Despite a gruesome accident on the first day in the carnival midway, the Sonoma-Marin Fair finished its five-day run with an increase in attendance over last year, organizers said.
"We're still counting tickets," spokeswoman Vicki DeArmon said on Tuesday. "We know it was up, but by how much we don't know."
She said an official count should be ready by the end of the week. The fair, the first of the season in the Sonoma County area, averages about 65,000 patrons a year.
Within 90 minutes of the fair's opening on Wednesday, a carnival worker lost his lower leg when he stepped onto the tracks of a moving roller coaster. He wasn't working on that ride and midway officials said they had no idea why he went around barriers that enclosed the Wacky Worm ride.
The married East Bay man in his 20s, whose name has been withheld by authorities, is still in the hospital, DeArmon said.
"He is recovering. He did get up in the hospital and walk around," she said.
Cal-OSHA inspectors said last week that the ride was operating safely, its operator followed proper procedures and the carnival company trained its employees correctly. Their full report isn't expected for several months, a spokesman said.
Carnival owner Harry Mason said the man inexplicably entered the ride's area through a gate and put himself in harm's way.
Fair leaders said the increase in attendance this year may have been prompted by the variety of activities available, including a daylong Dog Lovers Festival in conjunction with the Worlds Ugliest Dog Contest that has gained worldwide notoriety.
Several events were targeted to out-of-school teenagers, DeArmon said, including a four-hour Teen Edge event with a fashion show, Guitar Hero competitions, a teen band showcase and text-messaging contest.
Petaluma 13-year-old Chelsea Ciocci proved she had the most dextrous thumbs by texting the words, "I'm the fastest texter in the West," quicker than the rest of the field.
DeArmon said the busiest day was Friday, which offered the ugly dog contest, a demonstration with local chef John Ash and evening performance by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
"All three events were packed to capacity," she said.
The Sonoma-Marin Fair is one of only a few in the state where the ticket price includes all the carnival rides you can shake a funnel cake at and the evening concert.
"With the price of admission comes free carnival rides, concerts and exhibits, and that is always a big draw," DeArmon said.
In an effort to blend the homespun traditions of old-time county fairs with high-tech 21st century, the fair conducted Make & Go craft workshops and YouTube video shoots, highlighting the interactive components of the event. The video shoots can be accessed on the fair's website, Facebook or YouTube.
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