Weather cancels fair again

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — For the second time since it opened last week, the Cape Fear Fair & Expo is closed due to bad weather. That’s affecting revenue for the fair.

Business is already down because of the slumping economy. Fair manager Skip Watkins says that if it’s going to rain then this is a day for it, because weekday revenue is usually less than weekend revenue.

Last year the Cape Fear Fair & Expo brought in about 40,000 people for its entire run at the Wilmington International Airport. So far this year the total stands at about 28,000, but Watkins says there is a silver lining to all this.

“With the good weather coming tomorrow and the ground crews coming tomorrow and Saturday, we will probably recover the people we lose tonight since they have two more nights to come,” Watkins said.

The ground crews Watkins mentioned will pump water out from the fairgrounds as early as tonight. Then they will spread wood shavings, so that when you come out to the fair tomorrow you’ll be nice and dry.

The fair opens at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the “Fairport” and will remain open till 2 a.m. for Midnight Madness. Tickets are $16. That gets you parking, entry and unlimited rides. For more information visit http://www.capefearfair.com.