By Tyler Lamb and Kellen Olshefski
Elkhorn Independent Staff
A late summer heat wave followed by a Friday evening storm put a dent into attendance numbers at the Walworth County Fair.
Wednesday through Sunday, attendance was 103,475. Monday’s turnout of 27,210 put the total attendance for the fair at 130,685.
Last year 134,409 people attended the fair. Attendance was 140,677 in 2011. This year’s attendance total is the lowest mark since 1975, according to figures provided by the fair board.
The fair has been keeping attendance records since 1970. Record recorded attendance was in 1999, when 194,057 people came through the gates.
On Thursday and Friday, temperatures were in the low 90s, and attendance on both days was a little more than 15,000.
Walworth County Fair Marketing and Public Relations Manager Susan Pruessing said she believes weather played a factor in lower attendance records this year.
“We had to deal with very hot and humid weather, and of course severe high winds and rain on Friday,” she said. “I think people were reluctant to come out … it was so hot and then it was going to rain.”
Friday’s sever storms which tore through the area blew down several tents, according to Pruessing, which fair staff worked quickly and diligently to set back up.
Pruessing said on the bright side, staff was able to recover and if the rain had to come, “it came at a good time,” leaving staff with enough time to clean up and prepare for acts like The Oak Ridge Boys and the Beach Boys, who performed only hours after rains soaked the fairgrounds.
“We had enough time to recover and recoup for evening shows which are of course a big draw,” she said.
She said with fair staff helping to keep things running smoothly, she feels regardless of the weather, all in all the fair was a huge success.
As for improving attendance for next season, Pruessing said the Walworth County Fair Board will be meeting with staff Tuesday, Sept. 10 to begin brainstorming and discussing ideas for next year.
“We’re going to bring everything to the table, take a critical look at what was good, what was bad, what went well and what didn’t,” she said.
From there, she said the board will eventually meet with superintendents.
“We’re right on it, we’re not going to waste any time,” she said.
Overall, Pruessing said it was the hard work of fair staff and volunteers that kept things running smoothly throughout the five-day celebration.
“I just want to thank everyone who worked, volunteered, and came and supported us,” she said.
“We’re already looking forward to next year.”
2013 Walworth County Fair attendance breakdown
Wednesday: 17,419
Thursday: 15,237
Friday: 15,248
Saturday: 25,960
Sunday: 29,611
Monday: 27,210
Total: 130,685
