All but two states in the U.S. host an annual state fair. These fairs originated as competitive venues for displaying and ranking of livestock and other agricultural products. The events usually also included competitive events for visitors, such as pie eating contests or contests of strength. The displaying of arts and crafts was also a common feature in early state fairs as it is today still. The earliest official State Fair was in Detroit Michigan. Sadly, Michigan is one of the two states which has discontinued its state fair in the last two years due to budgetary limitations. The other state is Nevada.

Minnesota—the 21st state in a ranking of states based on 2010 population—has consistently had the second ranked State Fair when measured by attendance in recent years.

Today’s market share is the size of the attendance at the 2010 Minnesota State Fair, celebrated between August 26 and September 6, 2010. This year’s Minnesota State Fair will run from August 25 through September 5, 2011.

Geographic reference: State of Minnesota
Year: 2010
Market size: 1.78 million visitors
Source: “Carnivalwarehouse.com’s 2010 Top 50 Fairs,” a ranking published annually by the source, originally Matt’s Carnival Warehouse, founded in 1997. A list of recent Top 50 lists with links to each is available online here.
Original source: Carnivalwarehouse.com