Ten years after attending a Hinder concert in Kansas City, Jefferson City resident Amy Kliethermes eagerly waited for the rock band to make an appearance at the Jefferson City Jaycees Cole County Fair Saturday night. Her friend from Houston, Texas, Ricki Cook, stood next to her, showing off her new Hinder shirt.
While fair attendance was down this year compared to past years, Hinder ended fair week by performing before hundreds of people Saturday night.
"It's been a long time since I've seen them in concert so I'm super excited," Kliethermes said.
Kliethermes said she would like rock bands Nickelback or Linkin Park to headline a future Cole County fair. While Cook joked Nickelback was "sissy rock," she agreed Linkin Park would be her top choice, along with Breaking Benjamin.
Like Kliethermes, Michael and Missy Ellsworth said Nickelback would be one of their top suggestions, as well as country artist Garth Brooks.
Michael Ellsworth has been a Hinder fan for years. He joked his wife is mainly a country fan but she also enjoys "Lips of an Angel," one of Hinder's most popular songs.
The nice weather and Hinder concert appeared to attract more people to the fair on Saturday, said Chelsea Hite, Jefferson City Jaycees chapter president.
"We've had a line out here today, and that's the first time we've had a line this week," she said.
While fair attendance was good this year, Hite said, it was down compared to past years, She added she wasn't sure what the estimated attendance was this year.
"Attendance has been down than what normal years have been, but I think it has to do with the weather we have had," Hite said. "I think that has a lot to do with our attendance because we have had to cancel a couple of our arena events."
The coronavirus pandemic did not impact attendance, Hite added.
The Jefferson City Jaycees are thankful the community attended the fair and supported the organization, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, she said.
"We do appreciate them and glad we could put this on for them to come out after the pandemic, to give them some normalcy since the pandemic has happened," she said.
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Tasting at Twilight
A wine tasting and silent auction was held at Next Level Events to benefit the Arkansas Hands and Voices which supports families of children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.