Big crowds, sunshine give Lakefair vendors good year

The Olympian, Washington
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/513686.html

Attendance was up and business booming at this year’s Capital Lakefair, vendors and organizers reported Sunday afternoon, the last day of the festival.

Though official numbers had yet to be tallied, vendors said sales were up compared with last year’s, when revenue and attendance suffered from rainy, cold weather.

“It’s been wonderful. I’m sure that has to do with the weather,” said Bill Moore, president of Olympia Kiwanis.

Lakefair is the service club’s biggest fundraiser, earning them about $9,000, he said. All 97 members volunteer at the Kiwanis booth, which sells roast beef sandwiches.

Lora Hitchens, who volunteered at the Black Hills High School class of 2010 taco booth, said they were doing five times better than last year. They expected to raise $5,000 to go toward the senior trip and to help defray graduation costs, she said.

She said she suspected the weather and high fuel prices both played a part in boosting sales.
“People are staying in town. They’re not leaving,” she said.

Attendance was clearly up, evident by vendor reports and the use of the portable toilets, said Mark Fraire, one of the fair's facilities managers.

“The weather’s been fantastic. It’s just pulled together and become a success this year, and we hope it continues,” he said.

He said the 400 volunteers, 300 from Church of Living Water, also helped the event run smoothly.
“It’s a blessing from the sky. These people are probably doing 90 percent of the work,” he said.
On Sunday night, crowds gathered for Lakefair’s traditional fireworks finale.

The Clerget family of Olympia agrees the Lakefair fireworks are the best of the summer. They have a huge gathering at the Capitol Campus each year to watch.

“It’s a fun way to get family together and friends we haven’t seen for a while. We play games, have food and enjoy Lakefair,” Christina Clerget said.