MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Despite a rainy start Friday, attendance at the Kansas State Fair surged over the weekend, drawing some of the largest crowds in recent years. Fair officials reported that 102,218 people attended opening weekend, with 43,888 visitors on Saturday alone — just shy of a single-day record.
Organizers noted that new ticket-scanning technology is helping them track attendance more accurately than in years past, when paper tickets were weighed to estimate crowd sizes.
Among the highlights of this year’s fair is the 1861 Club, now in its second year. Built by the Kansas State Fair Foundation, the venue has quickly become a popular year-round event space, hosting weddings, fundraisers, and corporate gatherings. Executive Director James Fisher said the club is already booking events as far ahead as 2027.
The Foundation also brought back a crowd favorite absent since 2019: saltwater taffy. Sold in assorted bags featuring 12 flavors — including buttered popcorn and cinnamon — the Kansas State Fair–branded treat is available at the 1861 Club and at the official merchandise booth.
That booth, located in the Fountain House building, is also seeing record sales this year. A new on-demand shirt printing system allows fairgoers to customize designs, colors, and sizes, with plans to fully renovate the space into a retail-style store by next year.
Fair officials say improvements across the fairgrounds, including new asphalt, upgraded lighting, and enhanced sound systems, have drawn praise from visitors — even those traveling cross-country to experience multiple state fairs.
“The fairgrounds look great, and the energy this weekend showed that,” Fisher said. “It’s exciting to be part of something that adds so much value to the community.”
The Kansas State Fair continues through Sept. 15