Illinois Officials said that attendance was down 11% at this year's Illinois State Fair in Springfield, IL and organizers blame the rainy weather that showered the fair for eight out of its 11 days.
According to the State Journal-Register, fair manager Amy Bliefnick, said that this year's fair drew 847,000 people, down from last year's record attendance of 961,000. The persistent rain forced cancellation of seven events, including a parade on the fair's opening day.
This year's attendance, surpassed attendance in 2011, when 815,000 people showed up; and in 2005, when the fair drew nearly 673,000. Amy Bliefnick said,
"Quite honestly, the fact that we're only down 11 percent—I'm surprised it isn't more; I think it speaks real highly that people love the fair and they want to come. There were many families out here in the rain."
In year's past, the Illinois State Fair's attendance had been on an upward swing. Bliefnick also said that in 2012, 918,000 people showed up. Last year's fair, which saw record attendance, also had only one hour of rain.
The Illinois State Fair ended on Sunday, August 17th.
