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Fair attendance up for first weekend

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By ART HOVEY / Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Aug 25, 2008 - 05:49:02 pm CDT

The Nebraska State Fair is on its way to its fifth consecutive increase in annual attendance, based on results released Monday for the opening weekend.

The three-day total through Sunday was up 15.4 percent.

Barney Cosner, the fair’s executive director, credited good weather and new entertainment options for boosting turnout to almost 86,700 people.

Story Photo
Visitors swing high at the midway during last year's Nebraska State Fair. (Gwyneth Roberts)

Today at the fair



  • Full fair schedule: State Fair Website
  • Midway open, 1 p.m. to close. Kiddyland wristband, $5, 1-5 p.m. $22 wristbands, 1 p.m. to close.
  • Open Air Auditorium concert (free with gate admission): “Survivor and Starship,” starring Mickey Thomas, 7 p.m.

    n Coliseum: Bull Riding Spectacular, 7 p.m. Admission: adults, $7; children 6-12, $2; 5 and under, free. (Gate admission not included.)
  • Gate admission: Adults, $5 before 5 p.m.; $8 after 5 p.m. Children 6-12, $2; 5 and under, free.
  • Plan your day: At www.statefair.org, the Create Your Day and Food Finder tool has an events calendar that allows you to select and then print a custom daily schedule. Also: Where to find your favorite fair foods.
  • Today’s special: Older Nebraskans Festival continues in the Open Air Auditorium. Entertainment and health, wellness and informational exhibits. Gate admission for persons 60 or older is $3 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Free coffee and cake at 9 a.m.; ice cream social at 1 p.m. Performing: 11 a.m., pianist Jo Ann Castle, formerly of “The Lawrence Welk Show.”
  • Today’s hint: (From the mother of a young child) “My hint is to take your kids right away to the fair on a weekday. Only $5 for rides in Kiddyland from 1-5 p.m. Can’t beat that. I’m taking my daughter out of school early Wednesday to go.”

“Great weather is not something you can put a measure on,” Cosner said. “That’s a huge positive, because Mother Nature can make or break an outdoor event.”

Attendance in this decade hit its low point of 238,000 in 2003. That was part of a trend in which the number of fairgoers filing through the gates dropped in five out of the six years from 1997 forward.

The 389,171 total for 1997 marked the first time that attendance was based on an actual head count, rather than an estimate. As the downward trend reversed itself, the 2007 fair reached 299,175.

The recent attendance trend defies the analysis of some observers that fairs are a dying tradition.

Nebraska’s 11-day event will leave State Fair Park for Grand Island after 2009 to make way for a research campus anchored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Cosner said that timetable may be another factor in attracting an audience this year. “I’m assuming there will be some people who will say they’ve only got 22 total days to see the fair (in Lincoln) and that could be a factor. I haven’t heard a lot of that.”

The final three days of the fair, from Saturday through Labor Day, typically make a bigger contribution to total attendance than the first three days.

One possible problem with that scenario are seven-day forecasts that suggest a return to temperatures in the 90s Sunday and Monday. A more difficult factor to assess is the first Cornhusker football game against Western Michigan in Lincoln Saturday night.

Cosner saw potential in the 6 p.m. kickoff time. Fairgoers could sandwich the game between fair visits.

“I think that’s a possibility, because once they pay, they can get their hand stamped and come back later.”

Reach Art Hovey at 473-7223 or at ahovey@journalstar.com.


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Nina wrote on August 25, 2008 12:22 pm:
" We visited the fair Saturday - wonderful exhibits as usual, and the Kids' Zone had marvelous free entertainment for the youngsters, so they didn't feel left out when the adults enjoyed Lorrie Morgan. The monster truck pulls - wow! One grandkid's exhibits we found in the 4-H building, and he will show his Hereford steer next weekend in 4-H. Another grandkid was in the kids' tractor pull, which was viewed by a couple of thousand, I would estimate. The winners in each age category are now eligible for nationals. We'll enjoy it while we can - I predict the fair in Kearney will not draw the numbers, and after two or three years, it will move back to Lincoln, to be added on to the premises of the Lancaster Event Center. Meanwhile, UNL has had its way, and will have destroyed the fair as it has been for generations. "

