Although a drizzly, overcast day is not what fair organizers hoped for, that's what they were stuck with on Thursday afternoon when the gates opened. But it didn't keep people away.
For the second year in a row, the fair started with a preview day, with rides and exhibits opening at 3 p.m. Even in the damp chill, 37,932 people strolled through.
That beats last year's attendance of 35,215.
If the weather holds, big crowds could fill the fairgrounds this weekend. Saturday's Kellie Pickler concert is sold out, and only a few hundred tickets remain for tonight's Third Day show.
If you're thinking of attending the Blake Shelton or Eric Church concerts, don't dawdle. Tickets for those are going fast.
Matt Ehlers has worked for The N&O since 2002. As a general-assignment reporter, he writes about a variety of topics.