By BJ Austin, KERA Reporter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-773997.mp3
Dallas, TX – This is the final week of the State Fair of Texas and officials expect the biggest crowds today, Columbus Day. KERA's BJ Austin says the current economic crisis is apparently not affecting attendance at the Fair.
Sue Gooding, with the Fair, says Columbus Day is expected to have the largest crowd, even bigger than Saturday and the Texas OU game in the Cotton Bowl. Gooding says not only is it a holiday today, but it's Fair Day for 22 area school districts. She says she's heard no complaints from Fair vendors about slow sales or small crowds. These merchants in the Creative Arts Building say business is good in spite of the Wall Street financial meltdown dominating the headlines.
McCain: I'm up a little bit, but as I say, I'm thankful. At least I'm paying my bills. Well, economic has a lot to do with everything, but we're doing really good. People are still buying like crazy.
A trip to the Fair with livestock in tow can be expensive. But Sid Kirkendahl from Midlothian says the economy is not keeping the crowds and cattle away.
Kirkendahl: The entries were a little up this year, especially the Open Angus show had a few more head. But you commit to these things before the Stock Market crash, too.
Kirkendahl's Angus cattle, by the way, took a first and a second place in competition.
Under the Big Top at the Backyard Circus, a State Fair feature for 19 years, Ringmaster Bill Carpenter sees no slowdown because of the economy.
Carpenter: It seems to be a little of the opposite. That people are maybe not going further afield, but they're coming to the Fair.
Sue Gooding says they are reaching for another record year.
Gooding: You know we gauge one year to the other by coupon revenue. Last year, we sold $29 million in food and ride coupon sales. That had beaten our previous record by $3 million.
Gooding says the weather has been great, the Midway has been crowded and the crowds this week could be the largest yet.
The Fair's last day is Sunday.