Tumbleweed Crossing, a free and interactive comedy show centered around a Wild West gunfight, will be staged three times daily at the Allen County fair. Each show will last 25 minutes. Bleacher seating will be provided.
Photo courtesy of Lagniappe Productions
LIMA — Visitors to this year’s edition of the Allen County Fair will have the opportunity to step back in time … and to have plenty of laughs along their journey.
Making its first-ever appearance at the fair is a Texas-based comedy troupe which three times each day during the fair’s eight-day run will delight fair-goers with free, interactive performances focused around a Wild West gunfight.
Staged before what Chris Whatley, the show’s creator, termed a “large and impressive set” depicting an Old West town that will be erected on the north midway portion of the fairgrounds, each performance of Tumbleweed Crossing features 25 minutes of thrills, special effects, explosions and gunslinger shootouts.
Whatley is the founder of Lagniappe Productions, based near Fort Worth, Texas, and the creator of Tumbleweed Crossing and other Wild West-themed shows.
In 1978 he and fellow starving actors Michael Goggans and Benton Jennings met while performing gunfight shows together in Six Flags over Texas. Three years later they formed a partnership known as “the Gunfighters” and performed at festivals and special events throuought North Texas. Whatley later branched on out his own.
“My company produces shows for Six Flags amusement parks across the country and Tumbleweed Crossing is patterned after them,” Whatley said. For the past 10 years he has taken the show on the road from coast to coast. This will be his firm’s first visit to Allen County.
He said a four-person cast dressed in authentic Wild West costumes will delight fair patrons with their comedy, impressive special effects and thrilling stunts.
“The shows are interactive, family friendly, crowd-pleasing comedy for young and old alike. People need to come to see for themselves,” Whatley said.
IF YOU GO
What: Tumbleweed Crossing
When: Friday, Aug. 19 @ 6 and 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 20 @ 12:30, 2:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 21 @ 12:30, 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 22 @ 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 23 @ 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. @ at 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 25 @ 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 26 @ 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Where: North Midway
Cost: Free
