New Broward County Fair Opens In Pembroke Pines
PEMBROKE PINES (CBS4) - Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Broward County Fair is back bigger and better than ever with rides, booths and entertainment all set in a new home.
The All New Broward County Fair opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the City Center site (next to the Pembroke Pines City Hall) on Pines Boulevard just east of the Pembroke Lakes Mall.
This year's midway will feature fifty rides including a giant ferris wheel and 'wild mouse' roller coaster. Entertainment includes The World Famous Wallendas thrill show, the Kazoobie Kazoo Show with Rick Hubbard, concerts, daily contests, a sports bar tent, and student agriculture and animal exhibits.
Special events for this year will include:
Nov. 24th - Step Competition at 6 p.m.
Nov. 26th - Miss Broward County Fair pageant at 7 p.m.
Nov. 27th - Jeep & 4x4 Show and Talent Competitions
Nov. 28th – Cheerleading Competition at 2 p.m.
Nov. 30th - Bike Show
Dec. 1st – Drumline Competition
Dec. 2nd – Miller's Miami Heat Watch Party at 8 p.m.
Dec. 3rd – Boomer & senior Lifestyle Expo
Dec. 4th – Classic Car Show
Dec. 5th – Latin Night
The fair, which is celebrating its 35th year, will run through December 5th.
The 2010 version will be very different from the ultra-stripped down fair of last year when there were no rides, no fair food or games of skill. The fair, held at the Pompano Citi Center in Pompano Beach, was set inside the mall, a first for a Florida county fair. The only county fair in the state of Florida without a permanent home, fair organizers were unable to find a place to hold a traditional fair with a midway and concessions. Complicating things were the poor economy; the not-for-profit Broward County Fair had been hit severely by the economic downturn.
Economic downturn also played a factor in their home this year in Pembroke Pines.
In 2003, the city bought 115 plus acres of land off Pines Boulevard to prevent piecemeal development. City Center was supposed to be a huge complex of residences, hotels, a museum, an amphitheater, offices, shops, restaurants and green areas center around a central plaza. But then the real estate market collapsed and the economy took a major downturn and no major developer made a bid to make the city's dream project a reality.
