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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota State Fair eclipsed the 1.7 million mark for the first time in establishing record attendance for the 12-day event, Aug. 23-Sept. 3.
The total of 1,762,976 was nearly 74,000 more than the previous standard set in 1998 and an increase of 80,000-plus compared with last year's figure.
Overall attendance was down heading into the Labor Day holiday weekend, but 727,898 people passed through the turnstiles the final four days to enjoy that last gasp of summer.
That number included a single-day record 164,166 on the fairs second Friday Attendance cracked the 200,000 barrier the next two days. More than 136,000 came on Labor Day
Unlike other state fairs that estimate attendance and provide thousands of free passes, Minnesota prides itself on an all-pay gate, including media. Adult gate admission was $7 or $5 in advance.
"I know this sounds like heresy, but I think it would be best if we had no more record days on the weekends," said General Manager Jerry Hammer, presiding over his fifth fair and third with record attendance.
"That makes it just too difficult to get around. The lines are too long and people won't stay as long. Mid-day, when the morning and afternoon crowds collide, it gets pretty tough."
The state fair made a conscious effort to fill a programming void by booking attractions that appealed to the teen-age crowd, a key element in boosting and maintaining attendance.
Teen Fair...