Cascade County released the numbers for the 2024 Montana State Fair.
This year’s total gross revenue was $1,851,024 with 72,218 total paid fairgoers.
Total fair gate admission revenue was $407,562.
All the same food vendors with the exception of the Sons of Norway and one other returned for the 2024 Montana State Fair, according to Great Falls Fire Marshal Mike McIntosh.
Fair Guide: Tickets, food vendors, general information
The food concessionaires grossed $841,114, according to Montana Expo Park numbers.
The 2023 state fair generated $1,942,060 in total revenue, according to the county.
Food concessionaires grossed $979,609, according to the county.
The night show sales were $411,769 and those sales were included in the fair’s total. Night show attendance was 9,522 at Pacific Steel and Recycling Arena.
County approves horse racing, fair entertainment contracts
Night show attendance:
- Starship and Foghat: 1,206
- Bush: 1,346
- Trace Adkins: 1,826
- Tape Face: 500
- Jeff Dunham: 3,576
- Newsboys: 1,068
In July, Cascade County Commissioners approved a $609,500 contract with Neste Live for the night show entertainment.
County approves horse racing, fair entertainment contracts
It’s the second year the county has contracted with Neste Live for fair night shows.
Over the course of the nine-day event, The Mighty Thomas Carnival grossed $826,191.
The Mighty Thomas Carnival provided rides and games for the 30th year at the fair and grossed $809,982 in 2023, down from the previous two years.
In 2021, County Commissioners approved a five-year contract with the Mighty Thomas Carnival for fair rides, sideshows, carnival games and concessions on the grounds for the Montana State Fair at Montana Expo Park.
The 2020 fair is included in the contract though it was cancelled due to COVID-19 and the contract covers fairs for 2021-2024.
County releases 2023 fair numbers
In the contract, the carnival agrees to present rides with an hourly passenger capacity of at least 80 percent of those at the 2019 fair.
The carnival pays the fair 35 percent of gross ride ticket sales, net of applicable sales taxes, up to $350,000 in sales; and 40 percent of those sales over $350,000, according to the contract. The carnival also agrees to pay 10 percent of ticket gross of up to two “extreme” rides and the designation of “extreme” is mutually agreed upon by both parties, according to the contract.
Aug. 2 was the most visited day with 12,948 fairgoers at the carnival, PRCA Big Sky Pro Rodeo and the Jeff Dunham show, according to the county.
County approves entertainment contracts for state fair [2023]
Women’s Breakaway Roping made its debut at the 2024 PRCA Big Sky Rodeo and attendance was 8,856 over the four-night event. Pepsi Night brought 2,582 attendees for the last night of the rodeo.
This year’s fair had new grounds entertainment with Funkanometry, Cast in Bronze and the Mirror Men, plus Bingo at the 3 Rivers Communications stage.
County Commission disbands fair board [2021]
In July, commissioners approved grounds entertainment contracts for:
- Strolling Piano: 27 hours of strolling entertainment July 26-Aug. 3 for $14,500 plus two hotel rooms July 25-Aug. 3
- Plant Guy: 15 hours of strolling entertainment July 30-Aug. 3 for $5,500 plus one hotel room for the same dates
- Funkanometry: 27 hours of entertainment July 26-Aug. 3 for $27,000 plus two hotel rooms July 24-Aug. 3
- Cast in Bronze: 27 hours of entertainment July 26-Aug. 3 for $18,000 plus two hotel rooms July 25-Aug. 3
- Mirror Men: 27 hours of strolling entertainment July 26-Aug. 3 for $18,000 plus two hotel rooms July 25-Aug. 3
The 2025 Montana State Fair is set for July 25 through Aug. 2.
