Geddes, N.Y. -- The New York State Fair could set a Labor Day attendance record today, said acting fair Director Troy Waffner.
Final figures won't be available until after 10 p.m., but Waffner said about 4:30 p.m. that the fair has already surpassed last Labor Day, when 60,891 people were on the grounds.The record for Labor Day is 108,216, set in 2001.
"They're still pouring in from the Orange lot, and Centro tells us their buses are standing-room only," Waffner said as he walked the fairgrounds near Chevy Court.
"The Midway is rocking right now. I think when we get done the midway will eclipse by several hundred thousand (rides) the record-setting year."
Waffner declared the fair's first-ever Dollar Day, with $1 admission and rides, to be "a complete success."
As of 2:20 p.m. today, total fair attendance had already surpassed 2013's total, said fair spokesman Dave Bullard.
"With Doobie Brothers at 6 and fireworks at dusk, (there is a) potential for a very strong closing day," Bullard said in an email.
Bullard said that the baked potato stand in the Horticulture Building had sold its 50,000th baked potato of the fair today and could break the 12-day fair record of 54,487, set last year.
The one-day attendance record in fair history was set on Saturday with 120,617 people.
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