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Great American State Fair Announces Record-Breaking Attendance and New Security Measures
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Great American State Fair concluded its annual run on Sunday, reporting an all-time high in attendance that surpassed all previous records. According to fair officials, total visitor numbers exceeded 1.2 million over the event’s eleven-day duration.
What: The fair featured premier agricultural exhibitions, a nationally recognized livestock competition, and headline musical performances. The event also introduced a new, centralized Lost and Found hub utilizing digital tagging technology to reunite patrons with misplaced items.
When: The final day of the event was Sunday, August 25, 2024. Daily operations ran from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Where: The Iowa State Fairgrounds, located at 3000 East Grand Avenue in Des Moines.
Why: The surge in attendance was attributed to a combination of ideal weather conditions and the debut of a new, immersive virtual reality agricultural experience, which fair officials stated was designed to bridge the gap between urban communities and farming practices.
How: In response to the unprecedented crowds, fair security enacted phase-two crowd control protocols for the final two days, including the implementation of enhanced bag-check stations and the deployment of an additional fifty uniformed personnel to manage entry and egress points. Fair organizers confirmed no major safety incidents were reported despite the record volume.