Fairgoers turned out in droves for the North Carolina State Fair this year, with almost a million people visiting the annual fair in Raleiigh, according to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 

It was the sixth biggest turnout in the fair's 156-year history, according to state leaders. The final attendance was 998,926.

The fair, billed as the biggest party each year in North Carolina, ran from Oct. 17 through Oct. 27.

“This was a great fair that was blessed with 11 beautiful days of weather and the attendance reflected that," Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said. "But seeing people enjoying themselves, laughing with family and friends and making memories together is the true measure of success."

With the increased attendance, 17 truckloads of food products were donated during Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day. The food collected this year will go to the MANNA Food Bank in Asheville, an area devastated by Helene. MANNA’s warehouse was washed away during flooding from the storm. 

Western North Carolina vendors and crafters participated in the fair, allowing them to make money during storm recovery in their area.

One vendor, a fifth-generation apple farmer from Hendersonville, was still able to provide fresh-pressed cider at the fair. Many other growers in western North Carolina didn’t have the apples submit this year after much of thei crop was damaged during Helene. 

Related article: Sole apple grower makes it to the N.C. State Fair after Helene

State officials listed several other record-breakers from the fair this year:

  • Setting a new attendance record for a Tuesday when 85,738 came through the gates for Senior Day
  • Record attendance of nearly 2,400 people for the invitation-only Century Family Farm Reunion
  • Attendance for the Got to Be NC Pavilion was up with the number of participating N.C. food companies and fair visitors
  • Marking the first year for the N.C. Stillhouse, featuring North Carolina distilleries serving craft cocktails
  • Strong number of competitive entries with 24,514 entries in the general competitions and another 4,067 entries in livestock competitions

Next year, the fair will be held from Oct. 16-Oct. 26.

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