FIBArk begins today… without a carnival. The FIBArk Board of Directors has announced that the carnival operated by Sun Valley Rides, will not be participating in this year’s festival.
In a post on their Facebook page (which has since been deleted), the board said, “The challenges of our ever-changing town and new residents make planning for everyone pretty challenging. The inability of a couple of residents and business owners to work with the carnival have resulted in the disappointment of thousands of children.”
According to the announcement, the FIBArk Board of Directors had been working with Sun Valley Rides, local residents, and businesses, but a compromise couldn’t be reached. The carnival chose to withdraw their participation and leave.
During the day yesterday, as the carnival was setting up, the owner of Sun Valley Rides fielded complaints from at least two business owners in downtown Salida. The complaints ranged from blocking access to a generator operating too close to a front door.
The final straw seemed to come from property owner Morgan Jones. Jones owns a large brick duplex at 133 East Sackett Avenue.
Jones told Heart of the Rockies Radio News that the carnival set up a ride that hung over his property by several feet. Jones, a lawyer himself, said he would be held liable if an accident occurred on that ride and asked the operator to move it back from his property. Jones stated that there was no compromising with the carnival owner and the owner refused to move the ride so it wouldn’t intrude on his property. Jones went on to say that the carnival owner went on a profanity laced rant and told his crew to pack up.
FIBArk organizers say that they are currently making plans to refund the thousands of pre-sale carnival tickets and are working on an alternative plan for kid’s activities.
Details on those two areas will be forthcoming today and will be shared both on air and here on heartoftherockiesradio.com.
FIBArk Events today include the Tenderfoot Hill Climb and Raft Rodeo. Music in Riverside Park gets underway tonight with Locals Night and will continue through Sunday.
