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A schedule is available to download here. Daily Shows The 32nd Annual Franklin County Fair kicks off on Thursday, September 9, 2010, with a parade through downtown Greenfield. The parade begins at 5:30 pm by the Greenfield Middle School and ends at the fairgrounds. This year’s theme is "We Sow...We Harvest...We Celebrate ." The parade is very full - there are NO MORE spots for entries. For consideration for the 2011 parade, email Michael Nelson at michaelnelsonmba@hotmail.com
As far back as 1780 in the Austro-Hungarian Empire the Wallenda family was a traveling circus troupe consisting of acrobats, jugglers, clowns, aerialists and animal trainers all in one family. They traveled through the villages of Europe setting up and performing in the city squares and trusted in the generosity of the audience to reward them as they passed the hat around. In the late 1800’s they became known for their expertise in the art of flying trapeze. Karl Wallenda was born in Germany in 1905 and performing by age 6. His feature act was stacking chairs and doing a handstand on the top chair. In the early 1920’s he answered an ad in a trade paper for “an experienced hand balancer with courage”. The job consisted of following behind a wire-walker, Louis Weitzmann, out to the middle of the wire and going a handstand on Weitzmann’s feet as he lay down on the cable. Karl learned the art from him and in 1922 he began to develop his own act. The act toured Europe for many years and featured an amazing 4 person, 3 level pyramid that the family still performs today. The act was hired to work in the “Greatest Show on Earth”. The act made its US debut in Madison Square Garden in 1928, without their safety net which was lost in shipping! They received a 15 minute standing ovation. They became known as the Great Wallendas, and they continue to perform without a net to this day. They headlined with Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Circus throughout the 30’s and 40’s. It was during this time in Akron, Ohio, as they were performing the wire slipped and all 4 members fell from the wire, fortunately they were relatively unhurt. The next day, a reporter who witnessed the accident stated “the Wallendas fell so gracefully that it seemed as if they were flying”, the headline read “THE FLYING WALLENDAS”. That name is still synonymous to the family. In 1944, they were in the middle of their act in Hartford, CT when the infamous fire broke out that took 168 lives, the family was uninjured. The family was no stranger to tragedy, in 1962 in Detroit, their amazing 7 person pyramid collapsed, three men fell. Two of the 3 men who fell died that night; the third was paralyzed for life. The survivors performed again the very next evening in the spirit of the show must go on. Karl would never again perform the 7 person pyramid instead he put together a smaller troupe and became increasing popular doing sky-walks over stadiums including Busch, 3 Rivers and the Astrodome. His most famous walk came in the early 70’s when he crossed Tallulah Falls in George before 30,000 people. In 1978 Karl was killed performing a skywalk in San Juan at age 73. Tino Wallenda, Karl’s grandson and protégé now carries on the family tradition. He and his family, Olinka, his wife with daughter Aurelia and son Alex travel 8 to 10 months per year performing at circuses, fairs, and festivals around the world. They recently returned from Germany’s Circus Roncalli which was named in honor of Pope John VIII. Tino started on the wire at age 7, with Karl training him. At 12 he made his first solo crossing 35 feet off the ground, at 17 he became a full fledged member of the troupe. In additional to their famous high wire act, daughter Aurelia is an aerialist and performs regularly on the cloud swing following in her mother’s footsteps. Alex Wallenda is an accomplished juggler one of the most important skills in the circus today. See the Flying Wallendas at the 2010 Franklin County Fair.
A limited number of driver applications are available for Stoney Roberts Demolition Derby. Sign-up is Saturday, August 28, 2010 from 9:30 to 11 am. at the Franklin County Fairgrounds. Classes will include full size cars, 4 cyl. cars, mini-vans and mini-trucks. The cost is $35.00 (cash, no checks), no refunds. A valid driver's license is needed. Drivers must be 18 years of age (16 years of age with a notarized parental medical statement obtained from Stoney Roberts Headquarters, 888-361-5767). If you have questions, email to info@fcas.com. The Stoney Roberts Demolition Derby events are scheduled for Friday, September 10 , with a Best Appearance Theme - Toy Story 3 and Sunday, September 12, with a Best Appearance Theme - Barnyard, The Original Party Animals (Nickelodeon) beginning at 7:00 pm. Pre-Sale Demo Derby Grandstand Tickets Please note, if you have already purchased tickets for the Friday Demo, the date on the ticket is incorrect. The actual date is September 10. Gray colored tickets with Setember 9 will be accepted at the grandstand. We are sorry for any inconvenience! Demo Derby grandstand tickets will be on sale on Saturday, August 28, at the fairgrounds (Main Gate ticket window) from 9:00 to 11:00 am. Limit 5 tickets per person per demo (Friday & Sunday). Tickets are $5.00 each. A limited quantity will be held for sale on the day of event at the information booth. EVERYONE must have a ticket no matter the age. Also available will be a limited number of "preferred seating" tickets at $10.00 each. You pick what spot you want on the grandstand. You will be allowed to enter the grandstand first and select your seat. To get pre-sale demo derby tickets through the mail: Send a SASE, indicate Friday or Sunday demo, and check to : FCAS - Demo, PO Box 564, Greenfield 01302. No mail sales after8/31. If there are tickets left, they will be sold at the fair office on September 7-8, 2010. A limited number tickets will be held for sale on the day of event. Midway & Wristband Ride Specials Fiesta Shows is offering 3 wristband specials — Thursday, September 10, Friday, September 11, and Sunday, September 13 — unlimited rides between 4:00 pm and close for one price — $20.00 . A discount coupon that saves an additional $3.00 off this price (unlimited rides on any mechanical ride as often as desired - except Bumper Cars) is available at local stores or you may download it here.
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