On Sunday, September 1, the Minnesota State Fair’s turn-out of 236,197 set a single-day attendance record, according to Fair officials. The record-setting Sunday came after a week of unrelenting heat and humidity, which lowered attendance in the middle of the Fair’s 12-day run.
The 2013 State Fair started out strong, with the first three days beating the 2012 daily attendance records. Then Sunday, August 25’s higher temperatures caused the Fair to lose gate crowds. Thursday, August 29 saw a slight increase, then a dip again. The cooler temps on Sept.ember 1 helped set the new daily attendance record.
The Minnesota State Fair started in 1859 and the first 12-day State Fair run began in 1975. State Fair attendance first topped the 1 million mark on September 5, 1955 and the all-time attendance record of 1,790,497 was set in 2009. The all-time record for the most tickets sold to a single Grandstand show was in 2000 when Christina Aguilera sold 22,117 tickets.
2013 People’s Choice Awards
Minnesota State Fair fans finished casting their votes in the second Peopleʼs Choice Awards.
In a ceremony held Aug. 29 on the International Bazaar Stage, State Fair General Manager Jerry Hammer presented the following awards honoring fair guest’s favorite vendors:
Best Product or Service: Henna Art by Sole Shine
Best Food or Beverage: Carlʼs Gizmo Sandwich
Best Attraction: Eco Experience – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Best Value: Hamline Church Dining Hall
Best Customer Service: Manciniʼs Al Fresco
The fair embarked on this awards program in 2012, with the goal of recognizing outstanding vendors, while allowing guests to determine the best of the best. During the first six days of the State Fair, visitors were invited to cast ballots at any information booth for their fair favorites in these five categories, according to the State Fair press release.
The Minnesota State Fair goes through Labor Day, Sept. 2.
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