State Fair shatters record

More than 1 million people attend

When the 2010 N.C. State Fair ended, a record 1,091,887 people had helped make it a Fair for the history books. It was the first time the State Fair had ever broken the 1 million visitor mark.

"We were blessed with near perfect weather for the 11-day run, eight record-setting days and three sold-out concerts in Dorton Arena," said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. "We are happy to have broken through the one-million mark, but more importantly we are happy folks had a great time when they came out to the Fair. Everywhere you looked, you saw people having fun with their friends and family. That's what makes the Fair such a lasting tradition."

The Fair posted one-day attendance records on both Thursdays, both Fridays, both Sundays, in addition to Tuesday, Oct. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 23.

Thursday, Oct. 21, was also the largest Food Lion Hunger Relief Day, with 246,779 pounds of food collected for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

Christian-acts Casting Crowns and Chris Tomlin, and country singer Darius Rucker performed to sell-out crowds in Dorton Arena. The line-up also featured the Carolina Chocolate Drops, a North Carolina band.

Competitive entries to the Fair remained strong, with a large number of competitors in the livestock, horticulture, hobbies and handicrafts, and arts and crafts categories.

"I cannot thank all our fairgoers enough for making this such a great year," Troxler said. "We appreciate the support people have shown the State Fair and look forward to next year's event. Go ahead and mark your calendar for Oct. 13-23, 2011."