Manitowoc County Fair had record-breaking attendance in 2024. Here are the final numbers.

MANITOWOC – The Manitowoc County Fair had another record-breaking year for attendance — more than 55,000 people stepped through the gates for the promise of thrills and entertainment Aug. 21-25.

Jennell Shelton, Manitowoc County Expo facility manager, said the attendance for the 2024 fair dwarfed that of the 2023 fair, which boasted more than 50,000 in attendance.

"It was a great year," she said.

Shelton said the carnival rides always draw a big crowd, as well as the grandstand events and the daily musical entertainment.

This year's grandstand events included fireworks to end the first night of the fair, truck and tractor pulls, and a demolition derby. The fair also hosted a sea lion show, Lew-E's Comedy Circus and a petting zoo.

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Musical entertainment included shows from Norm's Polka Band, Sons of Sconnie, Estrella Latina and The Glam Band. Shelton said there were also opportunities for karaoke, which she said was very popular with the younger crowd.

"The fair attendees joining us each year continue to make our fair a successful community event," Expo-Ice Center Board Chairman Dick Pollen said in a news release from Manitowoc County Expo Aug. 29.

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Now that the food trailers have moved on and the last of the exhibits are cleaned up, Shelton said the Expo-Ice Center Board will begin working on next year's fair almost immediately.

At the board's next meeting Sept. 4, Shelton said the discussion will focus on identifying what went well during this year's fair, what didn't go well and how to improve for 2025. Then, the board will begin laying out plans for the 2025 fair during its October meeting.

The next county fair is planned for Aug. 20-24, 2025.

Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc County Fair had record-breaking attendance in 2024. Here are the final numbers.