Fair sets another attendance record

The final totals are in and they show the Iowa State Fair set another attendance record. Fair officials say attendance was one-million-12-thousand-309 — just over four-thousand more corn-dog munching and sky glider riding visitors than last year’s record. Last year was the first time the fair topped the one-million mark in attendance, and officials says nearly perfect weather during the first week of this year’s fair helped them do it again. Officials says a seven-percent increase in advance ticket sales helped boost the attendance, along with the visits of seven Democratic presidential candidates. Fair manager Gary Slater says he believes the economy also played a part, as people stayed closer to home this year in spending their entertainment dollars. While this year was a record breaker, next year is a very important one for the fair as it celebrates its 150th year.