Cheap rides draw fair-goers

Six-year-old Zackery Rexroad wanted to take in all the rides he could Saturday afternoon at the Douglas County Free Fair’s carnival.

But after going on the 1001 Knights ride, which starts out as a slow pendulum motion and eventually twists thrill seekers in a circle that goes 100 feet into the air, Rexroad needed a break.

“I thought I was going to puke,” said the soon-to-be first-grader at Woodlawn School.

His mom, Erica, said Zackery just met the 48-inch height requirement.

“He started with the kiddy rides but then wanted to see what these bigger ones were like,” she said as Zackery spun around.

“I can’t believe he’s so brave.”

For an $8 bracelet, fairgoers could go on all the rides they wanted from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday. During the rest of the carnival, coupons for each ride had to be purchased.

“It’s a good deal,” Erica Rexroad said. “He’s been on all the rides.”

The Rexroads weren’t the only ones taking advantage of the bargain. Casey Sorell brought her two children, Cienna Sorell, 7, and Bryant Flesher, 14, to the carnival.

Liam Elliott, 2 1/2, tosses a ring at Coke bottles at a carnival game at the Douglas County Free Fair. The fair wraps up today at the 4-H Fairgrounds.

“My husband wanted to bring the kids out,” Sorell said. “It’s something fun to do.”

Cienna said her favorite ride at the carnival had been the Cliffhanger, a ride where you lie on your belly and spin around.

“It was really fun,” she said. “It felt like I was flying.”

The hot weather, which reached into the high 80s Saturday, was starting to take its toll on the family by 3 p.m.

“We’re probably on our way out; it’s getting pretty hot,” Casey Sorell said.

7 a.m.-10 a.m.: All exhibits released11 a.m.: State Fair entries due in Extension Office1 p.m.: Pony pull, Rodeo Arena2 p.m.-4 p.m.: Livestock buyers reception, Building 213 p.m.: Awards ceremony, Community Building4:30 p.m.: 4-H livestock auction, Community Building

At the pony ride area, Katerina Cooper, 2 1/2, went on her first-ever horse ride.

“She’s so excited,” said her father, Brian, Lawrence.

Katerina’s grandmother, Maria Glez-Vallejo, came from Topeka to enjoy the fair with the girl. The family had just come from the petting zoo.

“She loved the rabbits, the chickens, the cows,” Glez-Vallejo said. “It’s wonderful for children to be around animals; I think (the fair) is great.”

Other events at the fair Saturday included photography, livestock and dairy judging contests, a pedal tractor pull, a dog agility exhibition and concerts by Dixie Road, Ricochet and Dierks Bentley.