Eastern Idaho State Fair breaks attendance records

The Eastern Idaho State Fair marked its 115th anniversary by posting some record breaking numbers.

For the first time, the fair opened on Friday, September 1, a day earlier than usual. By the time it ended Saturday, Sept. 9, over 239,103 people showed up. That beat the previous record of 231,023 in 2016.

The theme of this year’s fair was “Bigger is Better.”

“Combine the beautiful weather we had all week with the dedication of thousands of people, the most amazing grandstand shows ever and 2017 was an incredibly successful year,” says Fair Manager Brandon Bird. “I hope everyone from the exhibitors to concessionaires, sponsors to employees and especially those who attended this year’s event were able to see why ‘Bigger is Better.’ We are so grateful to be able to continue this 115-year tradition in this community.”

Bird said planning for next year’s event is already underway. It begins August 31, 2018.