District 117 board member Van Dien loves the Lake County Fair

Editor's note: This is another installment in our weekly series highlighting what people like about living in Lake County. This week, we asked that question of Kathleen Van Dien, a Lindenhurst resident and member of the Antioch High School District 117 board.

Growing up in Libertyville, there was one event every year Kathleen Van Dien couldn't miss.

And now, at age 49, Van Dien still makes sure she visits the Lake County Fair at least once during the event.

And why wouldn't she?

The fair happens to be what Van Dien likes best about living in Lake County.

"I have so many memories of it as a child," she said. "I loved all of the various food and the rides. And I can specifically remember one year had a western theme with cowboy hats and horses."

Van Dien works part-time as a concessions coordinator for the fair.

The Lindenhurst homemaker also serves on the Community High School District 117 school board.

Van Dien said she loves all the events that take place on the Lake County Fair grounds in Grayslake, from the craft shows to antique markets and car and home improvement shows, but her favorite is the fair.

"That is the highlight of the year for me out there," she said.

Van Dien said working with vendors is part of her job and seeing the same ones year after year, and how much they care about making the fair special, just adds to her love of the fair.

This year marked the 80th annual Lake County Fair and drew 154,460 people over the six-day event.

Next year, the fair will be held at its new location, the former Titus farm on 160 acres, north of Peterson Road near Harris Road in Grayslake.

It's a change Van Dien thinks will only improve the already great event.

"It is going to be much bigger and even better," she said.

--Corrinne Hess