State Fair Draws 558,092 as Tilt-A-Whirl Marks 100 Years

The Minnesota State Fair welcomed 558-thousand-92 visitors during its first three days—more than 68-thousand ahead of the same period last year.

Thursday’s attendance of 155-thousand-185 set an opening-day record. Friday established another daily record with 204-thousand-65 visitors. Saturday drew 198-thousand-842—just 21 fewer than the same Saturday last year.

The fair is also celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Tilt-A-Whirl. Herbert Sellner invented the ride in Faribault, and its brightly colored cars debuted at the State Fair in 1926.

Minnesota artists whose entries were not chosen for the fair’s Fine Arts Exhibition are also getting another opportunity. The third annual State Fair Reject Show is underway at Douglas Flanders and Associates in Minneapolis. The free exhibition runs through October 10th.