Whether crowds come for the food, the rides, or the grandstand acts, The Mississippi Valley Fair getting underway Tuesday is another big event that's a big economic boost for the area. Monday afternoon the vendors and carnival rides were just finishing getting set up. Judging by early ticket sales the fair is expect quite a good number of people this year.
"We're up on ticket sales. People love the fair," said fair General Manager Bob Fox. As of a few weeks ago about three thousand more tickets were sold compared to the same time last year.
"We've had a bunch of tickets go out to Spain on Paypal which is really cool. We had some from United Kingdom," added Fox.
Here are some more numbers for you -
6 days with a big name act each night. This is the 93rd year of the Mississippi valley fair. Along with dozens of carnival rides and animal shows there are 45-50 vendors from here and all over. They include Greg and Sherry Brunk of Kahoka, Missouri. "We do kettle corn and carmel corn and brought something new this year with out snowy shaved ice," said Sherry Brunk.
Something cool for the sweet tooth, or something for a more hearty appetite. Steve's Meat Shop is local vendor out of Blue Grass, Iowa which has been coming for 20 years to feed the large fair crowds. "At night it sure fills up with the show and people like to come and enjoy a good time at the fair," said Patricia Fowler.
On average, fair officials say more than a quarter million people attend throughout the week. The Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau's conservative estimate for economic impact is $3 million. That's if 200,000 visitors spend an average of $15 per day.
"They put it back into area, that's a good thing," said Fox.
To make sure crowds keep coming back fair officials say they're constantly searching for new things. This year look out for things like alligator wrangling, duck racing, and the "Tree of Life."
"To reinvent the mouse trap every year is difficult, but you know you want to do that," added Fox.
The fair kicks off Tuesday in Davenport. The daily grandstand line-up from through Sunday includes: Rodney Atkins, The Band Perry, Billy Currington, REO Speedwagon, Hank Williams Jr., and Montgomery Gentry.
