Submitted Photo The Jelly Roll concert on Saturday, July 22, at the North Dakota State Fair Grandstand played to a sold-out crowd of 18,000.

This year’s North Dakota State Fair had a record-breaking attendance of 356,534, up 13% from last year. The previous highest attendance was 320,485 in 2013.

Fair officials announced the numbers on Monday.

The fair’s carnival with Crabtree Amusements had an increase of 8%.

The Jelly Roll concert at the Grandstand on Saturday, July 22, was sold out to capacity, with 18,000 attending.

Other Grandstand concert attendance numbers include Ludacris and T-Pain with 14,016 attendees, Eric Church with 16,505 attendees, Joe Nichols with 6,582 attendees, and Whiskey Myers with 7,226 attendees.

The Bulls and Broncs on Monday and Tuesday at the arena had excellent attendance as well as the Ranch Rodeo on Wednesday and Thursday. Indian Horse Relay also entertained large crowds, according to the State Fair.

The 4-H, FFA and Open class exhibits filled the State Fair Center. Livestock competitions were held each day featuring goats, sheep, swine, dairy beef, rabbits and horses.

The State Fair reported free stages were a hit this year, with many great comments about the Budweiser Clydesdales, The Birdman, I Flip, Mad Chad, MHA Nation Dancers, Daryl’s Racing Pigs, Los Moralitos Circus, Fur Traders Rendezvous, and Game and Fish Outdoor Skills Park.

Food Frenzy winners included Flounders, Windsor Waffles, Sue Sue’s Concessions and Old Tyme Kettle Korn.

Commercial and food vendors reported higher sales.

Overall, the 2023 N.D. State Fair was a huge success, according to fair officials.

The next fair is scheduled for July 19-27, 2024.