All of the lights: A look inside the South Florida Fair
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Annually, the South Florida Fair illuminates the 100-acre grasslands that connects a majority of Southern Blvd. in West Palm Beach.
From signs listed as far south as Miami and as far north as Palm Bay County; the South Florida Fair brings in millions of Florida’s own citizens, tourists, and more. The two-week extravaganza usually takes place in January; and is a staple among the Palm Beach residents and businesses nearby.
The nighttime brings out the largest crowd, as families bring their children after a long work and school day.
The mile-long walk from the local BJ’s Wholesale Club parking lot on Southern Blvd. leads jumpy children, eager teenagers, and confused parents down a dark alleyway behind Loxahatchee Road Prison and the Atlantic Work Release Center to the Palm Beach Fairgrounds.
Adrenaline starts to build in the children as the faint sounds of the fair can be heard along the walk as the line starts to slow. Suddenly, moans over wait times echo as children pester their parents and pull at their seams.
Nicholas Orlando, 36, a Palm Beach resident and yearly fairgoer, expressed optimism over the annual event.
“The fair, although expensive at times, is viable for tourism and businesses in the community,” Orlando explained. “Of course, the way people lose money are through the rigged little events where people win prizes.”
Orlando mentioned the various tents where people pay to play games at an attempt to win various prizes — stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes — in tiered formats, where one pays to continue winning at the expense of forsaking a smaller prize.
The bright lights shine in the eyes of children as they eagerly awaited a ride that made the butterflies in their stomach soar with excitement. Groups of adolescent teenagers are seen running from ride to ride, making the most use of their time as the lines increased with attendees.
The South Florida Fair aims at preserving and promoting agriculture, trade, entertainment, and the historical heritage of the South Florida community.
Due to the fair’s registry as a nonprofit corporation, it relies on the volunteer work of various organizations to run the event’s daily activities. One of those organizations is 4-H, where Elizabeth Hunter supervised her volunteer team.
Hunter, 18, had been a yearly volunteer for the South Florida Fair and 4-H since 2012 and expressed optimism over the Fair’s attempts at inclusion for all prospective applicants.
“I believe that the South Florida Fair gives a positive impact for homeschooled children like myself,” Hunter said.
Hickory smoke ballooned from the many tents serving fresh turkey legs and chicken gyros as hungry fairgoers shoveled in mounds of food. Volunteer grillers swatted at their face with the back of their palms as the flames reignited over the freshly seasoned second round of food.
The bright lights, inviting sounds and smells of the South Florida Fair did not spare itself from controversy, as minor scuffles between groups had to be separated before escalation. Visibly disgusted, fairgoers reacted negatively by throwing food or throwing tantrums while security and other patrons intervened.
Some Palm Beach residents condemned the fair, including resident Nathan Kruedelbach. Kruedelbach, 29, pointed out many inconsistencies that cause the South Florida Fair’s namesake to be tarnished.
“It’s a circus to get in there,” he demonstrated, while throwing his hands into the air. “The fair is unsanitary, the food at the fair is unsanitary, and they keep animals in cages.”
Kruedelbach also voiced his concerns over the audience that the fair targets, stating that the fair trails to poverty-stricken citizens as a money magnet.
“[The fair] is a watering hole for Jerry Springer people,” Kruedelbach complained.
Other residents chalked up their experiences at the South Florida Fair to be enjoyable, such as resident and student Michelle Angell. Angell, 18, pulled out her phone, showing multiple photos and videos of her friends laughing on a spinning ride.
“I love the fair, [it’s] my favorite time of the year,” Angell exclaimed. “Who thinks the fair is a distraction or bad?”
Angell sided with those whom agreed that the South Florida Fair promoted a variety of business and culture inside the Coral Sky Amphitheatre, where business stands could be seen offering exclusive discounts to customers.
“[The fair] is good for groups, good for promoting businesses, and overall just good for the community,” Angell said.
The amphitheatre buzzed with noise as various tents shouted deals over one another to capture prospective new clientele. Representatives from multiple major companies such as Sleep Number, Xfinity, and T-Mobile were offering exclusive residential discounts that were drawing in massive crowds of adults that managed to escape while their children frolicked in the fairgrounds.
As the night drew to a close, certain tents and rides started to dim their lights and pack up their machinery. Relieved volunteers are seen opening bottles of Coca Cola and cheering to another finished workday. The sight of children yawning alerted parents to gather up and start to depart the fairgrounds.
Upon leaving, guides gathered at the exit to help direct tired fairgoers to the multiple charter busses to and from their vehicle with wide smiles and open hands. Multiple fairgoers echoed that they will be returning in 2021.
The guides smiled and gleefully replied while waving goodbye.
“We’ll be here waiting for you!”
