Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Grand Island, NE — The Nebraska State Fair opened with great excitement and anticipation.
The gates opened and the grounds filled with fairgoers as State Fair Board Chair Beth Smith and Executive Director- Bill Ogg gave the Opening Ceremony welcome to the 2021 Nebraska State Fair.
The 11-day event gained momentum with the start of 4-H weekend and continued throughout the week with the conclusion of FFA exhibits on the Labor Day weekend.
Concerts saw strong attendance and crowds were smiling, dancing, singing, and enjoying time with their friends, family, and yearly acquaintances after two years away from a “Full” Fair.
Daily crowds enjoyed food, exhibits, shows, and carnival rides. “Fun” records were broken across the grounds.
Tallying up the results of the 2021 Nebraska State Fair showed record setting numbers. The 2021
Nebraska State Fair attendance was 266,245 happy fun-loving attendees. Visitors came from 43 states and 10 countries as noted on “pin where you are from” maps.
A German delegation of 17 individuals traveled to Grand Island to take in the fun that was happening at the Nebraska State Fair. One of the guests was so excited that he asked; “What did we do to deserve this kind of generous treatment?” It was another example that there is truly “Nothing More Nebraskan” than the Nebraska State Fair.
The Outdoor Concerts were headlined by Jon Pardi drawing a crowd of over 7,800 fans. The high energy entertaining Banda Los Sebastianes drew an enthusiastic fun-loving crowd. Inside the Heartland Events Center, a capacity crowd was entertained by the ever popular Happy Together Tour on “Older Nebraskans Day”. Warrant and Skid Row, promoted by 40 North and Tom Dinsdale Automotive rocked the house. Renowned actor currently starring in the Yellowstone series, Kevin Costner and Modern West entertained an engaged crowd.
Carnival attractions are always a hit with fair goers. This year was no exception as the 2021 Nebraska State Fair earned record gross sales in Carnival rides. Food vendors and commercial exhibitors also experienced an increase in sales when compared to 2019.
The 2021 Nebraska State Fair culminated with a celebration and recognition of Veterans.
“There are many measurements to a successful Fair,” shares Ogg, “The dedicated Staff, State Fair and Foundation Board Members and the gracious Volunteers, are most proud of the record number of competitive entries in nearly all Exhibit Departments, the 4,425 hours of free entertainment and attractions and the generous financial support of our Sponsors. We are excited and motivated to work on the 2022 State Fair to be held August 26-September 5, 2022. There is Nothing More Nebraskan!”
ABOUT NEBRASKA STATE FAIR
Nebraska State Fair is an annual 11-day event that is held at the end of August ending on Labor Day in Grand Island, NE. Celebrating 153 years of entertaining families, the State Fair is home to arguably the finest facilities in the country hosting competitive livestock and draft horse shows, a milking parlor and birthing pavilion, a gift shop and a large indoor shopping experience. The State Fair brings to Nebraska the state’s largest carnival, and features more than 60 food stands, competitive exhibits, a wide variety of grounds entertainment, equine shows and motor sports. It is also home to Raising Nebraska, a remarkable agriculture education center operated by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Reader Comments(0)