BLOOMSBURG -- Officials are beefing up security at the Bloomsburg Fair which starts Friday.
Fair officials say they are doing everything they can to make fairgoers feel safer following the recent terrorist attacks.
It may look like a relaxed day at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, but the security team is busy getting ready for the event. For security reasons, we can't tell you everything that's changed this year. We can tell you, you'll notice extra precautions taken at the fair.
The second floor of the security office at the Bloomsburg Fair is filled with security cameras. The cameras reach almost every inch of the fairgrounds. There are more cameras than ever before.
"We have lots of cameras, 45-50 cameras that will be on. We'll have it monitored, watched all the time," said the director of security Bill Barratt.
Barratt knows with the terrorist attacks over the weekend, the spotlight is on the Bloomsburg Fair to make sure everyone is safe, especially with around 80,000 people walking through the gates every day.
Barratt is even asking vendors to help police their areas. Ed Golomb of Berwick says they do that anyway.
"All the vendors keep an eye out for everybody else," said Golomb. "We watch for people hanging around, doing things they're not supposed to do."
Barratt says after pop singer Christina Grimmie was shot and killed during a meet and greet in Orlando earlier this year, the Bloomsburg Fair is changing the way they do meet and greets.
"We will scan people who come in for meet and greet. We'll add extra security. There will be extra security assigned to the entertainer."
Don't be surprised if you see full body scanners when you walk in the gates as an added security precaution.
"I can pretty much assure you that we're doing everything humanly possible to make our fair safe," Barratt added.
People tell Newswatch 16 they are happy for the added security at the fair.
"It's a good idea because it's better safe than sorry. In case something does happen, at least there will be people there to respond," said Ryan Dietz of Bloomsburg.
Even so, people say terror attacks are not going to stop them from coming to the fair.
"No, I still got to go and get my food. I still got to go and get my fries, Philly steaks, and my gyros," said Fisher McGettigan of Bloomsburg.
Fair officials add that they understand some people need to bring backpacks to carry medication, but if you don't need to bring a backpack, you are asked to leave it at home.
The Bloomsburg Fair starts Friday with Preview Day.
