Faircracker SPRING 2021
South Florida Mini Fair Declared a Success By Doreen Poreba
Due to the challenges presented by COVID-19, all fair industry eyes
were on the South Florida Mini Fair in West Palm Beach as it kicked off on January 15 and continued through January 31, 2021. Originally, organizers of the annual South Florida Fair had announced
in November 2020 that they would be moving forward with their full- fledged fair. But as the coronavirus numbers began to rise both locally and nationwide, they stepped back and took an- other look. The result: They would plan and present a scaled back version of their fair, thus, the South Florida Mini Fair. “We felt it was the responsible thing to do,” said Vicki Chouris, the fair’s president and CEO. “Hosting a scaled back,
outdoor version of our traditional fair still allowed our guests to enjoy a fun-filled event. Our new theme became ‘Mini but Mighty with Maximum Fun.’” Chouris and her team put a number of COVID-19 safety protocols in place, requiring facial coverings at all times, ex-
cept when eating or drinking. Adult rides were eliminated to reduce crowd sizes and all activities took place outdoors. The mini fair still presented all of the typical “fried-everything” fair foods and beverages, a variety of local and tribute
bands performing daily, shopping opportunities with vendors under a large tent, racing pigs, a giant sand sculpture, strolling entertainers, farm animals, and visiting the historic buildings of Yesteryear Village. The fair team also put an incentive in place for fairgoers: Buy a ticket to the mini fair online and get in free on a Tues-
day, Wednesday or Thursday to a full-fledged fair May 7-23. That’s right. The team decided to move forward with its traditional fair in the spring, thereby holding two fairs in one year for the first time in its 109-year history. Just how did fairgoers respond to the mini fair? The mini fair attracted fewer guests than its typical fair—which was the whole point of presenting a scaled back ver-
sion due to COVID. However, more people attended than what organizers projected, which could signify a good sign for other upcoming fairs. Marla Calico, president and CEO of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, attended the mini fair to
observe how others in the fair industry can safely hold their own fairs. She conducted several Facebook Live events during the mini fair to share tips with all of IAFE members in the US and abroad. “The South Florida Fair team proved that a fair can be safely held during these challenging times of a pandemic,” said
Calico.
Congratulations Graduates of IAFE Institute of Fair Management
Cheryl Flood Jeff Shreaves, CFE
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