As the 39th Kingdom of Callaway County Fair kicked off Monday for a week long run at the Callaway Fair Grounds in Fulton, an attraction returning for the first time in 20 years is the hot air balloon rides offered by Balloon Stormers.
Ron Cox, member of the Kingdom of Callaway County fair board, said one balloon will be a multicolored tether balloon and the other will be clown themed. On the fair's website, the clown balloon's name is listed as "Coco the clown," and the balloon resembles a giant clown face.
When asked why the hot air balloons are coming back to this year's fair after 20 years, Cox said, "Well, they just called us and asked if they could come back up here and we told them, "Well, yeah. We'd be glad to have you.'"
Cox said he expects the balloon rides to attract a lot of fair goers when the balloons take to the sky at 5 p.m. Wednesday. He said balloon rides will last a few minutes and cost $10 per person. They will only be offered Wednesday night. Cox also said people should stick around for the "balloon glow," which will start after dark.
"They (the balloons) got a fire inside of them and they'll light the fires up and show the colors inside the balloons and they'll show different colors," Cox said.
Hot air balloons won't be the only things feeling the heat at the fair Wednesday. In the next few days, Mid-Missourians will experience some of this year's hottest temperatures. According to local weather reports, today will mark the hottest day of 2015, with temperatures projected to stay in the high 90s most of the day. Those attending the fair this evening won't feel cooler temperatures until about 8 p.m., when temperatures will finally dip into the high 80s. Heat indices will make the heat seem more sweltering, as the heat index could reach 109 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Cox said the fair is prepared for the excessive heat.
"We've got a lot of places to shade out here," Cox said. "We've got pavilions and stuff, the beer garden pavilion. We've got the red barn where the arts and crafts are at - we'll have fans in there. We're gonna have vendors with lots of drinks, water and stuff like that."
Cox doesn't expect the heat to influence the number of people attending the fair, and he expects about 10,000 people to show up during the six day event - the same as last year.
The most popular events this year include the demolition derbies, the bull ride, ATV races, the tractor pulls, the Mid-Missouri Off Roaders' Mug Bog and a new rodeo by Glory Days Rodeo Company, Cox said.
General admission tickets on Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday are $5. Children ages six and under are free to enter.
"On Wednesday, people will just need $1 to get in and REA covers the rest," Cox said.
Food stands, exhibits and the beer garden open daily at 5 p.m., and Southern Fun Carnival Co. will be open 6 -10 p.m. for the fair's duration.
The Callaway Rough Riders were the featured attraction Monday night with admission to the horse show being one can of food to be donated to SERVE.