Pasco Fair designates smoking areas

This year’s Pasco County Fair figures to largely be a smoke-free environment.

The Pasco County Fair Association recently announced it has teamed up with Tobacco Free Florida, to establish three designated smoking areas on the outskirts of the Pasco County Fairgrounds.

The policy will apply to the use of pipes, cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes and vapes.

The three smoking areas are as follows: the east side of Dan Cannon Auditorium near the men’s restrooms; the west side of the restrooms located at Gate 8 near the Albert A. Barthle Livestock Pavilion; and, the east side of the Joe Herrmann Greenhouse.

Those areas will be labeled with “Designated Smoking” signs, while the rest of the fairgrounds will have numerous “No Smoking” signs.

The designated smoking areas were also implemented at last year’s fair, according to David Loyd, vice president of the Pasco Fair Association.

Loyd was instrumental in creating the designated smoking areas with Tobacco Free Florida, an anti-smoking organization administered by the Florida Department of Health.

“Mainly, what we’re trying to do is create a better environment for our patrons that don’t smoke, concerning secondhand smoke,” Loyd said.

“We’re definitely not trying to turn away our patrons to smoke. We’re just trying to create a healthier, better environment for the patrons that don’t smoke. And, all we ask, is if you do smoke, go to the areas where it’s designated, and be courteous of the people that don’t (smoke).”

The 72nd annual Pasco County Fair will be Feb. 18 through Feb. 24, at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

The fair’s primary purpose is to promote youth in agriculture, as they show their steers, hogs, plants and more. Throughout the week, the fair will feature one-of-a-kind shows and musical performances, as well as an assortment of midway rides, food, games and other entertainment.

The fair is expected to draw as many as 50,000 patrons this year.

Tobacco Free Florida will have signage and brochures about the dangers of smoking at ticket and information booths throughout the weeklong event. Representatives from the organization will also be on hand to assist anyone who may be looking to quit smoking.

Loyd noted, while he wasn’t made aware of public feedback from the fair association regarding the recent non-smoking policy, “I did have people come up to me and say they liked the fact that it was smoke-free.”

According to a 2016 report from Tobacco Free Florida, approximately 23.3 percent of adults in Pasco County smoke, which is compared to the state rate of about 16.8 percent.

For information, visit PascoCountyFair.com and TobaccoFreeFlorida.com.

If you go
Pasco County Fair
When: Feb.18 through Feb. 24 (Hours vary)
What: Rides, food, games, entertainment, livestock and exhibits
Where: Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52
Cost: Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 through 12; parking is free. Wristbands are available for purchase for unlimited rides. Parking is free. (On Feb. 24, one child is admitted free with each adult)
Info: PascoCountyFair.com

Published February 06, 2019