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HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO NAMED NORTH AMERICA’S TOP FAIR
Surpasses Texas State Fair for first time
The Top 50 North American Fairs drew 40,316,926 guests
in 2009, a small decrease of less than 1% from 2008.
Surging to the top spot on the list this year was the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
with a record-breaking attendance of 1,890,332, an increase of 5%. They gained the
number one spot for the first time, succeeding the perennial #1, Texas State Fair, which
was hampered by rain. Texas had a carnivalwarehouse.com estimated attendance of
1,818,825.
“The 2009 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was a great success,” said Skip
Wagner, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo president. Speaking about the success of the
world’s largest stock show he said, “It’s a great value, and there’s
something for the whole family.”
In a year when economic woes were a major concern for North America’s largest events,
it turned out that an old enemy, the weather, was the major challenge in 2009.
The Illinois State Fair, Mississippi State Fair, Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition
(FL) California State Fair, Texas State Fair and Arizona State Fair all posted double
digit declines in 2009, largely due to weather. Illinois, Texas and Mississippi were
especially hampered by downpours and the Mississippi State Fair was even held over an
additional day to try and gain some lost ground.
Leading the biggest positive movers was the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, CA which
had a whopping increase of 21.5%, entering the list in the #41 position. The
Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA, the Pacific National Exhibition in
Vancouver, BC, the North Carolina State Fair, the Indiana State Fair and the York Fair
(PA) all posted double digit increases.
Joining Alameda County on the list in 2009 after an absence were the Ionia (MI) Free Fair
and the Pensacola Interstate Fair. Falling from the list in 2009 were the Dutchess
County Fair (NY), the Kern County Fair (CA) and the Greeley Stampeded in Colorado.
“Despite economic fears, North America’s Top 50 events had a solid year”,
said Matt Cook, president of carnivalwarehouse.com. “Were it not for some
extremely bad weather spells during key events, we could have had a great year in
2009”, he added.
For a complete listing of the 2009 Top 50 North American Fairs:
Click here to download the 2009 TOP 50 FAIRS and CARNIVALS list.
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