KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Fair has been entertaining the community for more than 100 years.
"I think it's tradition," said Abby Villas, TN Valley Fair marketing coordinator. "I think people have come here their whole entire life and come as a young child with their parents or their grandparents and then they like to repeat that cycle with their children or their grandchildren."
But this time, the tradition will change a little.
The TN Valley Fair announced this morning they will not allow people who are under 18 years old to enter the fair after 7 p.m without a guardian who is 21 or older. This policy will only be implemented on Friday and Saturday nights.
Thousands of people visit the fair. Villas said on a Saturday, about 25,000 people may stop by. This year they are bringing in new rides, new games and new competitions, so they expect big crowds.
"Just for everybody's safety, and to be able to keep up with their children, keep their your eyes on them and to be with them," Villas said.
But it's not only about safety. Villas explained that when kids are with a guardian they usually behave better. The fair tends to attract an abundance of children and they can get wild.
Laura Hoffman, who owns Among King's Plumbing and has been attending the fair for years, thinks this policy will help.
"It is helpful because the kids will be more accountable," Hoffman said. "A lot of the younger generations, they don't have accountability because everything is electronic."
The fair will start this Friday and Villas said more than 300 staff will work around the clock to make sure the community has fun. They will also monitor and assess situations to make sure minors aren't without guardians.
Dropping off minors is strictly forbidden on those two days. Proof of age and valid identification cards will be required at the gate. The tickets are nonrefundable but Villas said people can choose another day or time within those 10 days to visit the fair.
"It's just for safety. We want everybody to come out here and have a great time," Villas said. "We're a family event and so just to keep everything safe. It's the safest way, especially at night on Friday and Saturday to have minors with the guardian or an adult with them."
In places with big crowds, the organizers suggest keeping kids close and setting a meet-up place just in case phones are lost, or batteries die.
For more information, click here or call 865-215-1471.