Boone County Fair
    The sun sets on opening day Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, of the Boone County Fair. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
    By Kevin Haas
    Rock River Current
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    ROCKFORD — This year’s Boone County Fair wrapped up its six-day run with the second-best attendance figures in its nearly 170-year history.

    The official attendance for the fair was 218,068, fair officials announced Monday on Facebook. The record came in 2019, when attendance was 222,131.

    “Thanks to all who attended and a big thanks to all the Grange members and volunteers who worked so hard to make this fair produce a whole lotta happy,” Boone County Fair posted on Facebook. “This is one big community fair. By the community and for the community. Thank you one and all.”

    Related: Boone County Fair Queen pageant delivers a first in 14 years

    This is the fifth fair in a row to draw an attendance of more than 200,000 people, according to data from the Boone County Fair. There were nearly 210,000 in attendance in 2021. The fair was canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus.

    The Boone County Agricultural Society formed in 1855 to organize the first Boone County Fair, according to the fair website. It’s been held nearly every year since with few exceptions. For example, the fair was called off from 1863-1865 because of the Civil War and again in 1945 to reduce an infantile paralysis epidemic.

    Next up is the Winnebago County Fair, which kicks off its five-day run on Wednesday.


    This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.