A VIEW FROM THE FAIR
The moment Dan Mourine, GM, New Mexico State Fair, Albuquerque, heard about the Ohio State Fair ride tragedy he sprang into action.
“We immediately got in front of the issue,” said Mourine. “We got the local media here together and did live interviews to assure guests that our fair rides are inspected, re-inspected and inspected again by our staff and by our ride operator, Reithoffer Shows.”
Mourine’s best day at the fair was the day his fair was named Best State Fair by smartassets.com. “That was a big honor,” he said.
His worst day was when a young employee, the public information officer, died at an early age. “He’ll always be with us in spirit,” said Mourine.
Mourine is proud of the diversity at the fair. “We are a melting pot of cultures,” he said. “And we celebrate that diversity. Native Americans, Hispanics, African Americans and White Americans all get along in New Mexico.”
This year the fair had a successful partnership with Uber where they had a special entrance and a lounge for the ride sharers.
The fair is one of the only fairs in the country that has its own craft brewery onsite.
“We have our own brand of beer,” said Mourine. Bacon-wrapped deep-fried pigs in a blanket served with jalapeno dip and cotton candy burritos are the most promising new food to hit the midway. “If you are on diet do not come,” said Mourine, laughing.
A unique competition is going to challenge guests to eat a pizza with Carolina Reaper pepper — the hottest pepper in the world — and if the guests can eat the whole slice they get a cash prize.
Mexico State Fair has a horseracing track and casino onsite, which Mourine said add “healthily” to the net.
This year’s fair is Sept. 7-17. Mourine expects over 500,000 people to walk through the gates, which is not bad for a state with only 2 million people in it.