Attendance at last week’s Mower County Fair topped last year, but it was a 2013 change that may have shined brightest in 2014.

About 90,900 visitors attended the 2014 fair, up from about 90,400 last year, according to Fair Board President Neal Anderson. Estimates are made by workers at the gates taking counts and multiplying by a factor to compensate for the unmanned gates.

In the second year of the 1,500-seat, $700,000 grandstand, three of the six paid events sold out, including Great Frontier Bull Riding on Saturday and two Masters of Disaster Demolition Derbies on Wednesday and Sunday.

“We’ve never sold out three grandstand events ever in our other years,” Anderson said.

A free concert by Time Machine in the grandstand on Friday was also a big draw.

The grandstand debuted at the 2013 fair after the previous grandstand was condemned in July 2012 after more than 75 years of use and then burned down as part of a firefighter training exercise in February of 2013.

This year saw several changes as well. GoldStar Amusements took over the midway after about three decades of Merriam’s Midway Shows. Though some were unhappy with the loss of some classic fair rides, Anderson said the new carnival was received well.

“[People] felt that it was a great value, more quality rides,” Anderson said. “[It was the] first opportunity for GoldStar in Austin, and I think they did a great job.”

Anderson was excited for a passport deal that allowed attendants to get a better deal on rides at the fair. Yet the rides weren’t the only thing that attendants enjoyed at this year’s fair.

“Obviously the new grandstand is something that the community wants to come and be a part of,” Anderson said.

Anderson said part of the strong turnout was due to the nice weather, but it was also due to many free events, quality entertainment and the new carnival. Many people also attended the free events at the Godfather’s Fair Square, including Brad Boice’s “Elvis Gospel and Patriotic Tribute Show” and Richie Lee and the Fabulous 50’s.

“People love to come watch them,” Anderson said.

Another big attraction was the new agriculture equipment display, located in the center of the fairground.

“[We’ve] had a lot of positive comments about adding the farm equipment in front of the fairgrounds,” Anderson said.

Though the fair ended a few days ago, plans are already in the works for next year’s fair.

“We do have some things in the works; we’ve already started planning for the 2015 fair,” Anderson said. “We rebooked a lot of our entertainment, and I guess we’re just planning on making the fair bigger and better every year.”