![Rusty English who is from a little town 100 miles south of Charleston, West Virginia, has been on the fair circuit for 34 years. His days are long, 15 to 16 hours for the duration each fair including this one.] Scenes of the Midway for Minnesota Strate Fair wrap. Richard Tsong-Taatarii•Richard.Tsong-Taatarii@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/AZ6CNHKZ2RIRN7DNB3IAAKKJ6Y.jpg?&w=1080)
2018 STATE FAIR ATTENDANCE
Thursday, Aug. 23: 122,695, which set a record for first-day attendance. That compares with 117,877 on the first day last year and 111,902 in 2016. The previous record for first-day attendance was 119,145 in 2010.
Friday, Aug. 24: 108,059. Last year's second-day attendance was 125,324. In 2016, a crowd of 141,023 set the record for second-day attendance. Friday's rainy weather probably played a role in this year's attendance dip.
Saturday, Aug. 25: 222,194, which set a record for third-day attendance. That compares with 158,525 last year and 180,567 in 2016. The previous record was set in 1998, with 202,126 people at the fair.
Sunday, Aug. 26: 184,716. Last year's fourth-day attendance was 197,891, and 177,906 attended in 2016.
Monday, Aug. 27: 124,438, compared with 144,504 last year — a record-setting day — and 119,522 in 2016.
Tuesday, Aug. 28: 120,209 on a rainy day, compared with 132,120 last year and 126,354 in 2016.
Wednesday, Aug. 29: 144,940, a record for the fair's seventh day. Last year, 119,975 attended; in 2016, the crowd numbered 118,042. The previous record was 128,966, set in 2006. Source: Minnesota State Fair
