After the first three days, the North Dakota State Fair is on pace to break the attendance record set in 2010.
Jennifer Ashley, marketing director for the State Fair, said through the first three days attendance stands at 119,771. That's 725 more than the 2010 pace, a year when a record 308,641 people went through the gates.
Breaking down the first three days, attendance was 34,289 on Friday, 46,903 on Saturday and 38,579 on Sunday.
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Dan Feldner/MDN
A crowd packs the fairway at the North Dakota State Fair Monday afternoon. The State Fair is on pace to break the attendance record it set in 2010.
Ashley said after the Souris River flood washed out the State Fair last year, she were expecting a lot of pent-up demand from disappointed fair-goers to help them challenge the 2010 attendance record this year. So far, she's liked what she has seen.
"We were expecting to bring in more as an overall total, so we'll just wait until the end of the fair and we will see what we are bringing in as a final number," Ashley said. "We are hoping that we can surpass 2010's attendance."
The grandstand concerts are doing equally well. Ashley said Kid Rock brought in 14,887 as the State Fair's opening act Friday. On Saturday, the Zac Brown Band drew 14,307, and on Sunday Luke Bryan had 11,967.
"The concerts are doing great. We are very excited at the attendance for the concerts," Ashley said.
She noted they sold out the Grandstand Showpass for the first time ever, selling 16,000 tickets before the fair even began.
Around the State Fair, food booths were seeing plenty of people stop by for drinks or a bite to eat.
Kyle at Thomsen's Old Fashion Root Beer said the crowds have been pretty steady throughout the State Fair.
"The last couple days have been pretty busy," he said. "I know at the main stand down there they've had quite a bit of people, and I've had quite a bit of people."
This was his first year at the booth, so he didn't have anything to compare the business to. However, Kyle did say there have been quite a few more people stopping at his booth than he would have expected.
One thing he did note was the good mood everyone seemed to be in. So far, he hasn't heard a single complaint from anyone about anything.
Grace Leslie at The Wife's Kitchen said they've been extremely happy with the crowds they've seen so far. No doubt helping to pull people in is the food booth's new dessert, a deep-fried brownie. Leslie said it has been a very popular item.
Liz Leier at the Burdick Job Corps Pride Store Express said they've been very busy since the State Fair opened its gates, and business has been about what they expected.
Addie Nelson said crowds have been similar to what the Job Corps booth has experienced during past State Fairs.
"It seems like we really pick up when the concerts are getting ready to start," Nelson said. "It gets busy for us at that time."
Some of the most popular items they've been selling are water and Powerade, which is no surprise considering how hot it's been so far.
Ashley said the weather during the State Fair has been spectacular, which has helped tremendously with attendance. Combine that with all the wonderful people she said have already come through the gates, and this year is looking like it could be the most well-attended State Fair ever.
"The weather's been beautiful, we've been blessed with a couple of beautiful days and a great weekend," Ashley said. "And we are very excited about our 2012 North Dakota State Fair."