CLICK HERE to see the 2008 TOP 50 FAIRS Ranking

The Top 50 North American Fairs had essentially the same attendance as in 2006. 41,468,926 attended North America's top 50 fairs in 2007, down only slightly from 2006's total of 41,475.968. North America's top event was once again the Texas State Fair with an MCW estimated 2,052,000 in attendance. The top 4 fairs remained the same as 2006: Texas, followed by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, up 7%, the Minnesota State Fair which was even with 2006 and the Los Angeles County Fair, down 4% from 2006.

Added to 2007 the list were four fairs: The State Fair Of Louisiana, the Maryland State Fair, the Ionia Free Fair and the Dixie Classic Fair. The State Fair of Louisiana, under manager Chris Giordano, broke the Top 50 with 405,478, landing at #47. The Maryland State Fair once again reentered the list after a one-year absence. The fair was up a whopping 21% over 2006 with 417,458, securing the # 45 spot. The Ionia Free Fair, another fair that has been on the list previously, was up 4% and landed at # 46 with 406,890. The Dixie Classic Fair made their list debut at #50. This is the second North Carolina Fair on the list along with the North Carolina State Fair. The Dixie Classic was up a huge 17% to 371,219, appearing in the #50 spot.

Four fairs also dropped off the list this year. The Greater Jacksonville Fair was unable to report its attendance for the second year in a row by press time. In 2006, MCW estimated the attendance using a multiple year average. The fair appeared at #39 last year. The Salem Free Fair, plagued by poor weather also saw an attendance dip which took them off the list. The Mid-South Fair in Memphis, faced with competition from the new Delta Music Fair and Festival, which premiered over Labor Day weekend, also slipped of the list. The largest move on the list was the Central Canada Exhibition which fell from the #37 spot. The fair was down by over 30% with an attendance of 365,427. President Dave Presley said the fair was severely hurt by seven days of rain and inclement weather.

Other major movers on the list include the York Fair, up 13%, the Capital EX in Edmonton, ALB, up 12 %, the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, up 18% and the biggest mover on the list, the Allentown Fair, up an incredible 36% in S&S Amusement's last year on the midway.

Extreme heat hurt many fairs, especially in the mid-west, this summer. Some of the biggest drops came from the Indiana State Fair (down 14%), the Iowa State Fair (down 9%) and the Canadian National Exhibition (down 10%). The biggest drop came from the California State Fair, down 21%. The attendance drop was due to a shortening of the fair by 6 days, from 22 to 16 days. Despite the overall attendance drop, average daily attendance was up, at 47,489 per day. Manager Norb Bartosik said they were “thrilled with this year's attendance.”

The 2007 top 50 fair list is as follows:

Click here to view the 2007 Carnivals Playing the Top 50 Fairs list!

1. Texas State Fair - Dallas, TX
   September 28 - October 21, 2007 - Independent Midway
   2007 Attendance: 2,052,000* - Change from 2006: 9%
   2006 Attendance: 1,875,000* - Change from 2005: 10%
   2005 Attendance: 1,696,429*
      
2. Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo - Houston, TX
   February 27 - March 18, 2007 - Ray Cammack Shows
   2007 Attendance: 1,806,129 - Change from 2006: 7%
   2006 Attendance: 1,688,103 - Change from 2005:  -3%
   2005 Attendance: 1,740,095
      
3. Minnesota State Fair - St. Paul, MN
   August 23 - September 3, 2007 - Independent Midway
   2007 Attendance: 1,681,678 - Change from 2006: 0%
   2006 Attendance: 1,680,579 - Change from 2005: 3%
   2005 Attendance: 1,632,876
      
4. Los Angeles County Fair - Pomona, CA
   September 7 - September 30, 2007 - Ray Cammack Shows
   2007 Attendance: 1,365,026 - Change from 2006: -4%
   2006 Attendance: 1,427,656 - Change from 2005: 7%
   2005 Attendance: 1,328,105
      
5. San Diego County Fair - Del Mar, CA
   June 8 - July 4, 2007 - Independent Midway
   2007 Attendance: 1,265,997 - Change from 2006: 5%
   2006 Attendance: 1,205,719 - Change from 2005: -1%
   2005 Attendance: 1,214,902
    
6. Calgary Stampede - Calgary, ALB (Canada)
   July 6 - July 15, 2007 - North American Midway Ent.
   2007 Attendance: 1,251,105 - Change from 2006: -1%
   2006 Attendance: 1,262,518 - Change from 2005: 2%
   2005 Attendance: 1,242,182
      
