Fair attendance record broken

The Evergreen State Fair’s attendance record was broken this year on the morning of the event's closing day.

Luis Sanchez came with his family from Everett, according to a Snohomish County Parks and Recreation news release. On Labor Day, his ticket was the 348,631st to be scanned at the gate since the fair started last month.

“It is just huge how much the community wants to get involved and come out to something like this,” fair manager Hal Gausman said.

He said staff have the ability to track attendance by the moment. Last Monday morning the numbers looked promising. The fair's marketing specialist, Brielle Dodge, started scouring the grounds to prepare for the impending moment, he said.

The Sanchez family almost didn't come that day, according to the news release. Luis Sanchez let his 10-year-old daughter decide between the fair and the beach because her birthday was coming up.

Vendors sent gifts back with Dodge to give to the record-breaking ticket holder, according to the news release. The Sanchezs received fudge, cinnamon rolls, scones, ride tickets, balloons and Jones Soda, among other items.

Attendance this year spiked to 350,761, according to the news release.

Hauson said weather plays a huge role in how many people turn up, as well as how strong the economy is. He said overall the fair seems to be doing well in terms of popularity. According to the news release, the last time the record was shattered was in 2014.

This year also happened to be the year the pie-eating contest record was broken, Hauson said. It is always good to see people come out and have a good time when efforts are made to throw an event, he said.

Hauson said a study was completed about 10 years ago that showed the fair brings tens-of-millions of dollars into Snohomish County ever year. According to the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau, Monroe's lodging options are completely booked during the 12-day event.

“All your hotels are full at that time, so whether they are vendors or visitors, horsemen, people coming to the concerts or what have you,” the bureau's executive director Amy Spain said. “Your hotels are full during the fair days, and so those people who are staying there are going to your restaurants, your shops and other things outside of the fairgrounds.”

The 110th Evergreen State Fair in 2018 is scheduled for Aug. 23-Sept. 3, and the theme is “Summer Days and Country Ways.”