Evergreen State Fair bans selfie sticks
Aug 14, 2015, 10:31 AM | Updated: Aug 17, 2015, 4:11 pm
The Evergreen State Fair is following in the footsteps of other parks around the country by banning selfie sticks. Disneyland, for example, banned the accessory recently. (AP)
(AP)
The Evergreen State Fair is in a bit of a conundrum.
The fair’s theme this year is “picture the fun,” however, the fair is banning a popular method of photography.
Selfie sticks will not be allowed at the fair, said Hal Gausman, the Evergreen State Fairgrounds Manager and Snohomish County deputy parks director.
“We want everyone to be taking pictures, but we don’t want them to have the camera at the end of the stick and hitting other people over the head,” Gausman said. “That’s been our dilemma, but it comes down to a safety issue.”
The ban follows what Gausman has heard throughout the entertainment industry; selfie sticks are disrupting the enjoyment of fairs, concerts, and theme parks. That includes Disneyland, which banned the sticks in June after growing safety concerns. The Los Angeles Times reports the California Screamin’ roller coaster in the California Adventures park was shut down after someone used a selfie stick during the ride.
“There are more and more people using selfie sticks,” Gausman said. The problem is: “They’re getting hung up in rides or people are bonking each other over the head.”
According to Gausman, selfie sticks will also be banned at CenturyLink Field this year. So it looks like if you’re going to the first preseason game against the Denver Broncos, you might have to ask your fellow Seahawks fans to take a photo for you.
