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Elliott_Davis's Blog

by Elliott_Davis from St. Louis

Last Post 30 days, 5 hours Ago

Fair with no Air Show.

Jul 5, 2008 | 3:19 PM
Category: News

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I remember when the fFair St. Louis started..I'm glad the tradition is continuing.

I think one ot the most unfortunate decisions though is the elimination of the popular Air Show.

That ws my main reason for going to the fair for many years. The Air show was a real crowd pleaser and gave folks a chance to see military aircraft they'd never seen before..

It ws also a real inspriation for kids, who may have dreamed of being pilots, and for taxpayers who could see what some of their defence dollars are paying for..And be entertained.

It seems without the Air Show the Fair has lost a lot of it's luster. I understand that in this time of tight budgets something had to go..

But it's a shame the most popular offering, next to the fireworks ,was eliminated.

Perhaps that's one of the reason for the dwindling crowds.

Maybe one day they'll bring the air show back..I for one miss it.

15 Comments | Add a Comment

Jul 5, 2008 | 5:11 PM

The air show was a great part of the fair, but the fair is not what it use to be. It use to be fun, but vendors got greedy and over priced their merchandise. They took away the rides for the teens and kids and the shows started going down hill. If you want to make money you have to spend money. IMO the fair isn't worth my time or money anymore.

Jaydog

Jul 5, 2008 | 5:37 PM

If I had ever went to the fair I would really miss them having the air show, but I never went, way to many people for me.

asmerelda

Jul 5, 2008 | 6:25 PM

I agree with Cuteypops

The fair is overpriced and toooooo crowded for me.

White_Shadow_Photog

Jul 5, 2008 | 6:46 PM

I for one will greatly miss the air show, it was a photographers haven to capture our military aircraft past and present in flight and on the ground!

Elliott_Davis

Jul 5, 2008 | 8:36 PM

Great Pics!!!

jeanette

Jul 6, 2008 | 2:42 AM

We would see the plane's if we were crossing poplar street bridge. Yeah never been to the fair way to many people for me,

mechany144

Jul 6, 2008 | 6:57 AM

I'm with you on this one Elliott. And now that the county fair and airshow is history we will have to wait for Whitemann or Scott AFB to have one I guess. Or for the CAF to have one sometime near us.
That is one of the coolest pics I have ever seen of a Corsair. Mean looking mother ain't it?

Exerciser999

Jul 6, 2008 | 6:58 AM

did they stop the air show because of national security reasons? i cant see them being removed because of the expense for the military has no concren on that issue.

mechany144

Jul 6, 2008 | 8:43 AM

The military aircraft were a small part of the show. The private owned aircraft made up the large part and the cost just got to much for the fair to afford. Plus the insurance costs.

snoopydad24

Jul 6, 2008 | 10:15 AM

Having worked the fair as a member of the Command Team for fifteen years I can tell what killed the air show is the hotel at the Casino Queen. The flight box was between Eads Bridge and the Poplar Street Bridge and the hotel is near the middle and very close to the river. The first year the hotel was complete several of the windows had to be replaced from the vibration the jets caused while flying over. Even though pilots were instructed to stay in the middle of the river the chance of a jet crashing into the hotel would be a nightmare for the Fair. The decision was made to use older planes and have a few fly bys with some more modern aircraft.

Sorry to disappoint you Cutey but the prices the vendors were charging at Fair St. Louis was no more or less than what they would charge at other community fairs.

snoopydad24

Jul 6, 2008 | 10:16 AM

What actually killed Fair St. Louis was 9-11-2001. The following summer from talking with the vendors all the fairs they were attending had low attendance. Not to mention the National Park Service instituted new security checkpoints and checking everyone for explosives, guns, knives, etc. The first year was horrible with long lines and lots of complaints. The second year (2003) was much better but we had a very weak Entertainment Chairman and tried to only use local acts. In 2003 there were literally more volunteers (white shirts) than fair goers. 2004 things got better bringing in national acts again but the weather didn’t cooperate but the fair did break even. 2005 actually made money and were back to pre 9-11 financial status.

But something needed to be done the attract people back to the Fair. Community fairs had a surge in attendance post 9-11 without national entertainment and air shows. Also enter “Live on the Levee” who was seeing the attendance levels that were the same from the days of the Mississippi River Festival. The VP Foundation (who actually runs Fair St. Louis) decided to join forces with “Live on the Levee” and now we have Fair St. Louis/Celebrate St. Louis/Live on the Levee that now last for six weekends instead of three days featuring a combination of local and national entertainment for free on the levee (except this year due to the flood is located at Soldier’s Memorial).

snoopydad24

Jul 6, 2008 | 10:16 AM

At the announcement meeting Missy Slay announced that Fair St. Louis and Celebrate St. Louis were joining forces. She also announced that there will no longer be any more activities on the Arch grounds. I was standing next to the Director of the arch grounds (sorry can’t remember her name) and a couple other NPS Rangers we all just went “WHAT” in amazement to the announcement. As much as the NPS found Fair St. Louis a challenge they welcome the chance to have the people come onto the grounds. Even NPS had two large tents that talked about the history of the arch as well as the National Park Service. Needless to say everyone was shocked. There were so many community booths who used the Fair St. Louis as their yearly fundraiser for many years (some were there since the beginning in 1981). Not to mention other community groups who got donations from the VP Foundation for their participation at the Fair. Plus the NPS would get a gift from the VP Foundation for being allowed to hold the event under the arch. The NPS gift was in addition to repairing the grounds after the Fair was over. Some of the NPS gifts included updating the grounds sprinkler system, new trees, lighting and sidewalk and step repair to name a few.

snoopydad24

Jul 6, 2008 | 10:17 AM

Now only a few of the many community groups are “allowed” to sell during the weekly concerts. Family Fun Village was brought back after a year’s absence. The little kids needed something to do while waiting and during the concerts. Most teens who attended were actually listening to the music. Not much was needed for them.

That pretty much covers what happened with Fair St. Louis.

Cuteypops

Jul 6, 2008 | 8:09 PM

Well sorry to disillution you Snoopydad. I was refering to why me and my family quit going and those were the reasons. The fair just got boring period!

Labrat636

Jul 8, 2008 | 7:58 AM

And they killed the air show at Spirit of St.Louis airport as well as the St.Louis County Fair for Labor Day.
I haven't been to the VP fair since they quit allowing coolers down there. They can keep their coupons and overpriced crap. I have memmories of sitting on the old courthouse steps watching the AV-8B Harrier hover around the Arch like a big bug in the sky.

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Elliott_Davis

I'm a reporter at Fox 2 News, specializing in investigative journalism with the 'You Paid For It segment'. I'm also a weekend anchor and reporter. I'm a St. Louis native, graduate of Vashon High School, Cornell University, and the father of a teenage daughter. I enjoy reading, chess, and exposing public officials wasting your money.

Member Since: 9/13/2006

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