CLICK TO HEAR JACK HALL’S INTERVIEW WITH UP STATE FAIR MGR MATT VALIQUETTE
The Upper Peninsula State Fair is under new leadership, with Matt Valiquette taking over as the manager of the weeklong event that brings 100,000 visitors to the turnstiles in Escanaba. Valiquette says it’s quite a challenge, but the fact that they just hosted big events like the National Trappers Convention and the Northern Lights Music Festival will provide some lessons learned for the Fair itself later this month.
“It’s a steep learning curve, no doubt,” Valiquette told RRN News. “We’ve got two weeks to turn these grounds back around. We had less tan 48 hours to turn it around between the Music Festival and the Trappers Convention. Those were huge successes. I’m looking forward to it. It’s exciting.”
So, what are they doing to prepare?
“Traffic, making sure our utilities are up to par,” Valiquette said. “There’s a tremendous demand for Internet, electricity, water. And this is a very old infrastructure, so you can imagine the maintenance demands to keep this thing running tip-top.
Valiquette says Skerbick Carnvial is bringing in new rides to keep things fresh, and the grandstand entertainment will be top-notch, with the concert ticket included in the price of fair admission for that day.
“That’s a super-cool deal,” he said.
Valiquette says that besides the carnival rides, food, and concerts, it is still an agricultural fair.
“The advisory committee is working hard to make sure that the animal exhibits are ready to roll,” Valiquette said. “The junior livestock market, that’s a big piece, too. It’s super-exciting to be working with people who are so passioniate about their areas of expertise.”
The U.P. State Fair runs from August 14th through August 20th in Escanaba.
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