Fair set to offer food, fun

Vendors blew up toy balloons, set up rides, stocked up booths and washed their hands in preparation for today's opening of the Lake County Fair in Grayslake.

The annual event, which runs through Sunday, is expected to draw 150,000 to 200,000 visitors. Hours are 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. today through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

All festival food vendors went through mandatory hand-washing training Monday offered by the Lake County Health Department as part of new, stricter rules for monitoring such temporary food service events.

Fair highlights include a rodeo for kids, motocross and demolition derby, a monster truck pull, battle of the bands, carnival rides, live music and a variety of animal, plant and cooking competitions.