The day after the fair ended, Arena Park was still a hub of activity.

Not with rides and attractions, but with crews of volunteer workers scrambling to return Arena Park to its normal state after the SEMO District Fair. Where rides and vendors' trailers once stood, there were only ruts in the ground and scattered pieces of litter.

"We have about 120 volunteers helping to straighten this place up," said Pete Poe, publicity chairman for the fair. "We don't just clean the fairgrounds, we go through the entire area surrounding the park. We'll be working for the next couple of days, trying to leave the place like we found it, picking up and fixing the ruts."

Poe and the volunteers were cleaning up after a crowd of about 95,000 went through the 148th SEMO District Fair. That number is up from last year's attendance, which came in at 91,500.

"We had a good lineup of activities this year, and that helped draw a bigger crowd," Poe said. "People love to come out and see the tractor pull and demolition derby. We also have the biggest horse show in eastern Missouri."

Poe also pointed to this year's musical performers as reasons for the increased attendance.

"The Marshall Tucker Band was really popular on Thursday," he said. "And Phil Vassar drew a really good crowd this year. He had a tremendous show. He's just a great performer and songwriter."

The fair's music schedule closed with John Anderson, David Ball and Shenandoah on Saturday.

Good weather during the opening weekend also helped attendance, Poe said, though the rain on Friday and Saturday may have hurt.

In addition to attendance, the fair has also grown commercially this year, Poe said. There were about 20 additional vendors at the fair compared to last year, and most of this year's vendors have signed contracts to return next year.

While some of those vendors are local outfits that mobilize once a year for the fair, many of them are carnies, who travel from fair to fair in the spring, summer and fall, selling their wares and operating the rides.

Two of them, Joe and Norma McFadden, a retired couple from Corpus Christi, Texas, travel to fairs across the Midwest, selling assorted trinkets and knick-knacks. This is their second year at the SEMO District Fair and their sixth on the fair circuit.

"We're only home three months out of the year," said Joe. "It's nice to travel around. It also helps us supplement our income, because Social Security just isn't enough. And it helps us to stay healthy and active."

The couple also enjoys the chance to meet new people, said Norma.

"Now we always run into friends at every fair we go to," she said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 226