New Mexico State Fair getting ready for annual festivities

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – By next week, hundreds of thousands of people will make their way to Albuquerque for one of New Mexico’s biggest events of the year.

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“It’s getting set up its fair time, baby!,” said General Manager Dan Mourning, New Mexico State Fair.

The state fair is gearing up and getting ready to welcome big crowds who will pack the Expo New Mexico fairgrounds in just five days. So far, the rides and concessions are mostly set up. “It’s absolutely crazy right now but the really big push happens in the next day or so,” said Mourning.

Lots of guests are expected from out of state with the state fair saying this year they’re expecting over half a million visitors over the course of the 11-day event. This year, they’re hoping to get more people through the gate faster with AI-powered metal detectors designed to recognize common objects.

“The world is a different place from where we have been in a long time. We have to make sure, we have all kinds of safety things in place. We have more cameras. There’s about 200 cameras that are out here as well as mobile stuff that you don’t see,” said Mourning,

The fair says its cameras are also linked with the Albuquerque Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center. Outside the expo, the city said it hasn’t increased the number of cleanup crews that are normally in the area. However, they said visitors will likely see Solid Waste Department workers more often due to an uptick in calls during the event.

“Our approach remains the same, and our processes remain the same, so for the most part, if we get.. 311 calls, for graffiti and trash, they’re handled within 24 hours, so,” said Angel Urrutia, city of Albuquerque, Solid Waste Department.

Ahead of the fair’s start, Expo New Mexico said it will be offering discount options through Labor Day weekend. Tickets can be bought for $5 starting Saturday and ending at 4 p.m. on Labor Day.

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