Rain Dampens State Fair Attendance
Big Tex isn't seeing as many visitors this year.
The key to a successful State Fair is sunshine, and Dallas hasn't seen much sunshine this October.
It's been an unusually rainy October in Dallas, and State Fair officials say the threat of rain has kept many visitors home during the 24 days the fair is open.
Coupon sales for the fair are down 25 to 30 percent this year compared to last year, according to Mitchell Glieber, a fair spokesman.
"We've had more rainy days than we've had days of sunshine; that's very rare," said Glieber.
Vendors say sales have been slow. Many concession stands that would normally have four or five workers behind the counter and working with just two employees.
But vendors and fair officials said clear weather during the Fair's last weekend combined with the Texas versus Oklahoma University football game could make for a record-breaking weekend.
The Red River Rivalry is already sold out. More than 92,000 fans will fill the Cotton Bowl on Saturday and fair officials said they hope those fans spend money at the fair too.
Posted Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 - 6:55 PM CST
