By Karen Bloom
There's something for everyone at the 11-day festival, which is expected to draw over 150,000 people from Thursday, June 12 through Sunday, June 22. Friendly's Nassau County Fair, presented by Newsday, in association with Washington Mutual and Optimum Online, returns to the south parking lots of Nassau Coliseum for it's 15th year.As always, there are exhilarating rides, games of skill and chance, free family entertainment, a variety of fair foods, petting zoo, and barnyard animals. Visitors can enjoy "the best of the midway," which features over 40 big-thrill rides. Choose from the Gentle Giant, 110-foot high ferris wheel; "Sling Shot," in which riders are strapped in a chair and shot up 105 feet in the air in 2 seconds and then free fall to the ground; "Powersurge;" and the 50-foot high giant carousel with 60 jumping horses. There are plenty of rides for the younger set as well, in Kiddie Land. Children will find "Cliff Hanger - a simulated hang gliding ride, "Bear Affair," "Berry-Go-Round," "Crazy Bus," "Safari Train," "Orient Express" rollercoaster," "Dizzy Dragons," and a pirate ship.Beyond the rides, another popular attraction is "Jets Fest." The New York Jets are making their third appearance at the fair, with their interactive NFL theme park. It features inflatable games and activities centered around football skills. Jets players will also be in attendance.There will be a special event on opening weekend, Saturday, June 14, "The Supersonic Art Roadshow, presented by Washington Mutual. Visitors will find out how paint can fly in this high-energy performance by artist Michael Israel. Featured on NBC News, he makes a "masterpiece in minutes," using hands, brushes, martial arts moves, and music. A fair first, the Basketball Playing Chickens, Michelle and Denise, will challenge fairgoers to a hoop-shooting contest from their outside cages.Audiences also will be entertained by the Fearless Flores Thrill Circus. This group performs amazing stunts high on a flying trapeze, including the Globe of Death, where motorcycle stunt riders cross and chase each other inside a large metal globe. According to fair organizers, "you've to see it to believe it."More thrills await from the Maximum Velocity BMX Bicycle Stunt Team. They present a combined ramp and "flatland" show with extreme stunt riding. Then, there are those barnyard animals, a family favorite, under three large tents. There will be a petting zoo, of course, and the opportunity to feed and learn about several breeds of dairy cows, beef cows, calves, horses, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, rooster, oxen, sheep, zebu, ponies, and more. The children will be able to milk a cow and watch baby chicks hatch.The fair opens at 6 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $7 (children 6 and under are free). There are additional fees for rides, games and food. Discount coupons and pay-one-price ride specials are available daily.Let's hope the weather improves this month so we can all get out and have some fair fun.
