Red River Valley Fair Sends out Fair Experience Survey After “Financial Disaster” This Summer

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Red River Valley Fair wants to find out what you would like to see for next year’s fair.

The survey comes after the fair reported suffering a “financial disaster” following a shift from a ten-day fair to an event that stretched over three separate weekends.

The “Fair Experience Survey” asks for ideas about carnival rides, food vendors, live performances and how much fair-goers are willing to spend.

General Manager Cody Cashman says an estimated 137,000 passed through the gates when they expected closer to 200,000.

The Blake Shelton concert cost $1.1 million and only sold 5,500 tickets.

Another blow to finances was the loss of $400,000 to credit card chargebacks in 2023. Cashman says the FBI is investigating this as credit card fraud, but it’s unlikely the fair will recover the lost revenue.

The survey here will be open until October 1st.

A $1.2 million in emergency funding request was rejected Monday by Cass County Commission.