East Texas State Fair Breaks Records
Posted/updated on: October 3, 2014 at 2:32 am
TYLER — The 99th annual East Texas State Fair was BIG. Total attendance was 249,701 which represents a 25.7% increase over 2013. This is the largest crowd since the economic downturn in 2008. The Fair broke records in several categories. Food sales were up 18.4%. Carnival ridership was up 35.2%. Livestock show entries were up 1.6%. The best success indicator according to John Sykes, President of The Park of East Texas, was children’s ticket sales. Those sales were up 24.1%.
Sykes said there is obvious continued growth and strength in the local economy. He also stated a string of ten perfect weather days contributed to the achievement. “The East Texas State Fair is nationally recognized as a very strong regional fair,” Sykes said.
The Fair in Tyler is “the” annual family event drawing people from a 100 mile radius and further. The Fair fills hotels with exhibitors traveling to Tyler to compete and serve the guests. Sykes added, “There is no question the East Texas State Fair has a huge economic impact on the local area.”
Other statistics:
*4105 corn dogs sold
*5545 funnel cakes sold
*8143 turkey legs sold
*3110 hamburgers sold
*2777 Free student tickets redeemed
*63 commercial exhibitors
*32 food vendors
*1874 livestock show entries
*1666 competitive event entries (non-livestock show)
*5,506 New Facebook Fans
*63,752 Visitors to the website this year
The dates for the 2015 East Texas State Fair are September 25-October 4. The Fair will be celebrating its 100 year anniversary.