 JA wrote on August 25, 2008 12:27 pm:
" Our family does not attend the state fair every year. We took our kids this past weekend to ride the rides and will probably go again next year and do the same. It's a fun experience for them. We will not be traveling to Grand Island in 2010. My wife and I feel it's a little to far to go for what the fair has to offer. We have talked about going to Worlds of Fun for a mini vacation in the Summer/Fall instead. "

 mitchy_v wrote on August 25, 2008 12:41 pm:
" The fair appeared to be better than it has been for years. If rides are your thing, KC is the place to go. I for one, will be traveling to GI to support the fair. I will not write it off because I am to lazy to drive. "

 Cat wrote on August 25, 2008 12:44 pm:
" We went to the Fair Friday night. People everywhere. It was absolutely wonderful. Some of my favorite vendors over the last 30+ years said they would NOT be making the trip to Grand Island. Where does Grand Island think they are going to park all the cars? Where does Grand Island think they are going to put all the vendors that are in Devaney? I agree with Nina - I hope UNL is happy. They can't even fill up east campus with ag students. I won't go to Grand Island to the Fair. "

 eat at the ag hall wrote on August 25, 2008 12:45 pm:
" $5 - $6 for a funnel cake! $4 lemonade! $3 corndogs! The junk food is out of control. You can get a burger and a 1/4 of a watermelon in the ag hall for under $5. "

 whatever wrote on August 25, 2008 12:50 pm:
" The STATE FAIR will not return to Lincoln unless you have adequate facilities including an ARENA that seats 6 to 10 thousand people. And I think we all can be sure that isn't going to happen. Lincoln blew it. "

 I saw the history wrote on August 25, 2008 12:50 pm:
" After reading the comments about that the fair in GI would just be a bunch of metal buildings, I was able to take a good look at some of the "history" of the older brick buildings. The IA building and the 4-H building look like they should be condemed. They are both a eye sore and need to be torn down. The replacements, go figure, are metal buildings. Metal buildings, just like the Lancaster Event Center. "

 Forget it... wrote on August 25, 2008 12:58 pm:
" I highly recommend driving to Des Moines to the Iowa State Fair. Now, that's a fair worth driving to with tons of activities to keep you busy . The Nebraska one isn't worth driving across town to, and I sure won't drive to Grand Island to see it. It's just an event whose era has come and gone. "

 DISAPPOINTED wrote on August 25, 2008 1:16 pm:
" The fair has always been a fun time for my family. I will be sad when it moves, as we will not travel to Grand Island to go. We will go to World's of Fun of Adventureland instead if we go to that type of expense. "

 bachen wrote on August 25, 2008 1:30 pm:
" I say for next yar they have the biggest blow out ever. 2-3 big names @ Devany polus the open air shows, fireworks every night, make it a great going away party. "

 Nina Nina Nina wrote on August 25, 2008 1:34 pm:
" Like your inaccurate "UNL has had its way, and will have destroyed the fair" comment - the fair isn't moving to Kearney. But I bet you really know both statements are really goofs, right?

Change is good, really. Even for the over 60 crowd. Seriously, it'll be fine. The fair will be a lot better in G.I. and Lincoln (AND UNL) will be a lot better without it. "

 Brock Landers wrote on August 25, 2008 1:35 pm:
" Sure it was well attended; what else did you expect? Nice day (not too hot or too cold), nothing else going on, high gas prices (no last minute road trips) AND the next to last year that the fair will be in Lincoln. My guess is over half of the people there where first time visitors or people that haven't been there in years and are just checking it out to see that Lincoln really isn't losing anything great. "

 saddened wrote on August 25, 2008 1:48 pm:
" Well, eastern nebraska residents...those of us who live more than 3 hours from Lincoln have gladly supported the fair in our lifetime by driving your fair city...maybe it's time you explored the rest of your state by driving west. As for the parking, every year I go to lincoln there are less parking spaces, at least G.I. has that much. The one thing that G.I. will be sorely lacking is the shade trees on the grounds. However, I'll do without shade if I can drive a few less hours. Right now I live over 350 miles from the state fairgrounds. I'm looking forward to not spending as much time on the road to and from fair as I spend on the fairgrounds. Travel time now makes for a grueling weekend. If I figure the IRS mileage rate of 50 and 1/2 cents per mile, it cost right at $370 for me to drive to and from Lincoln. I hope thoe of you who plan on going to KC for Worlds of Fun can save more money than that.
Best regards, and looking forward to GI in 2010. "

 UNL Points Citizens wrote on August 25, 2008 1:48 pm:
" Attendance continues to grow annually and they are still pulling the fair. UNL when are you going to STOP. You even place home football the last couple of years in an attempt to cripple the fair. You don't own me Mr.UNL ! ! ! See families are having fun....people are happy. Seems you want everything don't you??? What is your NEXT TAKE OVER??? "

 Chris wrote on August 25, 2008 1:57 pm:
" We went to the fair on Saturday. That was more than enough for me thanks. We didn't even ride any carnival rides and we blew $65.00 before we knew it! I'm not sure on what. Overpriced food on a stick I guess. I don't mind spending money but it would be nice to get something for it. I guess there were the snake oil vendors in the Devaney Center. I should have bought some aromatherapy candles to help me lose weight and cure my acerbic attitude.

