YORK, Pa. — York State Fair officials released data on Thursday that showed attendance at this year's fair surged to 455,899 people, an increase of more than 14% from last year.
Fair attendance increased steadily throughout the 10-day event, the report said. Officials cited a popular lineup of concerts, strong community participation in exhibitions, and great weather as possible reasons behind the increased attendance figures.
"The York State Fair offered eight nights of entertainment on the Bobcat of York Grandstand State with more than 50,000 tickets sold," the Fair said in a press release. "This year's concert attendance was up over the last few years, featuring a sold-out show from Lainey Wilson and two shows over 10,000 people from Hellstorm/I Prevail and Kane Brown."
Officials said the midway rides provided by Strates Shows were another popular attraction, citing an increase of 6.5% in spending for ride tickets. Concession sales numbers increased as well, officials said.
Fair officials also pointed to the large number of free attractions, including the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, the Cool Zone Reptile Show, and the Ag Education Center as a potential reason for the increased attendance.
The UPMC Livestock Arena housed more than 1,200 animals throughout the Fair, and the Fair's Junior Livestock Sale raised more than $384,000, officials said.
Plans are already underway for next year's York State Fair, which is scheduled for July 18-27, 2025.