Allegan Fair. (Allegan, MI) September 2015

This will be short. I heard that Carrie Underwood was going to be the headliner at the grandstand at the fair, so I decided to drive down and see if I could get into the concert. I am not a Carrie Underwood fan, but, I do enjoy the fair. But, as soon as I arrived I knew it probably wasn't going to be a good day.

For those of you who are not familiar with the fair, it sits in a valley, and there are only two ways into the fair and two ways out. I decided to arrive 2 hours before the start of the concert, to beat the crowds. But, boy did I misjudge. There were huge lines of cars heading toward the fair, Cedar Point style. I was also very surprised that there was only one lane leaving the fair on one route in. With two lanes going to the fair at the entrance, and the other entrance was only 4 lanes of traffic going to the fair, and none leaving it from there.

So, I sat 45 minutes in the 4 lane route, after trying to turn around to get out of the first route. Parking was also higher at the gate then what was listed on the website, when I arrived at the main gate. $15 for parking, and $12.00 for fair admission. I couldn't afford it, and still get ride and concert tickets. So, I had to turn around, and get in the outgoing lane with everyone else who didn't want to pay, and wait another half hour to leave the fair to find another place to park People were charging up to $20.00 to allow people to park on their lawns. the Cheapest was $10.00. So, I drove about a mile away from the fair, and found a church parking lot, and parked there for free and walked to the fair. Once again, waiting in line with the masses to pay fair admission. An the fair was just crazy packed, body to body, with very little room to move. I have never seen the fair so crowded.

The midway was typical. But, there was a huge lack of thrill rides, as compared to previous years. The only thrill rides they had was the usual Zipper, Hymalaya, drop tower, and a ride similar to the xperience only smaller and faster. The only ride that looked worth the $25.00 pay one price wristband. But, with so many people, it was hard to see who was waiting for a ride, and who was just watching them. Most people were just standing and not moving.

I went up to the Concert venue, and saw that tickets were $95.00 for Carrie at the gate."OH HELL NO!" So, I wondered back through the crowds, and went up onto the hill to watch the concert for free. So, after waiting for 2 hours to see Carrie. I left the fair mostly let down. The sound for the Concert was Terrible, and fair announcements pretty much drowned the concert out. And, the masses of people made it kind of miserable.

I posted this mainly to warn people of what visiting this fair might be like. I have not seen crowds like this since my last trip to Cedar Point. However. I went to see Kiss and Motley Crue at the fair in 2012, and it was a completely different experience. The concert was awesome, with the same huge crowds, but it was better organized, and getting in and out was a breeze. The rides were also better, and there were more of them.

One year the fair had a Top Spin, and a ride called the Typhoon, which was a very fast ride similar to the trioka at Cedar Point, along with the same rides they had for 2015. They also had a Tower Swing. A much better ride than what they had for the 2015 fair. They have had a toboggan coaster almost every year. KISS tickets were $80.00 at the gate, but I bought mine for $25, from a family who had an extra ticket.

I have also seen Poison there, Def Leppard and Joan Jett.

The carnival lineup is usually top notch. Though some years are better than others.

The Fair usually has great entertainment, but prices have sky rocketed in the last 5 years. There are reasonable places in the fair to eat, minus the expensive carnie food. The fair also has a website that lists it's attractions and events. If you want to check it out. That is if you like fairs, and carnival rides. If you like to watch people, you will see them in abundance, unless it rains. then it will most likely be dead.

.... *sigh*

Timber-Rider said:

I heard that Carrie Underwood was going to be the headliner at the grandstand at the fair, so I decided to drive down and see if I could get into the concert. I am not a Carrie Underwood fan, but, I do enjoy the fair.

Let me see if I have this right. You decided to go to the fair because someone you're not a fan of was the headliner, so you wanted to go to the concert of someone you're not a fan of and so you went to the fair because you enjoy the fair, but not the headliner that you're not a fan of that prompted you to go to the fair to see their concert?

