Medina County Fair — Local services in Medina

First let us not misunderstand this review. “Attending” The Medina County Fair is a “5 star” experience! This review is about trying to live your dream and offer something TO the fair.

My Daughter is passionate about horses, volunteers at a ranch helping children with disabilities to ride horses for confidence. She also loves braiding horse manes and tails and has become quite skilled at it. The person who she reports to suggested with her talents to consider the Medina County Fair. It was an awesome idea as where would we ever find that many horses in one place?

She waited all summer for fair time and we approached the fair office to see how she could gain access to the horse barns possibly hanging or handing out flyers there. We were told “no soliciting” was allowed and we were sent on our way.

I emailed a “contact us” at the Medina County Fair expressing dissatisfaction that the County Fair has no means to let a local Medina High School girl in to do her thing? We were sent a “Section 1711.12 (Certain Activities Forbidden)2 During an Ohio state fair or county or independent agricultural society fair, no person shall cry, hawk, sell, or expose for sale any merchandise…” and not even a name of the person stating this.

It is the FAIR? One week, she is not selling merchandise, trying to set up a lemonade stand or sell cookies. Yes, I get it, do I want to be walking along enjoying my day and be approached by someone saying I look like I need replacement windows? Of course not! But come on, work with us, is there no way to offer something to OUR local County fair?

We were offered no ideas, no suggestions, no one to talk to, could we get some kind of permit? Do not know. I emailed back and asked does this mean we need to “buy a table” like next to the people who sell gutter guard or insurance (I forgot at the time I “think” those buildings are community centers?) but we did not even get a response.

So, in my opinion, the Medina County Fair is a fun place to go, and I am sure they would like you to spend lots of money, but, do not have a dream to fulfill there unless you are part of some large organization that works with them already. It is NOT for us an individual who want to offer anything. It is a shame, sad, and pathetic…it’s the once a year County Fair, but it’s just a commercial, money making machine, with no time for something...

Pros: Parking is plentiful, a lot of food /drink truck options, non amusement ride employees are kind and polite

Cons: Amusement ride workers

PARENTS BEWARE

Gone are the days where you can send your children alone to the amusement park. We were there and this still happened to our children.

We took our 16 and 6 year old to the county fair yesterday to enjoy the demolition derby and some rides. During one ride, a GROWN ADULT ride attendant was lasciviously gawking at our children. We are unsure which one drew his attention as they were both in the same log spinner ride. There were only two families on that ride, one a father and his son, the other our children and every time our girls rode by, he would gawk at them and follow their every move.

My husband and I, of course, said something after the ride was done. Found the ticket people to call their security for their people and nothing was done to the GROWN ADULT MAN other than a “talking to”.

So as a parent, for other parents, watch your kids and be sure to watch them here at this county fair.

Bates Bros amusement

Medina County, I suggest you find someone else to provide rides for your community events to keep our children safe.

See something, say something. Gone are the days we allow silence to...

Update: We went to county fair on 8/02/23 and the kids enjoyed the rides and seeing all the animals and sitting on tractors. They could use more benches for parents and grandparents near the rides though. Prior: We went to the Monster Truck Throwdown at the Medina County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 26, 2021. It was pretty crowded. It was kind of expensive to get in at $86 for 2 adults and 2 small kids. We sat in the general bleachers and that was fine because it was covered and kept the sun off of us. There were a lot of food stands and gift stands so that was good too. The restrooms were clean. The kids had fun. The drivers were nice and took pictures with the kids and signed their shirts....