Fair draws crowds despite weather

The North Idaho Fair and Rodeo managed to maintain good numbers this year, despite the wildfire smoke, winds and heat that plagued the area.

Fair general manager Dane Dugan said while fair officials were still tabulating attendance figures as of Tuesday afternoon, he expects the final overall number of guests to be more than 70,000, which is right in line with the past few years.

The busiest day of fair week was Friday, Aug. 28, with Saturday close behind. Dugan said both days had crowds of about 20,000 people.

"The weather and smoke were both a big challenge for us," Dugan said. "It didn't affect our overall attendance, but did change when people came. For example, Saturday morning's wind and smoke kept people away until things cleared later in the afternoon. We heard a lot of people on Sunday who said they actually came out because it rained and cleared the air."

The 2015 North Idaho Fair and Rodeo boasted attractions for every taste: Bull riding, a concert performance by country music singer Craig Campbell, a demolition derby, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo, a sea lion show, a petting zoo, interactive hypnotist shows, a professional magician, a wide variety of animals, rides, foods, games, entertainment, music, dancing and much more.

Dugan reported that new attractions were a hit with attendees; the Sea Lion Splash show drew crowds of more than 350 people and each performance was full an hour before it even began.

"We work hard to provide a dynamic offering of entertainment so there are surprises around each corner of the fair," Dugan said. "Our goal is to bring in things that North Idaho wouldn't see normally and then mix in local talent throughout all of our stages. It seems to be the right combination, as our guests are taking more time to get through the grounds - which I hope means they are enjoying everything!"

Dugan said while the fair contains many highlights each year, he truly enjoys seeing the 4-H youths showcase their animals and other projects.

"I got my start with fairs through 4-H and use the skills I gained through the program daily," he said.

And, of course, the fair wouldn't be as successful without love from the community.

"We want people to know how much we appreciate their support of the fair," Dugan said. "Our attendees, sponsors, vendors and volunteers are all incredible and we couldn't do it without each and every one of them."

Info:www.northidahofair.com