Minnesota State Fair has record breaking attendance this weekend

Flawless weather conditions (not too hot, not too wet) attracted visitors in droves, with three record days set during the course of the fair – including the biggest ever single-day attendance of 260,374 set on the second Saturday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo was at the fairgrounds in the Syracuse suburb of Geddes on Monday to help state and local officials celebrate the record-breaking year.

The Minnesota State Fair broke an all-time, single-day attendance record Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, with 260,374 people attending. The improvements in the $50 million plan include a new main gate, which is “reminiscent” of the carriage gate that greeted fairgoers in 1900, Cuomo’s office said.

Fair leaders say survey results show people were very satisfied, with almost 90 percent saying they would enthusiastically recommend the fair to their friends.

Schleif says they expect higher attendance and a two-dollar admission price increase on the weekends will boost revenue when numbers are finalized.

The 2017 Minnesota State Fair will run August 24 through Labor Day, Sept. 4.