Illinois State Fair set to open today
SPRINGFIELD -- A farmyard scene sculpted of butter, a contest for the best "breakfast on a stick," and harness races at the Grandstand.
Yes, it's Illinois State Fair time. Following a "twilight parade" and free preview Thursday night, the fair is to officially open today and run through Aug. 19.
This year, however, fairgoers might worry about more than whether to next buy a corn dog or a funnel cake. The lack of a state budget has prompted questions of whether the fair's gates will be able to stay open.
Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke has said the fair will open on time and that anyone doing work for the fair will be paid when the state has a budget.
"We've been instructed by the governor's office to prepare for the fair, and that's exactly what we're doing," Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Marcelyn Love said Thursday, speaking from the fairgrounds. "Everyone out here is ready."
This year, fair manager Amy Bliefnick said she decided to "not to make a lot of big changes, but try and make a lot of little changes" such as improving maps, signs and banners to make it easier to navigate.
Still, one big difference is in store for fairgoers who visit the cow sculpted out of butter in the dairy building: It is actually an entire farmyard scene, revolving 360 degrees on an 8-foot platform.
To illustrate the fair's theme of "Celebrate and Educate," sculptor Sharon BuMann created a Jersey cow, her kicking and bucking calf, a young girl reading a stack of books to her dog, and an owl wearing glasses.
"The calf is celebrating and the little girl is educating," BuMann said. "Putting the human element in was the easiest way to justify the book."
"My original design was having the cow reading a book and wearing glasses," BuMann said, but she thought that might be a little too unorthodox.
The "breakfast on a stick" competition is also new this year, to be held Aug. 18. Rules include using at least one egg for each portion prepared.
About 85 carnival rides are available on the grounds, and entertainment at the Grandstand this year represents a variety of musical styles.
Performers include the Illinois Symphony; Daughtry, the rock band of "American Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry; Joe Walsh of the Eagles; and to appeal to the "tween" set -- a double-bill of Corbin Bleu, who starred in Disney Channel's "High School Musical" and Drake Bell, of Nickelodeon's "Drake & Josh."
The lineup also features country singers Martina McBride and Gretchen Wilson, and country-pop group Sugarland.
"Country acts sell very well in central Illinois," says Bliefnick, "but we decided we'd try and get diverse country artists this year. In the old days, it would have been Willie Nelson-style country."
There is other entertainment, too -- motorcycle races, pro bull riders, harness races and truck and tractor pulls.
And, lest anyone forget that much of Illinois is still farm country, there are livestock contests. They begin with Maine Anjou cattle at 8 a.m. today, an hour after the gates open, and end with the Pee Wee Pig Show at 1 p.m. on the last day.
To deal with high temperatures, 10 cooling centers -- places for fairgoers to get indoors and have a cool drink -- will be located around the fairgrounds.
General admission for the fair for those 13 years and older is $3. Seniors pay $2, and children 12 and under are free. Parking on the grounds is $7.