids' Day and Senior Day, daily admission tickets to the Mississippi Valley Fair, good for viewing exhibits and grounds attractions, are $10 for adults and $3 for children 4-12. Children 3 and under are admitted free.

Fair Fun Cards, which cover daily admission to the grounds and each night's 8 p.m. grandstand show, are $40 each and are for sale at Hy-Vee stores, Taco Bells, the fair office and online at mvfair.com. Grandstand show admission is by Fun Card only.

For more information, click on www.mvfair.com or phone (563) 326-5338.
15 Jul 2010

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FAIR NEWS RELEASE

By Bob Fox
Davenport, Iowa (July 14, 2010) -- Free grounds shows and attractions are part of the draw of the 91st Great Mississippi Valley Fair, set for Aug. 3-8 at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport.

New shows and attractions this year will join a lineup of perennial favorites, according to fair manager Bob Fox, who books the acts.

"The main thing is, you don't want people coming into the fairgrounds saying, 'Aw, I've seen that before,'" says Fox.

New shows and attractions include :

The Caboodlestoppers -- They are a mother and father and some of their children who sing, dance and do comedy for people of all ages. They describe themselves as America's funniest country family. "It's a great show," says Fox, who saw the Caboodlestoppers perform at the Louisiana State Fair. "It's a family-oriented show, but it's not cheesy. When I saw it, I thought, 'Boy, this would be great for Iowa."

Galaxy Girl -- This aerial superstar performs breath-taking stunts more than 127 feet in the air on an aerial space needle without nets or safety devices. Fox saw her perform at an International Association of Fairs and Expositions convention in Las Vegas and booked her "in keeping with the tradition of trying to have new and fresh acts every year at the fair."

Granpa Cratchet -- "Granpa Cratchet is a brand new puppet show," Fox says. Granpa also will be driving his little Model T around the fairgrounds during the day and chatting with people.

The World's Largest Traveling Horse Wheel -- This is a device that allows people to ride on Percherons, world famous draft horses.

Some returning grounds attractions and shows are:

Gym Bob's Jamboree -- This popular show will be back for its third year. "These guys are really, really talented," Fox says.

Dallas, the Fire Guy -- Fox says Dallas, the Fire Guy is a big crowd pleaser who returns with his fire-breathing act and "irreverent humor."

Globe of Death -- Multiple daredevil motorcycle riders circle inside a 16-foot-wide steel sphere. Says Fox: "This is a jaw-dropping show."

The Diamonds -- This is the third year at the fair for the Diamonds, a vocal group that had 16 hits between 1956 and 1961. "Fair-goers love the Diamonds, so I brought them back again," Fox says. "They just put on a really good interactive show. I get a lot of e-mails about the Diamonds."

Todd the Stiltwalker -- This roving performer is an act you have to look up to. His 10-foot renditions of characters and comedy routines are always a hit. "Todd is my mainstay," says Fox.

Also returning for 2010 are the Frisco Elephants and Petting Zoo, Great Cats of the World and a chainsaw artist, whose week's work will be auctioned off Sunday, Aug. 8, at 4 p.m. in the Genesis Variety Tent.

Grounds admission to the fair is either by ticket, sold daily at the gate, or by Fun Card, on sale at the fair office and select area businesses.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $3 for children 4-12. Children 3 and under are admitted free.

Fun Cards are $40 and include admission to the fair each day and to the 8 p.m. grandstand show each night. Admission to the grandstand is by Fun Card only. Children 3 and under are admitted free to the grandstand.

For more information, go to www.mvfair.com or phone (563) 326-5338.

-30-

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Amy Alkon Advice Goddess, Real Astrology, Red Meat cartoon and RCR Crossword every week?) 

* indicates required

View previous campaigns.

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.