Georgia National Fair breaks attendance record

This year's Georgia National Fair shattered its previous attendance record.

Fair officials reported a total 2015 attendance of 501,628 people, according to a news release. That breaks the previous record of 465,053 people, set in 2010, and reaches the attendance goal set for this year's fair.

"We were blessed with excellent weather conditions for the run of the fair," said Randy Moore, executive director of the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority. "Good weather usually prompts our patrons to visit and enjoy the event with some coming multiple times throughout the 11 days."

The fair, held annually in Perry, began in 1990 to promote Georgia's heritage, people and agriculture. It has offered many different categories of competitions for children, adults and animals to compete.

Additionally, Moore said the free concerts at the fair "have become extremely popular over the past several years. Our goal going into this fair was to reach half a million in attendance, and hosting these concerts has assisted us in achieving the goal."

Moore said the fair had a "unique situation" this year with the Columbus Day holiday falling during the fair. The fair also broke its previous Monday record with 42,361 visitors on that day -- a 10 percent increase from 2010.

The combination of the holiday, as well as good weather, planning and leadership, helped boost the fair's total numbers.

"Governor Nathan Deal, the Department of Agriculture and Commissioner Gary Black, as well as the members of the (Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority), deserve due credit for providing excellent guidance and support to each department which resulted in a seamless and successful fair," Moore said.

To contact writer David Schick, call 744-4382 or find him on Twitter@davidcschick.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 2:57 PM with the headline "Georgia National Fair breaks attendance record ."