2021 Arizona State Fair sets attendance record with nearly 1.6 million visitors
Nov 5, 2021, 3:00 PM
(Facebook Photo/Arizona State Fair)
(Facebook Photo/Arizona State Fair)
PHOENIX — Arizona State Fair enthusiasts returned to the annual event in record fashion in 2021 after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Almost 1.6 million visitors took in the sights, smells and thrills of the fair, which opened Oct. 1 and ended Oct. 30 at the fairgrounds located at 19th Avenue and McDowell Road.
The previous record of 1.3 million fairgoers was set in 2019, according to a press release.
“We could feel the community wanting to get out and have fun,” Wanell Costello, executive director, said in the release. “We wanted to be that place for families and friends to gather safely.
“Seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter made it all worthwhile.”
The 2021 event spanned 22 days compared to 18 in 2019 and previous years.. The record number of guests was set in the 17th day in 2021.
The fair was originally moved to Chandler when its board unanimously voted in March to move the 2021 event for more space.
The proposal to relocate to Gila River’s Wild Horse Pass was scrapped in early August.
In other fair fun, the flaming hot cheeto tater tots was the most popular menu item and funnel cakes were another favorite.
Artists from 13 Arizona counties shared 4,449 competitive entries, while children read 6,113 books to earn free rides by participating in the SRP Read & Ride program.