7. Canadian National Exhibition - Toronto, ON (Canada)
   August 17 - September 3, 2007 - North American Midway Ent.
   2007 Attendance: 1,240,000 - Change from 2006: -10%
   2006 Attendance: 1,262,518 - Change from 2005: 2%
   2005 Attendance: 1,242,182
    
8. Eastern States Exhibition - Springfield, MA
   September 14 - September 30, 2007 - North American Midway Ent.
   2007 Attendance: 1,227,889 - Change from 2006: 10%
   2006 Attendance: 1,116,353 - Change from 2005: 6%
   2005 Attendance: 1,053,238
     
9. Arizona State Fair - Phoenix, AZ
   October 12 - November 4, 2007 - Ray Cammack Shows
   2007 Attendance: 1,214,442 - Change from 2006: -7%
   2006 Attendance: 1,303,690 - Change from 2005: 5%
   2005 Attendance: 1,276,359
     
10. San Antonio Livestock Show & Exhibition - San Antonio, TX
    February 1 - February 18, 2007 - Wade Shows
    2007 Attendance: 1,204,417 - Change from 2006: 4%
    2006 Attendance: 1,153,978 - Change from 2005: 5%
    2005 Attendance: 1,095,939
     
11. Western Washington Fair - Puyallup, WA
    September 7 - September 23, 2007 - Funtastic Shows
    2007 Attendance: 1,182,937 - Change from 2006: 5%
    2006 Attendance: 1,153,978 - Change from 2005: 5%
    2005 Attendance: 1,095,939
      
12. Oklahoma State Fair - Oklahoma City, OK
    September 13 - September 23, 2007 - Wade Shows
    2007 Attendance: 1,100,000 - Change from 2006: 10%
    2006 Attendance: 1,000,000 - Change from 2005: 10%
    2005 Attendance: 900,000
     
13. Orange County Fair - Costa Mesa, CA
    July 13 - August 5, 2007 - Ray Cammack Shows
    2007 Attendance: 1,090,653 - Change from 2006: 18%
    2006 Attendance: 924,315 - Change from 2005: -14%
    2005 Attendance: 1,058,192
     
14. Erie County Fair - Hamburg, NY
    August 8 - August 19, 2007 - Strates Shows
    2007 Attendance: 1,009,122 - Change from 2006: 4%
    2006 Attendance: 972,285 - Change from 2005: 12%
    2005 Attendance: 855,664
     
15. Iowa State Fair - Des Moines, IA
    August 9 - August 29, 2007 - Bluegrass Shows
    2007 Attendance: 1,002,464 - Change from 2006: -9%
    2006 Attendance: 972,285 - Change from 2005: 12%
    2005 Attendance: 855,664
     
16. Tulsa State Fair - Tulsa, OK
    September 27 - October 7, 2007 - Murphy Bros. Expositions
    2007 Attendance: 987,057 - Change from 2006: -7%
    2006 Attendance: 958,781 - Change from 2005: 6%
    2005 Attendance: 903,467
     
17. New York State Fair - Syracuse, NY
    August 23 - September 3, 2007 - Strates Shows
    2007 Attendance: 936,399 - Change from 2006: 0.43%
    2006 Attendance: 955,800 - Change from 2005: 2%
    2005 Attendance: 941,100
     
18. Pacific National Exhibition - Vancouver, BC
    August 18 - September 3, 2007 - West Coast Amusements
    2007 Attendance: 906,808 - Change from 2006: -5%
    2006 Attendance: 941,502
    2005 Attendance: 920,768 - Change from 2005: 2%
     
19. Evergreen State Fair - Monroe, WA
    August 23 - September 3, 2007 - Butler Amusements
    2007 Attendance: 882,095 - Change from 2006: -2%
    2006 Attendance: 901,203 - Change from 2005: 7%
    2005 Attendance: 837,550
     
20. Southwest Exposition & Livestock Show - Fort Worth, TX
    January 12 - Febuary 4, 2007 -Talley Amusements
    2007 Attendance: 875,300 - Change from 2006: -8%
    2006 Attendance: 924,315 - Change from 2005: -14%
    2005 Attendance: 1,058,192
      
21. North Carolina State Fair - Raleigh, NC
    October 12 - October 21, 2007  - Powers Great American Midways
    2007 Attendance: 858,611 - Change from 2006: 9%
    2006 Attendance: 785,956 - Change from 2005: -1%
    2005 Attendance: 795,930
     
