Raleigh, N.C. — The 2010 North Carolina State Fair set new attendance records on both its preview day and opening day.
State Fair spokesman Brian Long said that 77,485 people came through gates Friday, breaking a previous record set in 1993.
On Thursday, 47,677 visitors came to the fair, despite some rain showers and chill breezes. That outpaces the attendance numbers of 37,932 in 2009 and 35,215 in 2008.
Since 2008, the State Fair has opened its gates from 3 p.m. to midnight on the Thursday before the official start of the fair.



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October 18, 2010 8:49 a.m.