This year’s Missouri State Fair proved a success, said Director Marion Lucas.

Some 285,000 people came through the gates at the fair, up 20 percent from last year, according to preliminary attendance figures. Fair officials have yet to receive pre-sale ticket numbers sold by Lowe’s, Orscheln Farm & Home Supply, Breaktime and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Final attendance figures are expected to take at least three weeks.

Last year, 238,344 fairgoers attended and 273,934 attended in 2006. This year’s daily attendance figures topped those from last year, with the exception of Monday.

Good weather, quality free entertainment, more attractions for children and a cleaner, better midway all contributed to the success of this year’s fair, Lucas said.

The $5 after 5 p.m. deal also appeared to be a hit, as 38,575 took advantage of the promotion.

“To get these numbers shows it’s a success to me, and it works,” Lucas said.

The grandstand proved a “disappointment,” with a $150,000 profit, Lucas said. Last year, the fair lost $100,000 on its grandstand acts.

Blake Shelton with Tracy Lawrence was the most attended concert with 5,378, while Foreigner with Fiction Plane had the lowest attendance with 2,403. The grandstand seats 11,000.

Concessionaires appeared to have done well, although fair officials don’t track concession sales, since rentals are based on flat fee. Lucas said one concessionaire told him on Aug. 11 he made more money the first four days of this year’s fair than all 11 days last year.

“That’s saying something,” Lucas said.

The key to a successful fair is simple: “Good dollar value for the price of admission. ... If they leave here happy, they’ll be coming back,” Lucas said.

“It’s not magical what I’ve done,” he said.

Fairgoers can expect the same “high caliber” of free entertainment, and the likely return of The Anastasini Circus, at the 2009 fair scheduled for Aug. 13 to 23, Lucas said.

This was Lucas’ final fair as director. Building Manager Mark Wolfe is set to become Lucas’ replacement, but Lucas said he will remain at least through the next legislative session in April or May.

Attendance Figures (without off-site advance ticket sales)   

             2008          2007
Aug. 7  46,069    43,742

Aug. 8  22,883    19,152

Aug. 9  34,733    27,662   

Aug. 10  26,892    21,796

Aug. 11  19,273    21,218

Aug. 12  17,618    16,456

Aug. 13  17,567    14,929

Aug. 14  22,553    16,538

Aug. 15  21,867    18,396

Aug. 16  31,176    27,597

Aug. 17  23,906    15,110

Grandstand Attendance

Aug. 7, Air Supply: 2,609

Aug. 8, Charlie Daniels: 4,288

Aug. 9, Josh Turner: 4,916

Aug. 10, Jason Aldean: 4,143

August 12, Foreigner: 2,403

August 13, Country Gold Tour: 3,690

August 15, Sara Evans: 4,583

August 16, Blake Shelton: 5,378