Comfortable weather, combined with crowd-pleasing events, resulted in record-breaking attendance for this year's Carbon County Fair.

About 55,000 patrons turned out over a six-day span to take a sojourn through the fairways at the 16th annual event held along Little Gap Road in Palmerton.That toppled last year's mark, which had about 54,000 visitors in attendance, according to Robert Silliman, fair president.Silliman noted this marked back-to-back years in which the fair broke its prior year's attendance level."We actually set attendance records this year," Silliman said. "Last year we broke the record, and this year again."Silliman attributed the swell in attendance primarily to the cooperative weather, as well as several new events."The weather has a lot to do with it, and giving the public what they want," he said. "We try to do something new every year."Among the more popular new attractions Silliman mentioned was Knockerball."Knockerball was a huge success," he said. "It's the latest rage of all the people."Knockerball is an inflatable ball with a single chamber that incorporates inner handles and adjustable shoulder straps that allow those inside it to perform rolls, flips and wheels.Silliman said older, tried-and-true attractions continued to do well also."We still have the old traditional pony rides, and everything else for kids," he said.Overall, Silliman added, "All in all, we had an incredible year."We truly want to thank the residents of the area for supporting it," he said. "They're the reason that we have continued growth."While this year's event just ended, Silliman said the fair board will begin to work on next year's edition throughout the year. A meeting is lined up for next month, Silliman said."That's when we start planning next year," he said. "We look at any shortcomings that we had and we make adjustments and we make improvements."This year's fair ran Monday through Saturday and featured 4-H livestock shows, entertainment, rides, food, demolition derbies, a fireworks spectacular on opening night, and the crowning of a new Carbon County Fair Queen.