Crowds at SEMO District Fair reach highest mark in five years

Attendance at the SEMO District Fair hit a five-year high, surging 7 percent more than last year to 103,901.

Organizers cite good weather, new activities and a "solid" grandstand lineup for the increase. Grandstand performances included an Elvis Presley tribute show, country singer Craig Morgan, and the classic rock band Styx.

By mid-morning Monday, only a few carnival rides remained and workers were dismantling tents and cleaning cattle barns. The 153rd fair ran Sept. 6 to Saturday.

"It wasn't a record high, but there was a nice increase from the previous year," said fair spokesman Pete Poe. He said one of the most successful years for the fair was in 1992, when then-first lady Barbara Bush visited.

Last year, a wet opening weekend postponed events and caused attendance to suffer. This year, there were only traces of rain two days during the week, and the temperature started cool: mid-50s at night and mid-70s during the day. By the end of the week, however, the temperatures reached highs in the upper 80s.

In addition to the traditional tractor pull, rodeo, demolition derby and karaoke contest, new entertainment options were added this year that required audience participation.

"We probably had a bigger crowd at the activities tent than we have ever had," said activities director Dale Steffens. A hot dog eating contest, bingo competition, impersonator contest and mother-daughter/ father-son look-alike contest were added this year.

The look-alike and bingo contests will most likely be repeated next year, Steffens said, along with baby girl and boy competitions.

Entrance to the fair was $4 this year. Adult rides cost about $4 apiece, and major grandstand performances ranged in cost from $9 to $39.

"We're still an affordable family entertainment venue," Poe said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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