Colorado State Fair Concludes with 18 Percent Yearly Jump in Attendance

507,970Coloradans attended the 154th Colorado State Fair in Pueblo from Friday, August 28, through Monday, September 7. The initial count reflects an 18 percent increasein attendance compared with last year's fair.

The highest-attended day was Saturday, September 5, when 66,559 Coloradans were in attendance. On Sunday, September 6, 62,904 celebrated Colorado's Hispanic heritage and roots as a part of the 59th Fiesta Day celebration at the Colorado State Fair.

"Coloradans showed up in a big way this year, and we are incredibly grateful to every guest, competitor, exhibitor, vendor, volunteer, partner and team member who made it such a memorable celebration," said Andrea Wiesenmeyer, general manager of the Colorado State Fair.

Approximately 31,795 people attended events at the Big R Arena, including concerts from Ian Munsick, Dylan Scott, Neal McCoy, PRCA rodeo competitions, the Toughest Monster Truck Tour, demolition derby, and the Celebración de los Charros along with music from Banda Machos. The Big R Arena also hosted several free shows during the Fair, including the Westernaires and Mountain State Ranch Rodeo.

At the Southwest Motors Events Center, 9,327 people were entertained by Jordan Davis, the 'I Love the 90s Tour' featuring Vanilla Ice, Color Me Badd and the C+C Music Factory, and the Fray with ROME from Sublime with Rome.

Across the 11-day fair, attendees enjoyed more than 200 free concerts and entertainment shows throughout the grounds, including daily strongman shows from Mighty Mike, a 150-ton sand sculpture built during the fair, Agri-Golf, The Great American Duck Race, and roving performances from Stilt Circus and the Bubbler. Free concerts at the PB&T Bank Pavilion and American Furniture Warehouse Amphitheater featured Arch Allies, Radio Ready, Uptown Jam, Lies or Lullabies, The Outlaw Mariachi, Dead Floyd, The Martini Shot, Triple Nickel and Pueblo native Cody Cozz. The fair also featured local singers, dance groups, mariachis, and high school marching bands.

"With 11 days of blue skies and electric energy across the fairgrounds, this year's celebration felt truly special. Higher attendance is a tribute to our fantastic entertainment, the pride behind our agricultural traditions, the passion of our 4-H and FFA youth, the dedication of our exhibitors, and the family memories created across the fairgrounds," Wiesenmeyer said. "We are honored that so many people chose to be part of continuing this Colorado tradition."

As a part of the Fair's livestock competitions, 759 exhibitors from across the state showed a total of 1,932 animals during the 11-day run of the fair. More than $515,168has been raised so far as a part of Colorado's Electric Cooperatives Junior Livestock Sale, which included the sale of 94 animals raised and shown by young Coloradans. The 2026 Grand Champion Market Beef, raised by Shawn Rothe of Weld County, was purchased for $62,000.

There were 2,887 Creative and Fine Arts entries competing during the State Fair submitted by 1,021 Coloradans. As a part of the Fine Arts competition, a total of $10,414 in artwork, created by 47 artists was sold.

With this year's fair in the rearview mirror, the next event scheduled at the fairgrounds is the Steel City Supershow, featuring custom vehicles from Pueblo and beyond, on Saturday, September 26. Mark your calendar for the next Colorado State Fair, which will be held between August 27 and September 6, 2027.