The Older Nebraskans Festival attracted an unexpected number of people to the Nebraska State Fair on Tuesday.

Fair board members say it wasn't an average Tuesday.

"There's a crowd, that's for certain," said Dean Erickson of Fremont, while waiting in the long line to get into the fair.

Many fair-goers were there the Mel Tillis concert.

"He plays all the oldies and the goodies, and I love his music," said Melba Cook of Norfolk.

"[The Heartland Event Center is] filled. It's filled before show time," said Van Neidig, fair board member. "Yes, it's a good problem to have to have too many people to go to a free concert of Mel Tillis, but on the other hand it's disappointing to me if some people can't get there."

Even with double the seats free concert goers got in Lincoln, there wasn't enough room. That meant people were turned away from the concert.

"We didn't expect this level," said Neidig.

Even people standing at the concert say they were happy to get in.

"There are was a line of people waiting, but we just took our turn and we came in," said Cook. "I'll come back again next year."

Fair officials did try to get a second concert in this afternoon, but Tillis' schedule wouldn't allow it. They did hold an extra long meet and greet to try to make sure no one was left out.

Of course, there were other things to do at the fair. Quilts drew large crowds too. Fair staff in that department compared Tuesday's attendance to Saturday's.

"I think every senior citizen in the state is here today," commented one fair-goer looking at quilts.