Fairgrounds committee: fair drew large crowds; carnival to open Thursdays next year

The Merrill Fairgrounds Committee on Sept. 3 reviewed the recent county fair and called the event largely successful. Committee member (S3) said coverage and public reaction were "very positive" and reported, "I know we had well over 3,000 for Saturday night," which he said helped vendors, particularly transient booths.

Committee member (S3) told the committee that the new carnival received some negative feedback because it did not open Thursdays; operators have indicated they will likely open on Thursdays next year. He also described one incident in which a carnival employee was sent home for intoxication and said the operator was strict about safety and liability. The committee discussed scheduling the fair to avoid overlap with nearby Wausau events next year.