[Image: Carnival Ride]The Mighty Thomas Carnival will appear at the The Rapides Parish Fair on the Rapides Parish Fairgrounds on Wednesday, October 14, 2009. The traveling show will provide thrilling rides, fun games and tasty carnival treats on the Coliseum fairgrounds for the 28th straight year. New featured attractions on the midway this year include the brand new Barnyard from Zamperla in Italy, a big red spinning barn that seats members of the whole family; the Super Shot thrill ride, a new attraction that lifts excited passengers 75 feet and drops the carriage in a breathtaking two-second free-fall, with magnetic braking slowing the carriage safely to the bottom platform. Super Shot is built by A.R.M. Manufacturing in Ohio. The new Wiggle Wurm is a family ride for kids and adults to ride together, featuring early bird cars chasing the worm cars.
Other Highlights of the Rapides Parish Fair Include:
Special Promotions for Thomas Carnivals
Carnival rides kick off on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, at 4 p.m. A single ticket is $1 or 30 tickets are $25. All rides require two, three, four or five tickets, as posted. You can get 50 percent off ticket prices during the advance ticket sale at KQID Radio. This ticket sale ends at noon on Thursday, October 15. Thurday Night is Date Night - two ride for the price of one. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday you can ride an unlimited number of rides for a special price when you purchase an armband. A food bank donation will take $3 off the armband price. See more detailed information below in related files.
Cheerleading Competition
The Cheerleading Competition is open to all schools in Rapides Parish. It will take place on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, at 5:30 p.m. inside the Rapides Parish Coliseum. The Louisiana Pecanettes will make a special guest apperance. Admission will be $5.
Live Entertainment on the Louisiana Lottery Stage
Live Entertainment will take place on the Louisiana Lottery Stage starting on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. with Red Neck Karoake. On Thursday there will be more live music, Friday and Saturday will have Reggie Ducote. The Glory Bound Cloggers will also be featured on Saturday. Most of the entertainment kicks off at 5:30 p.m. All the events on the Louisiana Lottery Stage are free. For more information on start times call 318-767-3968.
Senior Citizen's Day
This annual event will take place Friday, October 16, 2009, inside the Rapides Parish Coliseum. Seniors 60-plus and nursing home residents can attend. There will be continuous entertainment, health screening, door prizes and awards, and snacks will highlight the morning! You must have a ticket to attend and to recieve a free lunch. Tickets can be purchased at any of the 12 Senior Citizens Centers or by calling 318-487-1561. The deadline for obtaining tickets is Friday, October 9, 2009. The event is sponsored by Charles Wagner-Rapides Parish Sheriff, James "Jam" Downs - Rapides Parish District Attorney, Carolyn Ryland- Rapides Parish Clerk of Court, Ralph Gill- Rapides Parish Tax Assessor, and James Byrd - Alexandria City Marshall.
Rapides Parish 4-H and Non 4-H Pet Show and Dog Show
The Pet Show and Dog Show will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2009, inside the Rapides Parish Coliseum. The Pet Show starts at 1:30 p.m. and the Dog Show at 2 p.m. The pet and dog shows are open to Rapides Parish residents only. In the Pet Show, any type of pet may be shown -- as long as it can be handled or controlled by the individual. The pet must belong to the exhibitor. The pet must be a living, breathing animal. In the Dog Show, 4-H members must enter their dogs in the 4-H division. Non-4-H members must enter their animals in the Non 4-H Division (ages 4-18). Only for the 4-H Dog Show will the junior and senior divisions be divided as follows: Junior Division will include grades 4-7, and Senior Divison will include grades 8-12. More information is provided below.