MINOT, ND ( KXNET ) — Walking through the gates of the North Dakota State Fair will be a different experience this year, but for good reason.

Fairgoers will now have to walk through metal detectors before heading inside.

The detectors will be placed at every gate entrance for the entire fair.

Unlike the airport, these are specially designed metal detectors. You won’t have to take off your belt or take your cell phone out of your pocket.

They are strictly to detect weapons or dangerous objects.

This is the first year this level of security will be at the gates. But the general manager of the State Fair said after last year’s record-breaking attendance, he wants to ensure the safety of all 356,000 people who are expected to attend.

“We want to make sure that our guests that come to the North Dakota State Fair, have that extra level of security,” said the General Manger of the North Dakota State Fair, Craig Rudland. “And we want them to be comfortable on the fairgrounds. So, we wanted to try these metal detectors, and I think people are going to appreciate that.”

Rudland said, there will also be metal detectors at the Grandstand entrances heading into concerts, just as an extra precaution.

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