Attendance at the 2011 Wisconsin State Fair is up, despite getting off to a rough start.
The 160th Wisconsin State Fair ends its 11-day run Sunday night on a high note, according to Patrice Harris, communications manager with the state fair park. “Yes, we had a great run this year; we’re up 4 percent over 2010 and our highest attendance since 2002 with over 911,000 people coming out to enjoy the fair. So we’re thrilled with that.”
Especially satisfying, Harris says, is their ability to overcome the unprecedented mob-like violence on opening day of the fair that resulted in nearly three dozen arrests and several injuries. Two police officers had to be hospitalized. “Yes, we got off to a rough start with the incidents taking place around the State Fair Park out in the neighborhoods, but the collaboration between the State Fair Park Police, the State Patrol, Milwaukee and West Allis Police Departments was fantastic.”
Harris says people were determined not to let some unruly individuals ruin their opportunity to have a good time at a longstanding Wisconsin tradition. Not only did more people attend the fair this year, but they spent more money while there. Harris says initial revenue reports reflect an increase of 5.6 percent.
