State Fair of Texas 2007 breaks record$

by PegNews wire

Visitors spent $29 million on food and amusement rides.

DALLAS — The numbers for this year’s State Fair of Texas have broken the record: Visitors spent $29 million on food and amusement rides, beating last year’s all-time high of $26,590,382.

Food led the way, as fairgoers’ growing fascination with all-things-fried produced single-day sales of $1,372,000 on Oct. 8 and $1,662,000 on Oct. 13. The hottest new items were the Texas Fried Cookie Dough and Deep Fried Latte, winners of this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards.

Bryan Berg, aka the Cardstacker, shattered his own Guinness World Record.

Bryan Berg, aka the Cardstacker, attracted huge crowds and shattered his own Guinness World Record™ by building the world’s tallest freestanding house of cards during the first two weeks of the Fair. The structure measured 25 feet 9-7/16 inches. Tiles had to be removed from the ceiling of the African American Museum to accommodate the tower. The exhibit drew 98,000 fairgoers.

Almost one-quarter million riders enjoyed the all-new Texas SkyWay® during the 24-day event. Providing an unparalleled view of the annual exposition, gondola occupants traveled 1,800 ft. between two loading stations. Mundo Latino and Neiman Marcus presented free exhibits in the Hall of State. More than 111,100 visitors enjoyed a celebration of cultures spotlighting the pageantry of the matador and the 50th anniversary of the first Fortnight.

The Jonas Brothers, Third Day, and Billy Ray Cyrus proved to be the top free concert attractions at the 2007 Chevrolet Main Stage. Boyz II Men and Miranda Lambert filled the streets with enthusiastic fans in separate shows, and Lone Star attracted thousands to the area. The concert series was produced for the 19th consecutive year by Glenn Smith Presents, Inc.

Preliminary customer survey research indicates that fairgoers gave high marks for the State Fair Fall Garden Exhibition. More than 60 landscapers developed 100 gardens throughout the fairgrounds.

At the annual Youth Livestock Auction of Champions, animals raised by young Texans sold for an all-time high of $1,049,044. Affiliated Multi Family Services, Inc. bought the grand champion steer for a record $94,000, and a group of State Fair food concessionaires paid $21,000 for the reserve grand champion. Tom Thumb Food & Pharmacy purchased the grand champions in four categories -- lamb, swine, meat goat, and broilers.

Next year’s State Fair dates are September 26 through October 19, 2008.

Source: State Fair of Texas