SEDALIA - Hundreds of people traveled to Sedalia Thursday for the opening day of the Missouri State Fair. 

The fair kicked off with an opening ceremony. Governor Mike Parson and his wife, Teresa, attended the ceremony along with others from the agricultural community to ring in the 116th year of the state fair. 

During his speech, Parson said the fair hits close to home being a long-time farmer himself. He said he used to come to the fair when he was a kid and that it has really shaped the way he looks at agriculture.

Mark Wolfe, the director of the Missouri State Fair, estimates there will be around 30,000 total entries this year — maybe even a little more than last year. 

The fair also kicked off the day with an opening day parade down State Fair Boulevard. Multiple groups and organizations participated in the parade. Some people were dressed in costumes, arrived in fancy vehicles or via horse. 

There was also a live performance from Montgomery Gentry with Whiskey Myers at 7:30 p.m. at the Pepsi Grandstand Stage. Fireworks followed after the concert. 

This year's fair will have six nights of fireworks, which the director said is a boost from last year. 

The fair runs through Aug. 19.