The North Carolina and South Carolina state fairs set record attendance numbers this year despite delays due to Tropical Storm Michael.
[RELATED: Hurricane Michael delays NC State Fair opening to Friday]
The NC State Fair had a one-day delay and nearly topped 1 million in attendance, and the SC State Fair topped last year's numbers, despite being closed for one day.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in a news release the 10-day event attracted 977,256 people, including record attendance on Friday and Sunday.
On Friday, the NC fair set an attendance day record of 109,396. On Sunday, the final day, the fair set a record for the day with 130,319 patrons.
The start of the fair was delayed as the remnants of Hurricane Michael rolled through the state.
The annual Junior Livestock Sale of Champions brought in a record $284,000 for the youth showing the animals and for livestock scholarship programs. The fair also brought in 230,813 pounds of food on Hunger Relief Day.
[RELATED: 9 Investigates: How fair rides are regulated in the Carolinas]
Fair officials said in a news release Sunday night that nearly 444,000 guests attended the SC State Fair.
That's up more than 16,000 visitors from last year, even though the fair was closed Oct. 11 by the weather.
The fair had more than 75,000 guests on Oct. 13, the most on a day since the fair expanded to a 12-day run in 2006.
The SC State Fair will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year, running from Oct. 9 to Oct. 20.
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Associated Press
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