Agenda - 11-21-2013 - Information Item 6-H

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2 Some Initial Thoughts on a Possible Orange County Fair At their 2013 annual retreat, the Board of County Commissioners discussed the idea of developing an Orange County Fair. A county fair could provide an opportunity to celebrate the many unique historical, social, cultural and creative aspects of Orange County. In addition to an opportunity for all residents to connect together as a county, a fair can become an economic development resource that can draw visitors from across the region. The Board of Commissioners established a preliminary working group to conduct initial research into the feasibility, opportunity, and potential benefits and costs of a county fair. This preliminary group includes Commissioners Mark Dorosin and Renee Price, county staff from the parks and recreation, asset management, and economic development departments, as well as representatives from the Visitor's Bureau and the county extension service. The working group met several times over the summer, and will report back to the Board on November 12. The working group has made some initial progress, but no report to the Board could be complete without direct input from the community, including whether they'd like to have a fair, what a fair should look like, and the best and most practical ways to make our collective vision a reality. Which is why we are here tonight. Here are some specific ideas that have come out of the working group for discussion: For its initial run, the fair would last at least two days, Friday and Saturday. One goal is to encourage local schools to take field trips to the fair during the day on Friday. • The working group initially looked at holding the county fair in the fall, likely in late September. However, in the interest of possibly launching the fair sooner than Fall 2015, the working group also is considering the possibility of launching the fair in Spring 2015, ideally in late April. The working group looked at a number of possible sites, but consensus quickly emerged around the county -owned Blackwood Farm park site on NC 86 as the most viable location. Blackwood Farm was successfully used for the county's 250th anniversary celebration, is centrally located, easily accessible, and big enough to accommodate a fair. While the site will likely need some infrastructure improvements, many of those are already on the county's plan for development of the park. The working group suggested five primary Orange County themes to celebrate with the fair: 1) agriculture, local food and restaurants, 2) the arts and local artists, 3) Orange County's diverse history, 4) schools, education, and youth, and 5) live music. In addition, we hope to have some attractions for children, including traditional and non - traditional rides and games.