The 2014 Eastern Montana Fair is coming up on WEDNESDAY 8/20 thru SATURDAY 8/23.

Here is a brochure for the fair:

20140812_EMF_BROCHURE_1 by dave_mcmt, on Flickr

20140812_EMF_BROCHURE_2 by dave_mcmt, on Flickr

They still forgot to mention Saturday they are splitting up the ride all day part. They will have the braclettes for 12-5 and then a second round from 5-11pm. I don't really think that is right but it is what it is.

We are so disappointed in the new schedule. We always have family come spend the day Saturday. This year, by the time they arrive from out of town most of the displays and vendors will be packing up. We always enjoy dinner at the 4-H booth, and then walk around. Not this year. I understand why they did it, but we're still disappointed!

I understand why the change in schedule happened, too, but am also disappointed...

My mother comes from out of town for the Fair every year as well, usually Thursday and Friday. We check out the exhibits and livestock, have supper and go to the rodeo Friday night. She loves the fireworks afterwards as this is the only place we've been to where they do that. Now its a little difficult to go to the rodeo, enjoy that entire event (and I'm NOT talking about partaking in umpteen adult beverages as part of that enjoyment), and have to get up and go to work the next day.

We'll see...am hoping this schedule doesn't end up with the rodeo suffering in the process.

So fill me in, why the schedule change?

We have out-of-state family members that return to Miles City just to partake in the fair - enjoy the exhibits - the fair foods - and visit with friends.

This year due to the change of the schedule....they have cancelled their plans - who looses?? The fair - the vendors - the motel - the restaurants - the gas stations, local retailers, etc.

O.K. - this is only one family that is not coming and dropping approximately $400+ into the local economy....it will only take 10 such cancellations and the local economy is affected by $4,000 - you can do the math for 20 or more such cancellations.....

Hopefully, the Fair Board will change the schedule to include the ENTIRE weekend for the future.

Do you folks remember how many folks complained last year when some of the carnival rides did not come to town? I imagine these were factored into the decision to change dates to accommodate this carnival company coming to the fair. A very nice informative article was published on the front page of the Miles City Star to explain what has been changed and why.

MRH:

I respectfully advise you ~ Not EVERYONE in Custer County gets the Miles City Star.

I don't get the miles city star but I understand the change as well and like the others said am not very happy, I think the fair itself will suffer this year, hope they don't have this schedule next year and change it back to the way it's been for years! Happy fair time to yall though,hope u can enjoy what h do get to go to and make the best of it!

Wendy, there was a scheduling conflict with the Mighty Thomas Carnival that caused the fair to be W-Sa this year. If they stuck with the Th-Su schedule the carnival couldn't be there or would have been a limited set of attractions.

Hopefully the fair can be back on the usual Th-Su schedule next year.

I wonder if Labor Day coming so early this year is what caused the scheduling conflict.

The Star is available at the Miles City Public Library and the article on the Fair was available on-line.

Miles City Star: Some changes at the fair

My understanding is that of the 3 carnival choices in Montana, the Thomas Carnival is the only one to return a portion of its proceeds back to the Fair. Understandably so, the Fair board prefers to use them. Due to a schedule conflict, the carnival can not be here in it's entirety.

So the choice is to go with another carnival, at an increased cost, go with Thomas with the same Fair dates, but have a smaller carnival, or go with Thomas, change the dates and have a full carnival.

I don't know if it will be possible to have Thomas with our usual fair dates next year. I would say to the Fair board, if you can't go with Thomas next year, I would rather pay a bit more at the gates and go with an alternate carnival.

Liz Wheeler

There are very few carnivals and, except for Thomas, the others require $10,000 to $15,000 fees and keeps all proceeds. Thomas returns a portion of the proceeds to the Fair Board. So the numbers involved are not small but tens of thousands of dollars.

Plus the Thomas carnival is a very well-operated, clean carnival and much nicer than some of the others we have had.

The Fair Board thought long and hard about this. It wasn't done to upset people but to make the fair affordable.

The fair is not just about the carnival rides or the night acts. Regardless of what days the fair runs, the 4-H kids will be there with their livestock and exhibits to show off their hard work from the 4-H year. Please make sure you stop by the 4-H building and see all the exhibits...then stop by the barns to see their animals. The 4-H food booth will have some wonderful food (and pies)for you to enjoy also!! Hope to see you all there!

Fair or no fair the 4-H booth is a must have every year!!

MRH:

I respectfully advise you ~ Not EVERYONE in Custer County gets the Miles City Star.

Why the uproar over the frick'n carnival? The flumes and an inner-tube are a much more exciting ride. And they're free. No wrist band needed.

And my mother was spot-on when she called this the Eastern Montana Unfair. Someone always has a complaint and it's not fair.

[This message has been edited by Richard Bonine, Jr. (8/13/2014)]

Richard Bonine, Jr. on August 24, 2013 wrote:

Overheard... "A fair without the Zipper or Ferris wheel is like a baseball game without hot dogs".

http://milescity.com/foru...37/#314923

Well David, I was for it before I was against it.

Richard,

I remember seeing parts of the flumes on the ground next to where they were. Not sure if they were removed or replaced.....

Dang...Dave always has a mind like a steel trap.