It's just an event who's time has come and gone. Overall it's just dull. Traci Byrd and Styx?! How bout getting some real acts? I'll bet they got a heck of a deal on Boyz 2 Men.

It's too bad the fair board couldn't do better with what they had but you aren't going to attract people with washed up acts. I hope it does better in GI but I sincerely doubt it. Good riddance to the fair. I won't miss you when you're gone. "

 Outside the Box wrote on August 25, 2008 2:12 pm:
" I agree with Brock Landers - the rise in attendance is due more to a beautiful weekend, inflated sentimentality, and families who couldn't afford a big summer vacation than anything else.

I enjoyed Bachen's suggestions for next year's fair "2-3 big names @ Devaney plus the open air shows, fireworks every night". That is what they have EVERYDAY at the Iowa State Fair. A grandstand show (featuring somebody you'd actually pay to see), several free open-air shows, nightly fireworks, and lots of attractions, rides, and nice buildings. "

 JO wrote on August 25, 2008 2:54 pm:
" G.I. - won't be able to handle a fair of this size anyway so might as well call it a county fair again when it goes there. After a couple years of low coutns but a few extra to see what it looks like there - it will die back to nothing. As for our family and many we know -- we will be guests of Iowa -- Whoops, So sorry,City of Lincoln -- you really goofed this time and let UNL have their way again. And, its not the gas and time to go to GI -- it's the idea, that Lincoln didn't want it and wanted it to die in NE - so gave it away. IA is again the winner of a loser city and state - they do not want to get ahead except in football. "

 typical wrote on August 25, 2008 2:54 pm:
" I have a kink in my neck from shaking my head after reading many of these posts. What's with all of the "We won't go to Grand Island. So there. Take that. I'm taking my ball and going home. You can't play in my fort. We don't allow boys in our club." You know what? Then don't go. Go to KC. You all sound like disappointed little kids who didn't get your way. Get over it. The leaders of Lincoln never planned for the day when the university would grab state fair park for expansion. Everyone knew that this day would come. Quit whining. Nebraska doesn't end at mile marker 390. There are thousands of Nebraskans west of Lincoln who really don't care if you go to KC for a weekend. "

 Thats life wrote on August 25, 2008 3:01 pm:
" I grew up in Central Nebraska. I totally understand the whole "why does everything have to be in LINCOLN?" mentality. However,and I'm sorry if anyone in GI finds this insulting, the attendance in GI might not show a significant change the first year or two. That's when the whole state will want to check this new thing out. After that, I doubt we'll see the same numbers we've seen in Lincoln. We will certainly never see the 500,000+ they were hoping for a few years ago. "

 fair goer wrote on August 25, 2008 3:21 pm:
" I took my family to the Iowa state fair this year for the first time... We had a blast and will make a trip out there instead to Grand Island if it moves from this side of the state. The fair this year in Lincoln is really really good you should go. "

 MattS wrote on August 25, 2008 3:46 pm:
" lol, I knew it! I read this article this morning and there were no comments. I told myself I'd wait until this afternoon and I knew there were gonna be people talking about how wonderful the fair is and how many people attended and how it shouldn't be moved, blah, blah, blah.

Well of course it was well attended; it's been in the news and pushed into people's faces for the last 6 months!! But it's to little to late Lincoln. Flooding the fair this and next year won't keep it here (no matter how many of you post on here). If you really wanted it, you should have been supporting it every year.

And for all of you talking about Iowa, if you supported your own State Fair, it could eventually be that good as well. Do you think Iowa's has been that great from it's beginning?? Probably not, it took hard work and *support* from residents to make it that way.

