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Raleigh, N.C. — The North Carolina State Fair on Sunday afternoon welcomed its 1 millionth visitor this year – the first time it has reached that number in its 150-year history.
Through Saturday, 981,320 people had visited the fair. That alone shattered the fair's attendance record, which was set just last year at 877,939 people.
On Sunday, Anita and Anthony Boylan walked through Gate 1 as the millionth visitors.
"I think it's amazing," said Janet Daughtry, a Selma basket weaver who has a booth at the fair. "They've been doing a count at our door, and we have had as many as 4,000 in an hour."
The big crowds also meant big returns for food vendors like John Carter. He's been selling food at the Westover United Methodist Church booth since he as 10 years old.
"It is the largest fundraiser for our church that we have," Carter said.
Those who went out to the fair Sunday enjoyed just about perfect weather – partly sunny skies and a high in the upper 70s.
Fair officials said weather like that was one big reason for the record turnout. It only rained one day this year.
On Saturday, more people – 151,647 – came to the fair than on any other day in its history. The previous single-day record of 145,995 was set in 2007. Crowds set daily attendance records on five other days this year as well.
Final attendance numbers for Sunday haven't yet been compiled.
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October 26, 2010 11:39 a.m.
October 25, 2010 5:23 p.m.
MAN, that was good...
October 25, 2010 5:13 p.m.
Heres the rest.
Meanwhile 4 gangsters got shot, 5 folks had deepfried heart attacks, 4 people had strokes from the riding the tiltawhirl while high on cotton candy, and some crackhead set three rides ablaze while seeing how fast the funny colored hat he won at the ringtoss will burn if he stuffs it with kettlecorn.
yeah, lets make the ambulance workers ride the cat buss to the fair.... lets save the close parking spaces for people who eat "fair food" ALL YEAR long and thus, can hardly walk from their driver seat to the hoveround. it's vitally important that they get parking right next to the entrace. Otherwise the batteries might run out before they get to try all the elephant ears, funnel cakes, and deepfried icecream booths.
The truly handicapped folks are pretty much out of luck, cause they'le be run over by some 700lb deepfried junkie carying 4 turkey legs, a bucket of fudge, and the skooter basket full of caramel apples.
October 25, 2010 4:34 p.m.
Compared to the cost of gas and possible parking cost, the Park and Ride is free enough.
October 25, 2010 3:34 p.m.