Fewer customers doesn't damper overall good feeling about fair

Despite a drop in attendance of more than 10,000 people, Kane County Fair organizers said they were pleased with the turnout at the five-day festival, which ended Sunday.

Fair spokesman Floyd Brown said the decrease could be attributed to several factors, including the economy, high gas prices, weather forecasts of thunderstorms and 90-degree-plus temperatures.

But a new approach to the entertainment, including focusing on more local acts and putting thrill shows in the grandstand area, helped draw several new attendees that could help in the future, Brown said.

"I think it was an excellent move on the part of the board," he said. "Each of these bands have a following. Each time they came, they enjoyed themselves so much this is going to grow. Success begets success."

The musical shows were free after people paid the admission to enter the fair.

"That's real important with this down economy," Brown said.

Last year, 141,528 people came through the turnstiles at the Kane County Fairgrounds. This year's attendance crept just above 130,000 after a strong final day, Brown said.

"It was just a great day," he said. "Both sessions of the demolition derby were sold out. It was the kind of a day that you want for the fair."

The demolition derby was the final of five main attractions organizers called "thrill shows" in the grandstand area that had nothing to do with music.

Bull riders, monster trucks, a rodeo and a truck pull took turns as the main events.

Despite the popularity of the main attractions, some things were beyond the fair's control.

"One of the deterrents that you have for attendance is when newscasters say it might rain," Brown said. "They're listening to Chicago forecasters. Chicagoland is such a huge area, most of the stuff was either going north or south of us."

Temperatures were in the 90s the first two days of the fair.

A new, air-conditioned, 47,000 square-foot building offered a chance to escape the heat and allowed vendors and exhibitors a permanent spot to display their wares.

"Overall, I thought it was very, very good," he said. "The vendors were happy. They did good business."