Will Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair challenge attendance records? Cooler weather may help

The Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair drew 230,021 attendees in the first three days of the 2024 fair, including the third-highest daily attendance total ever on Saturday, despite temperatures that topped out in the high 90s.

The fair at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon started Thursday and runs through next Saturday.

The first Saturday drew 145,880, according to Wilson County Promotions, the third-highest daily count that includes the years before the partnership with the Tennessee State Fair began in 2021. Fair attendance on Thursday was 36,533 and Friday 47,608.

The second Saturday of the 2022 fair drew 163,905 and last year’s first Saturday drew 160,441.

Total attendance was 776,195 in 2022 and 739,315 last year for the fair's 10-day run.

The National Weather Service forecasts cooler, less humid and dry weather the rest of the week, meteorologist Matt Reagan said.

Temperatures in the upper 80s and are expected Sunday with low- to mid-80s forecast Monday-Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 80s and lower 90s Thursday-Saturday, according to the weather service.

"We are looking for a great rest of the week," Wilson County Promotions Executive Director Helen McPeak said.

The Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair dates, times, tickets and more

When : Aug. 15-24

Where : James E. Ward Agricultural Center, 945 E. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon

Hours: The fair opens at 5 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. on both Saturdays and noon on Sunday. Ticket sales stop at 9:30 p.m. nightly

Theme: 95 Reasons to Celebrate Tennessee

Agricultural commodity: Year of Wheat and Grains

Daily tickets: $15 for ages 13 and over and $6 for ages 6-12 with ages 5 and under free

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Will Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair challenge attendance records? Cooler weather may help