8:53 p.m.: Thrill seekers flock to Bracelet Day

By Justin Schneider

July 24, 2008 08:54 pm

— ALEXANDRIA — Zach Hines swung his arms restlessly in anticipation. The hour was drawing near 1 p.m., and already a line had formed outside the Gravitron.
“This is the first ride I’m gonna ride,” said Zach, 13, of the midway thriller that puts riders in the spin cycle. “It goes around really fast. Some people say it makes them sick.”
The normally sleepy morning hours at the Madison County 4-H Fair were roused early Thursday by eager fairgoers bound and determined to get the most for their money. Bound, that is, by bracelets.
Thursday was Bracelet Day at the fair, allowing the strong of stomach to ride unlimited midway rides for a flat fee of $16.
Zach and his cousin Michael Shaver, 15, were part of a 40-person line that snaked back from the Gravitron and around the metal-barred partitions organizing the queue. The pair had designs on the enormous slide and 20-foot basketball shot, but were committed to prioritizing.
“It was definitely the best ride from last year,” Shaver said. “I was hoping they would bring it back.”
Casey McInnis of Elwood made it to the booth by 1:15 p.m., even before most rides were up and running. In addition to riding every ride at the fair, she planned to socialize throughout the afternoon.
“Bracelet Day is the best day of the week because everybody comes,” said 13-year-old Casey. “Almost everyone in my class will be here today. It’s just a lot of fun.”

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