With

a new facility and oodles of space, the 1999

Fayette County Fair promises to grow by leaps and

bounds in coming years, organizers say.

Unfinished

though the new fairgrounds may be, Kiwanis

assistant fair manager A. J. VanLandingham said

the facility will help make this year's fair

better than previous ones ever could have been.

"We're doing some in-depth planning and

trying to show a great improvement," he

said.

"We're

trying to grow the fair from what it was,"

agreed Beth Snead, fair manager.

There

will be several new rides, she said, using five

acres of the site for the rides compared with

less than three acres available at the Kiwanis

Park on Redwine Road, where previous fairs have

been.

The

old site covers 40 acres, but most of the space

was not available for the fair. Kiwanis donated

the park to the county in the 1970s for its

recreation programs, and ball fields take up most

of the space.

All

American Shows will provide the rides as in the

past, said Snead, and the firm has promised new

rides this year, and still more rides in future

years.

The

new 20,000-sq. ft. exhibit hall will provide more

space for exhibits, and the fair organizers said

they are aware that this means they need the

community's support.

"We

need sponsors, exhibitors, entertainment,

everything," said Snead. The old fairgrounds

had room for only about 20 vendors. Now there

will be room for 70 to 100.

Those

who participate will be guaranteed better traffic

than in the past, too. The exhibit hall will be

set up so that fair visitors must pass by the

exhibits in order to get to the midway, said

Snead. "Every person must walk by that

vendor," she said.

Businesses

and organizations who want to participate can

phone 770-719-3530.

Organizers

also hope to beef up the old-fashioned arts,

crafts and home cooking aspects of the fair this

year. "That's been going downhill,"

admitted VanLand-ingham. "We want the jams

and jellies, arts and crafts back into the fair

big time."

Entries

are free, and winners will receive prizes, said

Snead.

Among

new attractions this year will be:

� An extra student night to

reduce the crowds of teens and make it easier for

them to enjoy the fair. "It was getting so

large, they were lucky if they could ride two or

three rides," said Snead. Two high schools

will be invited one night, and the remaining two

a different night.

� A Wednesday youth rally for

church youth groups, with discounts 5 - 7 p.m.

� A matinee Saturday, Oct. 9,

noon to 5 p.m., aimed at children. "We

wanted to have something special for the

kids," said Snead. "Entertainment and

activities will be focused for them."

The

fair runs Sept. 30 - Oct. 9, with a special

opening ceremony Oct. 2. Hours of operation are

weekdays 6 - 10 p.m. and Saturdays 1 p.m. to

midnight.

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