Despite some controversy over his performance earlier in the week, Ted Nugent rocked the Freeborn County Fair on Friday night, drawing huge crowds.

Reserved seating for the show was sold out, and the general admission line for the 8:30PM concert was snaking around the grandstand as early as 7PM. Thousands attending the fair in Albert Lea were able to enjoy the concert.

Ad exec Lisa Dwyer said she saw no evidence of protesters at the fair or during the concert itself, although security did searches at the gates and didn't allow people to bring in plastic bottles. "They said they didn't want anyone throwing anything," Dwyer said. "They did have a lot of security, but it didn't look like it was needed," she said. "Everyone was very peaceful."

The evening opened with a flag-raising ceremony by an Albert Lea Color Guard and a local vocalist sang the national anthem.

Ted Nugent opened his show by thanking the crowd for coming and saluted the U.S. armed forces and law enforcement for their service. Dwyer said Nugent saluted the armed forces several times throughout the show, which brought "thundering applause, cheers and whistles every time! It was great to see the crowd's patriotism shine!"

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