Cleveland County Fair Association — Local services in Shelby

Went with a friend on a Friday. Food was good, most food vendors were nice. Entertainment was enjoyable. Some rude staff. Highlighted several negative interactions below: the worst was the ride staff at the Tornado. This is a ride that spins in way where you are thrown up against the person you are sharing a seat with. There is room for 4 riders per car, 2 per seat. I rode the first time early in the day before crowds. I sat down in my car as a single rider. 3 people came on behind me, the ride attendant was very rude in trying to force one of them to share a seat with me. Again this ride throws you up against one another, you are basically on top of the other person. The lady tried to explain that she did not know me and was uncomfortable with that. The ride staff would not listen and got an attitude. She refused to ride. Her son stayed on. They then proceeded to try and force me and him to share a seat. Completely inappropriate considering how close the ride forces you to get. Thankfully he stood his ground and told them no. Ride ran with over 8 empty cars so it wasn’t even crowded. Turned me off so much I would not ride again until a few hours later. Tried riding again, they did the same thing, forced me to share a seat with a young teenage girl I had never met who was half my size. I squished her badly the entire ride. So uncomfortable and inappropriate to force strangers to share a seat when the ride forces that level of closeness, especially male and female. I would not ride again after that for fear of being forced into an even more awkward situation. Man who checked my ticket was rude. I bought an advance armband. Due to poor advertising on their website I was under the impression this included admission. He scanned my barcode, told me it wasn’t working, and accused me of trying to use my ticket twice. He was rude from the start. The issue was that my barcode was an armband code, it did not include admission, something I was unaware of and the nice lady beside us took the time to look at and explain to me. She then helped me to purchase an admission ticket as well. Thankfully she stepped in. Went to redeem my armband at the armband booth around 3:30. About 4 workers sitting back there chatting. Stood there for over 5 minutes with nobody acknowledging us. They did not seem to speak English. My bilingual friend eventually asked them if I could get my armband that I had prepaid for. They said they could not give me my armband until 4. Not sure why we were not acknowledged sooner to be informed of this considering we were clearly standing there for help. We ordered food and noticed the man serving it to us had a bleeding wound on his arm. I am sure he just didn’t notice but still. Overall fun time but those negative incidents were a...

I am an annual Supporter of the Cleveland County Fair..but Saturday, October 5, 2024 might be my final visit to this event.

My grandchildren and I were told that we had to purchase admission to the rides from the "Ticket" booth. I spoke with a woman at that counter who said with disinterest, "they are not selling anymore wristbands." Shocked, I asked why and was told that those sales ended at 2p. What???!!!

As I stood there with two very disappointed grandchildren by my side, I looked at my watch and it was 2:22 p. There was no sign to alert that sale process or ANY OPTIONS available in return.

To make matters worse, I just spoke with an employee at the Cleveland County Fair Association who informed me that I could have purchased individual ride tickets, instead. WHY didn't that woman behind the booth give me that information??? I was just three to four steps away from the side of the counter where those individual tickets were sold!!! Ridiculous.

I knew that something did not sound right about her response from the beginning. Needless to say, my grandchildren and I left that huge Fair with just a "tour" of the grounds and a funnel cake that we shared earlier.

No more for me. If people are hired with little-to-no training and/or faulty communication skills and information for the Public, the event/venue/attraction is not worthy of another dollar of mine - nor the time on the road that I spent getting my family to the location.

This Fair is crossed off my...

Cleveland County Fair was the best this year. Better ppl operating rides,they were checking heights for children before getting on rides. Securing them more in the rides. It seemed to be a lot cleaner. Some interesting animals this time around. Good variety of rides for different ages of children too. The only thing that really was upsetting was the food prices. Candy apples $9, Cotton Candy $10 small bag & $12 for large. Then, plain funnel cake w only powdered sugar for topping $10. We told the kids that if they would wait till after the Fair, we would take them to Golden Corral to eat. Nothing but Happy faces, they love eating there. Cotton candy and ice cream are there, too. Had more trolleys this year taking ppl to the gates from the free parking on the Fair side. We choose to wall. One thing that I really loved seeing. A security officer taking all keys, pocketbooks, and coats looking thru them. Then, you had to walk thru a metal detector scan before even reaching the ticket booth. If you had any knives or such, not 6 had to walk back to your cars and leave them there. out after being there an while an riding. That it's more advantage to you to purchase advance discount arm band tickets instead of buying when you get to the fair. Due to they have an cut off time for riding rides when you buy them there. 4pm-7pm. But, with advance arm band tickets already bought, they were good for all night. So that was a blessing. Kids enjoyed it, and we...