State Fair Wraps Up; Petition with 5K Signatures to Go to Statehouse

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The 143rd Colorado State Fair closed on Monday with strong attendance, but the discussion continues on whether to move the fair out of Pueblo. KRCC’s Tucker Hampson reports.

More than a half million people attended the 11-day event this year, surpassing 2014.

Earlier this year, lawmakers raised the question of possibly moving the fair from the Steel City, a notion that's not new. But Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace says even though there is no pending legislation yet, he hasn't seen this kind of momentum before.

"What we need to do is not only defeat that legislation, but to crush it," says Pace. "And to make it clear to any future lawmakers considering a move that it is a terrible and disastrous decision to make."

Pace circulated a petition, which reached its goal of 5,000 signatures on Friday. Pace says it will be delivered to the State Capitol when the legislative session opens in January.

The topic of moving the fair came up in July at a Legislative Audit Committee meeting, where the finances of the annual event were discussed.  Some committee members questioned Pueblo's commitment.