...I had to turn around, and get in the outgoing lane with everyone else who didn't want to pay...

Did you get out of your car and survey every other person leaving the fair? Or are you just making an assumption based on your own prejudices?

I have never seen the fair so crowded.

Unless you've been to the fair every day the fair runs, each and every year, what you saw on the one day you were at the fair to see the person you're not a fan of really doesn't mean much.

So, I wondered back through the crowds, and went up onto the hill to watch the concert for free. So, after waiting for 2 hours to see Carrie. I left the fair mostly let down. The sound for the Concert was Terrible, and fair announcements pretty much drowned the concert out.

The sound was terrible and announcements were too loud. Well. You got what you paid for, sitting up on the hill watching the concert for free.

Thank you for posting this I lived in allegan Michigan when I was 6 and 7 and I always remember coming here!

I'm sure the folks who run the church were thrilled to have people parking for "free" there. ;)

And I think it's awesome that the fair was busy. That's makes a good day for the fair, the carnival, the vendors, and Carrie Underwood as well.

Btw, if any of you ever hear that I'm planning to go anywhere at all with Timber-Rider please stop me because I will be about to make a very bad mistake, clearly out of my head or something. Thanks in advance.

In answer to your comments Slither, I did go to the fair to see Carrie Underwood. I like her music, and when I said I was not a fan, I meant I was not as interested in going to the fair to see her, as I was when I went to see KISS and Motley Crue. Or Poison, or Def Leppard and Joan Jett. All bands I have seen at the Allegan fair. Not including Brittany Spears, and many of the other bands who have been there, like Kid Rock, 98 degrees, maroon 5 and others. The following days after Carrie were Lady Antebellum and Fallout Boy.

As for leaving the fair behind others who did not want to pay, I was directed to follow that traffic by fair employees who were directing traffic. People who were in front of me when I arrived were also leaving and following traffic on the way out. So,I was following everyone else. Also, I have never seen four lanes of traffic going to the fair before. Nor have I ever waited 45 minutes in traffic just to get to the gate. the only other place that has happened is at Cedar Point.

As for crowds. I have been going to the Allegan fair since I was a kid, and almost every year since I learned to Drive. I have two Michigan fairs that I try to attend every year. The Allegan Fair, and the Ionia free fair. But, since Ionia has gone downhill, I find the Allegan fair to be the best fair in the state, for rides and shows.

People were walking shoulder to shoulder with very little room to move. And, yes it was the first time I had seen such huge crowds there, and I have been going there since I was 7. I have actually been to the fair more than I have been to Michigan's Adventure. I actually went twice in one week to see the concerts. their midway is top notch. One year they even had a Top Spin, and a drop tower. They also had a ride like the trioka at cedar point, only this one was very fast and went upsidedown. I think it was called the Python or something like that.

It should also be mentioned that the day of the Carrie concert was perfect. Totally clear, and warm during the day, but a little chilly at night. The only thing I remember about the kiss concert, was that all traffic was leaving the fair at the end of the night, and nobody was allowed to drive in.

...*sigh*...

Timber-Rider said:

...I did go to the fair to see Carrie Underwood. I like her music, and when I said I was not a fan, I meant I was not as interested in going to the fair to see her, as I was when I went to see KISS and Motley Crue.

Okay, but I'm sure you understand there's a bit of distance between "I like her music" and "I am not a Carrie Underwood fan".

Also, I have never seen four lanes of traffic going to the fair before. Nor have I ever waited 45 minutes in traffic just to get to the gate. the only other place that has happened is at Cedar Point.

Okay, but unless you're there every day of the fair, what you've "never seen" is anecdotal.

And, yes it was the first time I had seen such huge crowds there, and I have been going there since I was 7.

See above.

Did you have to park Mid-Carrie?

I'd park there.

No tekwardo I parked Mid Allegan. About 2 miles from the fair. I walked to the fair.