May Fair Rolls Out Ticket Promotion to Double the Fun

By Brianna Boyd
Special to Dixon Patch

The Dixon May Fair will offer visitors to its 136^th annual event the opportunity to save money and have double the fun.

Any person who visits the May Fair on its opening day next Wednesday using a general admission ticket or concert ticket will be able to keep their ticket after going through the gate, and can use it for free admission during any of the other four days of the fair.

“If you have purchased a ticket to come to the fair on Wednesday, we are going to allow you to come back another day at no charge,” said May Fair CEO Jack Murphy. “If you want to come to the fair twice, you will only have to buy general admission once. This can save a family a lot of money.”

This is the first time the Dixon May Fair has offered its visitors this type of sale. It was approved unanimously by the fair’s board of directors April 13.

“It’s the first year we are going to a five-day fair and the board and I thought this would be a good incentive to boost attendance on a new grand opening day,” Murphy said.

The fair’s board approved last fall the addition of a fifth day to what was traditionally a four-day event. All components of the fair people love, from the games and carnival rides from Butler Amusement to the exhibits and the livestock area, will open at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 4 and entertain thousands of visitors through Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8.

The hope is that the extra day would not only add another element to the fair, but also help the Dixon community by bringing in more business.

The fair is just one week away, and Murphy stressed that there are still tickets available to all of the concerts as well as the demolition derby.

The May Fair’s concert series, which Murphy describes as one of the best the event has ever had, will kick off with a night of blues May 4 from Jonny Lang and Robben Ford. John Kay and Steppenwolf will rock the May Fair arena with special guest Eric Burdon and the Animals on May 5.  Country superstar Trace Adkins will headline a night filled with favorites May 6 that will open with legend Merle Haggard. Disney star and pop singer Selena Gomez and her band The Scene will light up the stage May 7 with guest Days Difference.

Tickets for Jonny Lang and Robben Ford and John Kay and Steppenwolf are $35 and $25 for reserved seats, and $19 for general admission. Trace Adkins and Merle Haggard and Selena Gomez and The Scene seats are both available at  $45 for reserved and $39 general admission. All prices include all-day admission into the fair.

The annual Demolition Derby, which for many is a Mother’s Day tradition, will be May 8. Tickets are on sale for $22 and include all-day admission. Car registration is available at www.dixonmayfair.com

The May Fair office also has advanced discount carnival ride wristbands available for purchase. The wristbands, which will allow an individual to ride unlimited rides for the day, are on sale for $24. Most attractions at the May Fair cost three to five tickets per ride.

Advanced admission tickets are also available for $7. Once the fair opens, admission is $12 for adults, $7 for children under 12, and $8 for seniors and military.  Advanced tickets will be available until 7 p.m. May 3.

The May Fair “Kids Day” will also return this year. All children under the age of 12 will be admitted to the fair for free on Friday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the 136^th annual Dixon May Fair, please visit www.dixonmayfair.com