By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELVIDERE — The Boone County Fair set a new attendance record this year, topping its previous high mark by more than 4,000 visitors.

The fair had a record attendance of 226,268 during its six-day run this year, fair officials announced on Facebook. That tops the previous record of 222,131 set in 2019.

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This is the sixth straight fair that has drawn an attendance of more than 200,000. Last year, the fair brought in 218,068 visits. The last five fairs have averaged nearly 217,000 people.

The Boone County Agricultural Society organized in 1855 to throw the first Boone County Fair, according to the fair website. It’s been held nearly every year since with few exceptions. The fair was called off from 1863-1865 because of the Civil War and again in 1945 to reduce an infantile paralysis epidemic. The fair was also called off in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now the Winnebago County Fair will kick off its five-day run on Wednesday.

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