Attendance was up 7 percent at the California State Fair this year over last year, officials reported Tuesday, thanks in part to an additional two days on the schedule.
Some 709,000 people attended the annual event at Cal Expo, including a near record 103,000 on Sunday when temperatures dropped into the 80s, fair General Manager Norb Bartosik said. The fair closed its run Monday. In peak years, the fair has drawn more than 1 million attendees.
Bartosik said officials decided to run the fair for 18 straight days this year. Last year, it ran 16 days, and was closed on Mondays.
"We messed with the schedule and confused the public," Bartosik said. "This year, we're back on track."
Bartosik said fair police and other local law enforcement were tougher on troublemakers this year. He said he did not yet have arrest numbers.
