Concerts, good weather drew crowds

Mild weather and top-notch country music concerts enticed masses of Flathead Valley residents to last week's Northwest Montana Fair.

According to Fair Manager Jay Scott, this year's fair attendance was up 17 percent over last year. The three-day festival had 9,104 more people attending than last year.

Preliminary counts place 2007 attendance at 61,917, up from last year's 52,813 fair-goers.

Scott said it's very difficult to put a finger on what exactly made the fair so popular this year. Good weather played a part, but there were several new exhibits that may also have attracted the crowds.

Popular country music acts were a big draw this year as well. Phil Vassar performed Aug. 14, selling 1,430 seats. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band sold more than twice as many seats Aug. 15, filling 3,776 seats.

This year, Indian relay races were incorporated in the annual PRCA rodeo. The rodeo ran from Aug. 16 through Aug. 18 and sold a total of 12,394 seats.

The Demolition Derby also had a good showing Sunday night, selling 3,371 seats.

As usual, the carnival was a major attraction, bringing in a total of $282,894 with the county's cut of the profits coming to $94,087. The county's profits were up more than $3,000 from last year.

Unlike years past, the weather during the fair couldn't have been much better. Scott said temperatures were down from the record high heat of earlier this summer.

"It wasn't too hot," he said. "It was just right."

Scott said even the smoky skies could have added to fair attendance.

"When it's so smoky people might not be up hiking or camping, so they'll come to the fair," Scott said. "But I also like to think we just did a good job."

Reporter Amy May may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at amay@dailyinterlake.com