Kane County Fair charges into weekend with horses, bulls and music

As the 148th annual Kane County Fair moves into the weekend, grandstand entertainment helps to draw crowds.

“We try to look at what is currently popular that can work in a venue that we have,” said Kane County Fair Board President Larry Breon. “You can't have what they have at Madison Square Garden, but you have to have somebody who will put on a good production.”

The fair continues runs through Sunday, July 24, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles.

New to the grandstands at the fair this year is the charreada, a Mexican horseman show, at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 21 for $5 admission.

“It's unusually high quality horsemen that do this. It's a brightly costumed, fancy dressed kind of a thing,” Breon said. “Over the years I've seen it here and there, and I just thought it would be something we could give a shot at it. People will enjoy it because they have never seen it.”

When the board noticed bull riding was growing in popularity about three or four years ago, they looked into having a group of professional bull riders conduct a show at the fair, Breon said. Now, between 3,000 and 4,000 people go to the fair to check out the Professional Championship Bull Riders.

“I think one of the things that helped (bull riding's popularity) is the coverage that it was getting nationally on television. People were coming acquainted and liked watching it,” Breon said.

The Professional Championship Bull Riders and barrel racing shows are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23, in the grandstands. Admission is $14 for adults, $7 for children and free for children under the age of 5.

The Smash'em Bash'em Demolition Derby has been a feature at the fair for about 20 years, drawing in large crowds each year.

“Everybody seems to like (the demolition derby). It's kind of like having cotton candy at the fair, you have to have it. People expect to see it at the fair,” Breon said. “It's one of those things that fits in an outdoor venue, and you can have it when it's raining.”

The demolition derby is at 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, July 24, in the grandstands with $10 admission.

As for musical entertainment, six bands will take the stage between Thursday, July 21 and Sunday, July 24.

Chicago pop-rock band 7th heaven performs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 21, at the Miller Lite soundstage.

Hi Infidelity performs from 8:30 to 10:30 Friday, July 22, at the Miller Lite soundstage.

“7th heaven and Hi Infidelity are very popular in the Chicagoland area. People know their names. They know who they are,” Breon said.

Country band Hillbilly Rockstarz plays from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at the Miller Lite soundstage.

New bands performing at the fair include two mariachi bands which Breon said they added because they saw a growing population of Hispanic residents in the Kane County area.

“It's a big family day on Sunday, so we are hoping the families come out and watch the mariachi bands,” Breon said.

Mariachi Tierra Jalsciense performs from 3 to 6 p.m. while Mariachi Universal plays from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 24 at the Miller Lite soundstage.

Admission to the Miller Lite Soundstage is included in fair admission.

Though this is not the first time country band Six String Crossing is performing at the fair, it is the first time they are the headlining band. They perform around 9-9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 23, in the grandstands.

“It's great for friends and family to see where we have gotten since the start of the band,” said Brandon Williams, lead singer and songwriter. “I think if you're a country music fan or not people will be shocked from the first song all the way up to the last because of the music and the talent on the stage.”

Choosing entertainment for the fair is not always easy, according to Breon. With scheduling all the events and bands, the board has to take into consideration the availability of organizations and bands as well as how long set up and take down of the event will take.

“You have things that always work, and you try to figure out things that are kind of new, what's going on in the community, nation and our area,” Breon said. “You have to take a shot at it, and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.”