Fair attendance drops, but gate revenue up

Attendance at this year’s Spokane County Interstate Fair was down six percent from last year, but revenue was up, fair officials reported Thursday. Revenue from admissions sold at the gate rose by 2.6 percent from 2008, largely because the fair did not offer a “Free Day” this year, said Erin Gurtel, Spokane County Fair and Expo Center spokeswoman. Group tickets sales also rose by 20 percent. In addition, about 900 people used the fair’s free parking shuttle from Spokane Community College to the fairgrounds this year. The 2010 fair dates are scheduled from Sept. 10 to 19. For more information go to www.interstatefair.org.