HAMBURG, NEW YORK – The all-time attendance record for the Erie County Fair was shattered as the “Best 12 Days of Summer” in Western New York State concluded Sunday night. Final 2019 attendance is 1,238,456. This number represents a 3.3% increase from 2018 and makes 2019’s number the highest attended Fair in the history of the Erie County Agricultural Society. The previous all-time record was achieved in 2014 (1,220,101).
Record breaking attendance numbers are just one of the benchmarks used to measure the success of the annual Fair. With 52,968 pounds of canned food items collected, the Fair’s Opening Day food drive to benefit FeedMore WNY was the largest one-day drive in the Fair’s history and ranks as Western New York’s largest food drive taking place during the summer. Other numbers include:
1,238,456 Total attendance of the 180th Erie County Fair (New All-Time)
289,980.50 Combined gross sales of all Fair market animal auctions
52,968 Pounds of canned goods collected to benefit FeedMore WNY
17,000 Dollars raised by the National Independent Concessionaires Association and given to four 4-H children during the youth steer auction
10,159 Number of competitive exhibits entries including 4-H entries
5,404 Number of scheduled volunteer hours by Friends of the Fair
3,035 Number of livestock at the Fair (excluding Horse Show & 4-H)
2,600 Pounds of meat from livestock auctions donated to FeedMore WNY from dollars raise by the National Independent Concessionaires Association
857 Miles traveled in 12 days by model trains in the Grange Bldg.
541 Number of free grounds act performances during 12 days of Fair
503 Menu items available at Fair
179 Number of Friends of the Fair Volunteers/Coordinators
167 Number of rides, games & concessions on the Strates Shows Midway
113 Number of local bands and community performance acts during the Fair
95 Number of years with the James E. Strates Shows
86 Members of the Erie County Fair Marching Band presented by Pepsi
72 Cooking demonstrations held inside the Fair’s Culinary Arts Center
12 The Best Days of Summer in Western New York State
Highlights of the 180th Erie County Fair include sold out and recording breaking attendance for a number of concerts at the Gusto Grandstand, an expanded I-Hub Pavilion featuring STEM related activities and displays, new dairy, viticulture and maple sugar exhibits in the Agriculture Discovery Center and the return of the famous Sky Wheel to the midway.
During the first weekend of the Fair, the James E. Strates Shows announced that it had broken the all-time, single day gross revenue record at the Erie County Fair on Saturday, August 10th. This single day milestone was just one day of a record-breaking carnival run as the Strates Shows celebrates its 95th year providing the amusements at the Erie County Fair.
The Erie County Agricultural Society would like to thank Western New York for its continued support of the Erie County Fair.
About the Erie County Fair
The Erie County Agricultural Society is a private not-for-profit membership organization. Established in 1819, the Society is the oldest civic organization in Western New York. The mission of the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS), sponsors of the Erie County Fair, is to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York State. The Fair strives to fulfill appropriate aspects of the agricultural, educational, entertainment and recreational needs of Western New York. The 181th Erie County Fair will take place August 12-23, 2020. (www.ECFair.org)
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