Regardless of where the fair is, you should support it because it's part of Nebraska. You may not agree with the move, but stop being bitter/selfish and try to support a piece of Nebraska! "

 Chris wrote on August 25, 2008 3:52 pm:
" Once again, some commenters need to be corrected. Lincoln did not "blow it" in terms of the state fair moving. The State Fair Board blew it. Lincoln (public and private) and UN-L were more than willing to work with the Fair Board to relocate the fair to the Lancaster Event Center. The fairboard was completely unwilling to negotiate and put Lincoln in the position to have to chose between the fair and UN-L. UN-L makes Lincoln a dynamic community, is a huge employer in the city and is a year round impetus to the local economy. The state fair is a nice event that happens for two weeks a year. Lincoln had to chose UN-L and will do so every time. The State Fair board did this to the State Fair, UN-L didn't. UN-L simply put forward a plan for the land that was infinitely more attractive to Lincoln than the State Fair.

Lincoln has an obligation to it's citizens to ensure the most economically lucrative land in the city goes to the highest and best use, and thats exactly what this land with extensive transportation infrastructure in close proximity to UN-L and downtown is, economically lucrative land. The University's proposal was light years ahead of what the State Fair can offer. Again, if the citizens of Lincoln and the State think Lincoln would be better off without the University and should not bend over backwards to give the University what it needs (yes, needs, not wants - contrary to what most believe...they need land near the city campus to expand.)please do me a favor and take a trip to Topeka, KS and get back to me. Lincoln would be very similar to Topeka without UN-L. I for one think Lincoln is a much better place because of what the University adds to the community. It's unfortunate the State Fair board refused to negotiate with UN-L and Lincoln because it is a nice event, and brings money to the local economy. Ideally Lincoln would have allowed UN-L to expand and kept the Fair in Lincoln. But when the State Fair Board forced Lincoln to chose, they suppressed their laughter and chose UN-L, and they will every time. "

 Not a Solution wrote on August 25, 2008 4:02 pm:
" Chris has a point. But 84th and Havelock was never a good solution. Anyone who has driven 84th street in the last 6 months can attest to that. Traffic backs up now and the light has been turned off at Adams for 2 weeks. They are about to reconnect that and another light at the Wal-Mart entrance. Traffic backs up at Leighton due to the new light. 84th and O is a horrible mess between 4 and 6 PM daily. If we had added state fair traffic to this, it would have been worse than any Husker Game Day, and there is no way LPD could have afforded to come out and help. Lincoln should have had a contingency plan. Lincoln didn't. Thus, Lincoln loses. "

 Fair Goer wrote on August 25, 2008 4:12 pm:
" Our family always has attended the Nebraska State Fair on the first Saturday of the Fair. We went this past Saturday as well. It is sad that the powers that be took this tradition away from us. Why did the Legislature and Governor cave in to these powers that be? Last year the Governor said we will not move the Fair, yet he went along with it. I talked to Barney Cosner this year at the Fair. He said the attendance would be less in Grand Island. He also said it will cost $300 million to turn the Fairgrounds into a Research Park. This money will come from the taxpayer. We are spending $45 million to move the Fair, yet it would have only cost $30 million to fix it up where it is at is historic site. Alot of people say the University is paying $21.5 million for this move, yet the University gets most of their money from taxpayers. They also raised tuition this year. It's strange how they have money to take the Fairgrounds, yet they need more money for tuition. D. B. Miliken said at the hearings it was not the University's idea to take the Fair. Whose idea was it? I suspect it was developers who want to make millions off of this deal at the expense of us taxpayers. The land the State Fair sits on is worth way more than the University is paying for it. The original bill said the University would pay $30 million or the appraised value if greater. Yet they only will pay $21.5 million. If the people really knew the facts they would not support this crazy idea. I also heard the University does not need this much land for a Research Park. Why should Nebraska destroy a historic tradition of the Nebraska State Fair? This sounds like New York City mentality. We in Nebraska have values and pride and we support our traditions. All Nebraskans should be allowed to vote on this issue. Why don't you interview or survey Fair goers and see what you hear. Please inform the state and tell us the real facts. "

 Response wrote on August 25, 2008 4:22 pm:
" Chris, the Fair Board did let us down, no doubt. They should have fought harder for the Fair. I understand that individually they all wanted the Fair to stay at its historic site. However, the University (or developers) would not consider other sites. I understand that the University already has 60-70 acres right east of the City Campus. The Cushman land and Whittier School. I also understand that they have not done anything with this property. Why can't they build their Research Park there? It would be even closer to downtown than the Fairgrounds. Also, there is a railroad with several tracks on the south side of the Fairgrounds. Will these developers have enough power to move these railroad tracks? Otherwise, the trains will cause problems in the so called Research Buildings with vibrations. There were other alternatives. The State Fair could have been left at its historic location. So why not let us vote on this issue? "

