Weather gives Ill. State Fair a boost

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Organizers at the Illinois State Fair say pleasant weather and a quality lineup of performers made this year’s fair a success.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports that fairgoers this year paid out more money for admission and parking than ever before.

As of Saturday, collections totaled $1,073,184. That doesn’t yet include Sunday’s collections, and it already tops the total of $1,058,049 for the entire 2009 fair. 2009 had been the highest grossing year since admission prices were raised to $5.

Temperatures remained at about 80 degrees for most of the fair, and authorities say that also resulted in fewer medical issues. Illinois State Trooper Mindy Carroll says fairgoers suffered 53 medical problems, compared to 122 last year.