RIDES GO UP AT ARENA PARK

The rides for the SEMO District Fair were erected at Arena Park Wednesday night. With a couple days of fine tuning, they will be ready to go when festivities begin Sunday.

Workers with Astro Amusements of Crystal Lake, Ill., went to work at around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday setting up the 25 rides plus the numerous games and concession stands that will line the midway.

The 140th annual SEMO District Fair starts at noon Sunday and runs through Saturday, Sept. 16.

Steve Thebault, owner of Astro Amusements, said it takes about six to eight hours for the crew of 65 workers to get the rides in place and operating. After that, workers will spend a couple days cleaning and checking the equipment in preparation for the fair.

A number of new rides are included in the lineup this year. Among those are the Firedancer, Pharaoh's Fury, the High Roller and the Backlash. While some are variations of traditional carnival rides, some are completely new. One such ride, the Backlash, is the only one of its kind operating out of Illinois, Thebault said.

"You'll have to wait and see it," Thebault said when asked to describe it. "It's wild."

Prices for tickets vary from ride to ride, but on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday fair patrons can buy bracelets for $10 and ride an unlimited number of times. Bracelets can be purchased at the fair and are good only on the day of purchase.

Also, Friday is Tiny Tots Day. From 1 to 5 p.m. $5 bracelets are available for use on the kiddie rides only.

This is the third year that Astro Amusements has operated the SEMO District Fair midway. Thebault said in the past he has done a good business at the fair.

"Last year was very good, and the year before that was not bad," he said. "We were rained out one day, but for a seven-day fair that is not bad. Overall it's a good fair."