22. Ohio State Fair - Columbus, OH
    August 1 - August 12, 2007  - Amusements of America
    2007 Attendance: 806,301 - Change from 2006: -1%
    2006 Attendance: 814,152 - Change from 2005: 1%
    2005 Attendance: 802,074
      
23. Wisconsin State Fair - West Allis, WI
    August 2 - August 12, 2007  - Murphy Bros. Expositions
    2007 Attendance: 801,420 - Change from 2006: -7%
    2006 Attendance: 814,152 - Change from 2005: 0%
    2005 Attendance: 860,078
      
24. Capital EX  - Edmonton, ALB
    July 19 - July 28, 2007  - North American Midway Ent.
    2007 Attendance: 772,692 - Change from 2006: 12%
    2006 Attendance: 688,369 - Change from 2005: -18%
    2005 Attendance: 810,503
     
25. Indiana State Fair - Indianapolis, IN
    August 8 - August 19, 2007 - North American Midway Ent.
    2007 Attendance: 751,218 - Change from 2006: -14%
    2006 Attendance: 870,052 - Change from 2005: 6%
    2005 Attendance: 820,248
     
26. New Mexico State Fair - Albuquerque, NM
    September 7 - September 23, 2007  - Murphy Bros. & Wade Shows
    2007 Attendance: 741,000 - Change from 2006: 0%
    2006  Attendance: 738,664 - Change from 2005: 4%
    2005 Attendance: 710,000
     
27. California State Fair - Sacramento, CA
    August 19 - September 3, 2007 - Ray Cammack Shows
    2007 Attendance: 739,380* - Change from 2006: -21%
    2006 Attendance: 941,502 - Change from 2005: 2%
    2005 Attendance: 920,768
    
    * Shortened fair by 6 days
     
28. Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo - Miami, FL
    March 15 - April 3, 2007 - North American Midway Ent.
    2007 Attendance: 700,000 - Change from 2006: 4%
    2006 Attendance: 675,000 - Change from 2005: -4%
    2005 Attendance: 700,000
     
29. Illinois State Fair - Springfield, IL
    August 10 - August 18, 2007 - North American Midway Ent.
    2007 Attendance: 693,110 - Change from 2006: -2%
    2006 Attendance: 705,691 - Change: -6%
    2005 Attendance:  747,967
     
30. National Western Stock Show - Denver, CO
    January 6 - January 21, 2007 - North American Midway Ent.
    2007 Attendance: 649,637 - Change from 2006: -11%
    2006 Attendance: 727,000 - Change from 2005: 13%
    2005 Attendance: 633,544
     
31. Mississippi State Fair - Jackson, MS
    October 3 - October 14, 2007 - North American Midway Ent.
    2007 Attendance: 636,840 - Change from 2006: -1%
    2006 Attendance: 642,952 - Change from 2005: -3%
    2005 Attendance: 633,816
     
32. York Fair - York, PA
    September 7 - September 16, 2007- Reithoffer Shows
    2007 Attendance: 615,000 - Change from 2006: 13%
    2006 Attendance: 544,934 - Change from 2005: -13%
    2005 Attendance: 613,335
     
33. Kentucky State Fair - Louisville, KY
    August 16 - August 26, 2007 - North American Midway Ent.
    2007 Attendance: 589,364 - Change from 2006: -4%
    2006 Attendance: 614,477 - Change from 2005: -2%
    2005 Attendance: 629,749
     
34. South Florida Fair - West Palm Beach, FL
    January 18 - February 3, 2007 - Wade Shows
    2007 Attendance: 586,550 - Change from 2006: -2%
    2006 Attendance: 598,268 - Change from 2005: 3%
    2005 Attendance: 580,843
     
35. Allentown Fair - Allentown, PA
    August 28 - September 3, 2007 - S & S Amusements
    2007 Attendance: 585,000 - Change from 2006: 36%
    2006 Attendance: 431,000 - Change from 2005: -34%
    2005 Attendance: 576,000
     
36. Florida Strawberry Festival -Plant City, FL
    March 1 - March 11, 2007 - Bluegrass Shows
    2007 Attendance: 550,000 - Change from 2006: -8%
    2006 Attendance: 600,000 - Change from 2005: -25%
    2005 Attendance: 750,000
     
