State Fair Has Highest Attendance Since 1998

Kansas State Fair officials say great weather and attractive entertainment acts helped push this year’s attendance to its highest level since 1998 and could turn out to be the fourth-largest fair of all time.

The total attendance during the 101st year of the fair was announced Monday at 355,329, which is about 15,000 more people than the year before.

The large crowds made it tough to walk the roads across the fairgrounds – especially on weekends – and lines were long for both fair lines and food booths alike.

General manager Denny Stoecklein says the fair’s carnival recorded its highest gross revenues ever with $1.264 million, a 3.3 percent increase over last year. He says the previous record was $1.257 million in 2010.

Associated Press information from: The Hutchinson News