Limestone Countians who relish memories of attending county fairs as a child can relive their youth next week as the Limestone County Summer Fair comes to town.

The fair runs from Tuesday through Saturday at the Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena on Alabama 99. Gates open at 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $3, while ride armbands are $15. Children ages 2 and under are admitted free.

Rides and attractions are being furnished by Clanton-based Kissel Entertainment. The business sets up carnival rides in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio.

Promoter Keith Hamby of Event EZ said the arena hosted a carnival last year, but he hopes this year’s event is the stepping stone to bringing back the true county fair experience. To that end, he’s been talking with various community representatives and agricultural leaders to get them on board.

“The Limestone County Fair went away because the Jaycee’s went away, and there was no organization that stepped up to take its place,” said Hamby, a Blount County native. “This year we’re rebuilding and it will be more of a fair than last year.”

Some added attractions designed to enhance the fair-like atmosphere this year are more food vendors, a petting zoo and live entertainment. Local band The Flashbacks will play from 7-9 p.m. Saturday.

Food options will include traditional fair like chicken on a stick, corn dogs and funnel cakes. Other vendors will offer gourmet hamburgers, red beans and rice and seafood gumbo.

“We’re really trying to improve the variety of food choices,” Hamby said.

Safety a priority

The fair comes to Limestone County following a spate of ride-related accidents in other states. On Aug. 7, a 10-year-old child was killed on a giant water slide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas.

A day later, three children were seriously injured after falling more than 30 feet from a Ferris wheel at a county fair in Green County, Tennessee. On Aug. 11, a 3-year-old child fell from a roller coaster ride at an amusement park near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Hamby said he’s aware safety is first and foremost on a lot of parents’ minds, especially considering Alabama is one of six states that does not have mandatory ride inspections. He explained, however, that he’s known Kissel Entertainment since 2009 and regards the group to be one of the safest in the industry.

“They take their time to do their inspections and start their midway rides about an hour before the fair opens,” Hamby said. “They put the workers on their rides and put them through their paces and do inspections several times each day.”

More importantly, he said, Kissel Entertainment provides background checks on all its employees, including drug screening. Food vendors are inspected by the Limestone County Health Department.

For more information, visit http://www.kisselentertainment.com or http://www.eventez.net.