Continually sparse Sunday crowds have led the Park County Fair Board to cut the day from the 2010 fair schedule. Instead of finishing on Sunday, next year's fair will conclude Saturday night.Low attendance on Sundays made it a struggle for the carnival as well as concessionaires.“The carnival isn't making any money on Sunday,” said Steve Scott, fair manager. “Concessionaires haven't traditionally done well on Sundays either.”

The decision to switch from a six-day fair to a five-day one has been discussed for quite some time, Scott said.

“The fair board has debated it off and on for years,” he said.

While the public hasn't been vocal about Sundays, attendance numbers have communicated their view.

“The community has been telling us by not showing up (on Sundays),” said Steve Martin, fair board president.

Board members unanimously decided to make the switch earlier this fall.

They had to make the decision months before the fair so contracts for entertainers and concessionaires would reflect the schedule change.

Scott said the fair board wanted to change it for the 2009 fair, but the decision was made too late. In an effort to increase the Sunday crowd for 2009, the fair presented a free concert with Johnny Lee. The crowd was pretty good, but bad weather hampered the show, Scott said.

“Our hope was that the adults would go to the free concert and kids would go to the carnival,” Martin said.

Sundays also were a free admission day.

“We've tried to do things to increase attendance on Sundays,” Martin said.

In previous years, the demolition derby took place on Sunday afternoons, but it has since returned to the Saturday night line-up. Martin said they don't regret moving the derby back to Saturday.

Closing Sunday also will allow 4-H kids to take home their exhibit entries — such as needlework or food items — at the same time as their livestock. In the past, they've been able to take their livestock home on Sunday morning, but couldn't take exhibit entries until that evening.

“This will make it easier for the Cody and Meeteetse families,” Scott said.

Vendors also will be able to use Sunday to pack up their booths. And, while Sunday won't be part of the schedule, it doesn't mean there won't be any activity at the fairgrounds.

“I'd still like to do a church service Sunday morning, but that's up to local congregations,” Scott said.

Martin said if residents are unhappy with the decision to cut Sundays from the schedule, they are invited to contact the fair board.

He added that it's not a permanent change. If there's a reason to consider adding the day back to a future fair schedule, they will.

“We're not saying it won't happen again,” Martin said.