Grand Island, NE – The 141st edition of the Nebraska State Fair, the first ever in Grand Island, came to a close yesterday after 309,400 people came through the gates over an eleven day run. While attendance didn’t reach that of the historic last fair in Lincoln, it did surpass the 309,137 of 2008. Approximately twenty percent of the total 2010 attendance consisted of first time attendees.
“We are very pleased with the many positive comments provided by Nebraskans as they experienced the new fair in Grand Island. New facilities, more agriculture displays, a strong entertainment lineup, increased exhibits and perfect fair weather drove traffic to the Fair. Many Nebraskan’s who haven’t been to the Fair in a few years, or have never been, came to the first Fair in Grand Island. They were treated to a very special Nebraska State Fair and we hope they will continue on with us as we strive to make the Fair even better in 2011,” said Joseph McDermott, Executive Director of the Nebraska State Fair.
“Our goal going into the Fair was to exceed everyone’s expectations and in many ways, including attendance, we exceeded our own,” said Sallie Atkins, Chairperson of the Nebraska State Fair Board
Attendance numbers, broken down by day are:
2008 2009 2010
Friday: 13,020 10,256 11,021
Saturday: 46,513 52,235 42,785
Sunday: 27,143 40,582 32,464
Monday: 17,916 16,499 11,479
Tuesday: 14,360 19,497 22,335
Monday: 17,916 16,499 11,479
Tuesday: 14,360 19,497 22,335
Wednesday: 15,104 16,436 14,602
Thursday: 16,393 15,701 23,269
Friday: 27,133 32,297 26,419
Saturday: 35,496 44,566 37,513
Sunday: 53,043 71,627 53,795
Monday: 43,016 47,507 33,718
Totals: 309,137 367,203 309,400
Thursday: 16,393 15,701 23,269
Friday: 27,133 32,297 26,419
Saturday: 35,496 44,566 37,513
Sunday: 53,043 71,627 53,795
Monday: 43,016 47,507 33,718
Totals: 309,137 367,203 309,400
The 142nd edition of the Nebraska State Fair opens Friday, August 26 and runs through Labor Day, September 5, 2011 in Grand Island, NE.
For more information on the State Fair, visit www.statefair.org .
I attended on Wed. My main reason for going to any fair is to see the animals. After traveling several hours, I arrived to a wonderful setting of laid out fair grounds and multi million dollar bldgs. Unfortunately any sense of joy was soon shattered. I entered the swine barn to see only one pig. My group moved on to the sheep barn, nothing at all and the cow barn only had 6 cows. What gives!!!!????? What happened to strolling up and down the stalls and seeing all the animals, chickens, rooster, rabbits, etc either with their ribbons on their stalls or young 4-H’rs grooming their animals for show.
My party was informed that if you weren’t there on the day or hour of a particular animals showing, you were out of luck.
If that’s to be the case, sorry Nebraska, but next year my vacation money will be taking me to the Iowa State Fair.
Most of the livestock (cattle, sheep, hogs) began arriving on Wednesday, September 1st, and continuted arriving through Saturday, September 4th. The shows for these animals were not the first weekend, or before Wednesday, therefore those animals were not present.
What “Out of town-er” says just re-enforces my and my friends no desire to go to future NE State fairs. You can see crafts and amusement rides spring thru fall in many locations, often better and closer. Except for the competitors, visitors go to county and state fairs largely for the animals. I’ll go to Iowa’ State fair where I can see cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, chickens & roosters, rabbits, etc whatever day I choose to go. I can see the one’s with their ribbons and the one’s being groomed for competition.
Few visitors can stay an entire week, and just because they can’t attend a particular competition or showing shouldn’t leave them deprived to seeing these beautiful animals. What a poor learning experience for children if the day they attend cows were being shown and that was all they got to see after a trip from the city to see farm animals.