First weekend draws huge
crowds
By B.J.
Pollock Monday, October 2, 2006 11:50 AM CDT
Fort Bend HeraldFriday night's rains
did little to dampen attendance at the 70th Annual Fort Bend County
Fair.
While official numbers are not yet available, fair manager Travis
Boeker said more than 89,000 people attended the opening weekend and
Friday's Kevin Fowler concert nearly set a record.
"It equaled or was slightly under the number of people who attended
the Willie Nelson concert a few years ago," Boeker said. "The arena
was a good three-fourths full of people standing, plus what was in
the bleachers. They hold about 3,500 people."
Sunday's student art auction broke its own record, with 16 works of
art being sold for a total of $33,500. The grand champion entry,
"Lone Rider" by Andrew Matej, brought in $6,000 and the reserve
champion entry, "Lucky 13," by Joe Compean, was sold for $5,000.
Hundreds of children participated in Friday's student fun day
activities in the O.D. Tucker Covered Arena, and there was a packed
house for Friday's coronation of 2006 Fair Queen Kelsey Prestidge.
Entertainment was plentiful and well-attended Saturday and Sunday as
well, with events such as the first annual Platinum Palooza Music
Fest, won by Departure, bringing out plenty of music fans.
Monday's Talent Show at 6 p.m. is always a big hit, as is the Ranch
Rodeo at 7 p.m., so Boeker expects the high attendance numbers to
continue that evening and throughout the week.
"We've had very good numbers so far, and they'll only go up," he
said. "The rains only slowed us down for about an hour Friday
night."
Boeker said security has reported no major problems, and the
auctions so far have been great.
"We're looking for good ones Thursday and Saturday as well," he
said. "The numbers have been excellent so far, and the support from
the community has been marvelous."
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