 Anti-Fair wrote on August 25, 2008 7:13 pm:
" So what makes a fair a "Good Fair"????? First they blast you with parking, then admission, tickets to ride the rides, food...not to mention standing in humidity and getting three inches of dust all over you and your family, then the fun of finding your car and fighting traffic to get out of the area...which by the way, the new construction and roads SUCK!!! A small city like Lincoln should NEVER have the college, Sports center, fairgrounds and football stadium all within walking distance. That is just plain ridiculous. We are not Hickman or Wahoo... now everything is expanding to 84th street, which is becoming a joke now too. If anything, we need to expand the roads first, then build more business along the I-80 interstate between Lincoln and Omaha. Downtown has a lot of vacant crap buildings, the businesses that are there are so cramped together, you have no clue what anything is. O street from about 48th street to 70th street is a huge waste of space. No wonder Nebraska is in the top 20 fattest states...we have nothing but businesses and wasted space that could be better made into a nice skating arena or a big family indoor splash park that can be used year-round. SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!! Do we really need 2 big grocery stores within a block or two of each other? It's just crazy...flat out crazy. "

 While reading wrote on August 25, 2008 7:43 pm:
" this article I thought about the people commenting that they would go to worlds of fun or adventureland. This would surprise me a lot as most of the people from lincoln I know will not venture more than 40 miles from the city or they seem to be lost. I know more than one who drove outside lincoln and nebraska for a wedding, but, drove one day to it at 5 p.m.and drove back to lincoln the next morning at 9 a.m. They didn't take the time to even see another part of america. I guess the magnetic draw of the city takes presidence over other things. I plan on being back in nebraska for the first year it's in G.I. and plan on going. It's 550 miles for me to drive, but, I'm not attached by the embelical cord to lincoln. "

 Democrat wrote on August 25, 2008 10:30 pm:
" Wait till the good folks in GI get the bill for Police and Fire. "

 To Anit_fair wrote on August 26, 2008 9:24 am:
" I am not sure where you parked or ate but we went to the fair this weekend and it cost us all of 75.00 to eat get in and enjoy the fair. I never saw the high price parking you claim, I parked for free. My wife, I and 3 children all ate went to Moster Trucks and had a great day. Sure traffic is terrible but name an event that it isn't. Wait til this Saturday and try and move around Lincoln at all. If you want to enjoy the fair you will, if you want to hate the fair no matter what you will. We will gladly drive to GI for the fair, we had a blast, and it was the first time in 4 years we have went. "

 Chris is right wrote on August 26, 2008 12:14 pm:
" Chris your comments are right on. The stuffy my way or the hi-way Fair Board is totally responsible. Check the history, why was the Lancaster Event Center even built? Why, because the Fair Board would not work with the county so they had to build the event center. GI has Husker Harvest days and the attendence is exceptional why? State Fair board made it difficult for the farmers and equipment manfurfactures to represent at the State Fair so they started using Husker Harvest Days instead of the State Fair. If you ask me the Fair Board is responsible and hopefully GI will have better success in the future. Domo-Ori-Goto Mr. Roboto out. "

 Nina wrote on August 26, 2008 12:14 pm:
" A day at the fair can be very reasonable - your admission ticket is all you must pay, and for $8 per person, you can have a great time. Free parking, and in the morning we viewed exhibits and competitions, met at the car for some old-fashioned tailgating (nothing sold at the fair can beat fried chicken, homemade potato salad and tomatoes fresh from the garden, followed by a prize recipe apple pie), and stretching out on a quilt to relax awhile. After this family tradition of about 60 years, we saw what's new in commercial booths, toured more exhibits, visited with old friends and met some new ones, and were royally entertained in the open air auditorium. Great outing, special traditions, and our wallets were hardly affected. "

 floridahusker wrote on August 26, 2008 2:05 pm:
" Dear Lincolnites -- UNL will do much more for your flailing city that the state fair will ever accomplish. In fact w/out the University Lincoln would look more like Fremont. Get over it & support the learning, research & the quality education that UNL provides. Would you rather have year-round students & jobs or would you rather have one week of corndogs & fried food? Those of you who chose the one week of "fun" you may want to read the article on the obesity rates in Nebraska after this :) "

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