DALLAS (CBSDFW/AP) - The State Fair of Texas — marked this year by the loss of the towering, cowboy-hat-wearing Big Tex in a fire — fell just short of surpassing the all-time high spent on food and amusement rides.

The fair ended Sunday. The current record was set in 2010 at $37.3 million. According to fair officials, visitors this year spent $36.6 million on food and amusement rides. Though short of the record-high, the 2012 expenditures represent a $2 million increase over last year.

The fair this year included a Chinese Lantern Festival and an exhibit celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts.

On Friday, the 52-foot-tall Big Tex was destroyed by fire due to an electrical malfunction. But officials say Big Tex will be restored and will be back for next year’s fair.

• Click Here For More Stories About This Year’s Fair

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