Marin County Fair Breaks Fourth Of July Attendance Record

SAN RAFAEL, CA — More than 116,000 people attended the Marin County Fair this year in San Rafael, generating over $1.5 million in ticket revenue.

A total of 86,154 people purchased tickets to the five-day fair, while 30,485 people received complimentary tickets to the "Over the Moon" themed-event from July 3-7, according to the Marin County Department of Cultural Affairs, which manages the fair.

The biggest day and single-day record was July 4, when 31,885 people celebrated Fourth of July at the fair, officials said. Overall attendance was up 11 percent from last year's total of 104,942.

The fair commemorated the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in 1969. Headlining acts included Dwight Yoakam, Cheap Trick, Steel Pulse, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Mariachi Divas, the Distractions, and Abba The Concert.

More fun facts about the Marin County Fair:

• 10,597 children were admitted free, including 7,502 kids on Kids Free Day on July 3
• More than 15,000 items were entered in the competitive exhibits program, from fine art to cookies and trash-to-treasure creations, including 30 pies, 23 cheesecakes and 26 healthy food choices
• 8 babies participated in the Baby Derby
• 700 poetry books given out to fairgoers by the Marin County Poet Laureate Terry Lucas in the Poetry Connection Corner
• 146 artworks sold in the fine art and exhibits area totaling $59,000 in art sales ($23,000 on the Fourth of July alone) and $16,000 in the Green Room Gallery; the majority of the works were by Marin County artists
• 180 fairgoers collectively attempted to break the world record for the most people doing the moonwalk at one time (world record verification pending)
• 3,224 people rode the fair shuttle
• 10,000 people rode the SMART train to the fair, including 420 who took the northbound late train at 10:30 p.m. after the fireworks
• 580 pounds of food donations were distributed to nonprofits associated with ExtraFood.org, a Marin organization that rescues excess fresh food and serves it to the county's most vulnerable residents

Also see:

• Marin County Fair Announces 2019 Theme
• Marin County Fair Returns In July
• Marin County Fair Opens Wednesday