37. Big Fresno Fair - Fresno, CA
    October 3 - October 14, 2007 - Shamrock Shows
    2007 Attendance: 548,424- Change from 2006: -4%
    2006 Attendance: 571,051 - Change from 2005: 5%
    2005 Attendance: 545,049
     
38. Colorado State Fair - Pueblo, CO
    August 24 - September 3, 2007 - Crabtree Amusements
    2007 Attendance: 485,038 - Change from 2006: 7%
    2006 Attendance: 452,014 - Change from 2005: -2%
    2005 Attendance: 463,000
     
39. South Carolina State Fair - Columbia, SC
    October 10 - October 21, 2007 - North Ameican Midway Ent.
    2007 Attendance: 483,058 - Change from 2006: 11%
    2006 Attendance: 435,922 - Change from 2005: -17%
    2005 Attendance: 508,394
        
40. Florida State Fair - Tampa, FL
    February 8 - February 19, 2007 - Independent midway
    2007 Attendance: 458,158 - Change from 2006: 6%
    2006 Attendance: 434,067 - Change from 2005: -21%
    2005 Attendance: 526,718
       
41. Greeley Independence Stampede - Greeley, CO
    June 26 - July 4, 2007 - Bill Hames Shows
    2007 Attendance: 445,000 - Change from 2006: 1%
    2006 Attendance: 441,000 - Change from 2005: -2%
    2005 Attendance: 448,000
        
42. Georgia National Fair - Perry, GA
    October 4 - October 14, 2007 - Reithoffer Shows
    2007 Attendance: 443,351 - Change from 2006: 3%
    2006 Attendance: 431,499 - Change from 2005: 7%
    2005 Attendance: 400,615
      
43. Arkansas State Fair - Little Rock, AR
    October 12 - October 21, 2007 - Deggeller Attractions
    2007 Attendance: 441,535 - Change from 2006: 2%
    2006 Attendance: 433,062 - Change from 2005: -2%
    2005 Attendance: 439,848
      
44. Bloomsburg Fair - Bloomsburg, PA
    September 22 - September 29, 2007 - Reithoffer Shows
    2007 Attendance: 432860 - Change from 2006: 5%
    2006 Attendance: 413,203 - Change from 2005: -7%
    2005 Attendance: 441,655
     
45. Maryland State Fair - Timonium, MD
    August 24 - September 3, 2007 - Deggeller Attractions
    2007 Attendance: 417,458 - Change from 2006: 21%
    2006 Attendance: 344,585 - Change from 2005: N/A
    2005 Attendance: N/A
     
46. Ionia Free Fair (MI) - Ionia, MI
    July 19 - July 28, 2007 - Playworld Amusements
    2007 Attendance: 406,890 - Change from 2006: 4%
    2006 Attendance: 392,510 - Change from 2005: -2%
    2005 Attendance: 402,255
     
47. State Fair of Louisiana  - Shreveport, LA
    October 25 - November 11, 2007 - Lowery Carnival
    2007 Attendance: 405,478 - Change from 2006: 8%
    2006 Attendance: 375,000 - Change from 2005: N/A
    2005 Attendance: N/A
     
48. Pensacola Interstate Fair - Pensacola, FL
    October 18 - October 28, 2007 - Reithoffer Shows
    2007 Attendance: 389,000 - Change from 2006: -6%
    2006 Attendance: 413,000 - Change from 2005: -18%
    2005 Attendance: 486,000
     
49. Kern County Fair - Bakersfield, CA
    September 19 - September 30, 2007 - Butler Amusements
    2007 Attendance: 386,593 - Change from 2006: -4%
    2006 Attendance: 403,927 - Change from 2005: 2%
    2005 Attendance: 394,310
      
50. Dixie Classic Fair - Winston Salem, NC
    September 28 - October 7, 2007 - Strates Shows
    2007 Attendance: 371,219 - Change from 2006: 17%
    2006 Attendance: 316,682 - Change from 2005: N/A
    2005 Attendance: N/A
    

2007 TOTAL TOP 50 FAIR ATTENDANCE: 41,468,926
2006 TOTAL TOP 50 FAIR ATTENDANCE: 41,475,968
2005 TOTAL TOP 50 FAIR ATTENCANCE:  41,197,789
Change from 2005: + 1%

Click here to view the 2007 Carnivals Playing the Top 50 Fairs list!

 
(c) 2006-2007 MCW - carnivalwarehouse.com

* MCW Estimate