DeLand, FL – 10 days of mostly ideal weather helps the Volusia County Fair & Youth Show set a new attendance record.
At least 192,343 people went through the gates for the 2015 version of the annual event, which took place between November 5th and 15th at the Volusia County Fairgrounds location off State Road 44 and Interstate 4 near DeLand.
VCF Acting General Manager John Owens says the fair saw a 13% increase in attendance compared to 2014 and a 20% increase in the midway ride money.
“It was the first year we had a million dollar gross on the midway,” Owens added.
Owens thinks the warmer-than-normal weather – including a lack of rain – was a big factor in the attendance along with an increase in shows and other forms of entertainment.
“The weather was superb,” Owens stated. “I don’t remember a fair in recent years that went the entire 10 days without rain.”
With temps going into the low 80’s on some days, fair workers were forced at times to bring in fans and portable air conditioners to help cool many of the animals.
The fair’s livestock auction was one of the few down spots, making 6% less than the year before along with 22 fewer animals. However, Owens said even that had a silver lining since the dollars per pound went up considerably from last year.
The headline act – country music star John Anderson – nearly sold out the Tommy Lawrence Arena on the final Saturday night while The Coasters and The Crystals also had near sell-outs at the arena on Seniors Day.
Next year’s event runs from November 3rd to the 13th.
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.