ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KRQE) – By next week, hundreds of thousands of people will be coming to Albuquerque to participate in one of New Mexico’s biggest events of the year.
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“Everything is getting ready, it’s fair time, baby!” said General Manager Dan Mourning of the New Mexico State Fair.
The State Fair is preparing to welcome huge crowds that will fill the Expo New Mexico fairgrounds in just five days. So far, the rides and food stands are mostly set up. “It’s absolutely crazy right now, but the really big rush is coming in the next few days,” Mourning said.
Many out-of-state guests are expected. The state fair is expecting more than half a million visitors during the 11-day event this year. This year, they hope to get more people through the gate faster with AI-powered metal detectors that recognize common objects.
“The world is a different place than we’ve been in for a long time. We have to make sure we have all the security precautions we can. We have more cameras. There are about 200 cameras out here and mobile stuff that you don’t see,” Mourning said.
The fair says its cameras are also connected to the Albuquerque Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center. Outside of the expo, the city said it has not increased the number of cleanup crews that are normally in the area. However, they said visitors will likely see trash collection workers more frequently, as the number of calls during the event has increased.
“Our approach remains the same and our processes remain the same, so when we receive 311 calls for graffiti and trash, in most cases they are handled within 24 hours,” said Angel Urrutia of the City of Albuquerque’s Waste Management Department.
Before the show began, Expo New Mexico announced that there would be discounts through Labor Day weekend. Tickets can be purchased for $5 starting Saturday and end at 4 p.m. on Labor Day.
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