Missouri State Fair Announces Higher Increased Attendance And Entries During 2023 Event

Missouri State Fair Director and Governor Mike Parson announced that nearly 350,000 visitors attending this year’s Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. The Missouri State Fair ran from August 10th through August 20th and represents a two and a half percent increase from last year.

Statistics from fairgoer surveys consistently show that one of the top reasons guests attend the Fair is because it is a tradition for their family.

The agriculture showcase, family-friendly attractions and shows, fair food and drink, shopping, and camping also ranked high in the list of why fairgoers came to the Fair in 2023. Concerts were also an important part of the fairgoer experience this year, with the sold-out Lainey Wilson show and nearly sold-out Nelly concert coming in as the most popular.

The carnival midway was a popular destination for Fair guests, recording its second highest year for revenue with the first Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday coming in as the biggest days on record.

Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn announced that entry numbers were also encouraging with more than 25,500 livestock and competitive entries shown at the State Fair in 2023. Notable increases in livestock entries shown included 37 percent for dairy cattle and 30 percent for rabbits. Agriculture Building entries for hams, bacons and summer sausage, apiculture, and horticulture increased 33 percent.