The International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) released results from a national study highlighting the economic impact of fairs and fairgrounds in the U.S., particularly along the Pacific Coast.

The study, which received over 500 responses and analyzed nearly 1,400 fairgrounds. Conducted by Johnson Consulting with support from OABA and others, it offers insights into the economic contributions of fairs, including visitor numbers, revenues, and employment. IAFE is a nonprofit organization that supports agricultural fairs and exhibitions at various levels.

Key findings across the Pacific Coast region (including Oregon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Washington):

• Arizona’s fair industry generates more than $101 of economic activity per capita
• California’s fairgrounds support more than 36,000 ongoing jobs
• The Pacific Coast region fairgrounds support 62,810 jobs