As the last fairgoers finally filed out of the South Florida Fair gates Sunday, the hundreds of people who worked or volunteered or participated in the myriad events were breathing a sigh of relief.

“It’s always a funny feeling at the end,” said Rick Vymlatil, the CEO and president of the South Florida Fair. “On one hand, you’re happy it’s over, but at the same time, you’re like, ‘It’s over already?’ I told the staff today, you get used to focusing on doing better, having greater attendance numbers, that you forget to pay attention to the people enjoying themselves. Last year was the 100th anniversary, and we had such a big blowout and virtually perfect weather, so it’s hard to make a comparison.

“This year, we had three days where weather impacted the fair. The first Saturday it rained, and on MLK Day there was a downpour. Then this past Thursday the front was coming through and we got hurt. But a surprising number of people come out in the rain, so we’ve had a great fair. I think we’re just a little bit off last year’s numbers.”

The local Christian trio, Tenth Avenue North, “drew really well,” Vymlatil said. “And Don Williams on Thursday night had a strong crowd, despite the weather. I don’t usually stay for the concerts, but I check out how they’re doing, and they were all pretty well attended. Entertainment is a tough call. You never know who might be the hot act.”

This year, ice was hot. Crowds made the international champions leaping and spinning in colorful costumes a fair favorite. “There’s a full house right now,” Vymlatil said about 5 p.m. Sunday. “People don’t expect to see something like that at a place like this.”

For the second year, the fair offered a Gold Access VIP pass that let fairgoers jump the line. “We saw a good increase in the demand for that, up about 17 percent. I think that will pick up as the years go on, but you can’t sell too many or you end up with another line.”

Hypnotist Mark Yuzuik is a consistent draw. “He’s very popular. It’s always standing-room-only. People love to see their family and friends do silly things.”

Tina Murphy of West Palm Beach carried a big stuffed tiger over her shoulder as she crossed the midway Sunday. “My little one won it for me with the water shooting gun,” she said. “We had excellent weather today. It was great.”

But it wasn’t all about the laughs.

The crowds, still in the throes of presidential inauguration fever, flocked to the “Washington, D.C., Our Nation’s Capital” theme and “really loved the traveling exhibition,” Vymlatil said. The 70,000-square-foot expo space hosted Air Force One and a nearly life-size replica of the Oval Office, exhibits of first lady gowns, artifacts from the Washington Crime Museum, and an exhibit of 50 presidential photographs.

“What was really neat and meaningful to me,” Vymlatil said, “was the immigration and naturalization ceremony. It made me think about my grandfather who came from Austria, but was Czech by birth. The candidates take the oath and they have to make an affirmative statement and they are giving up any duty to their homeland and accepting citizenship here.”

Vymlatil also had praise for Nicole Vega, crowned 2013’s Miss South Florida Fair. The Royal Palm Beach resident is a junior at Florida Atlantic University. As soon as she earned her crown, Vega began making appearances in the parades and meet-and-greets, which included kissing a pig. “She’s been just awesome,” Vymlatil said.

There was also good news for the woman who fell from a horse at the fairgrounds Saturday. “No broken bones,” Vymlatil said. “There was the trauma of the fall and the horse rolling on her but she was released from the hospital the same night.”

If he’s pressed to think of an area they could improve, Vymlatil pauses. “I think we always could improve the parking. We’ve added 7 to 10 acres but we’re always working on that. Maybe shuttles?”

He’s got about a year to ponder that.