Notes on the data: Though the State Fair began in 1859, attendance figures weren't consistently recorded before 1887 and the location changed frequently. According to Minnesota State Fair general manager Jerry Hammer, Fair officials revised how attendance was counted in the 1980s to only include tickets at the gate. Attendance recorded in earlier years was then revised to an estimate that removed cars, young children who entered for free and Fair employees, which were previously included in the count. Figures charted represent State Fair attendance reported at the time, not the later revisions.
Crowds are huge part of the State Fair. See how they've grown over the years.
It's easy to see that the fair was a bright idea that just keeps growing. In 2019, will fair magic again conspire to haul in the population of several Minnesota cities each day?
August 22, 2019 at 4:26PM
Source: Minnesota State Fair archives
The governor said it may be 2027 or 2028 by the time the market catches up to demand.
