Lake County Fair to discuss serving beer, wine

Operators of the new Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake are expected to discuss how much use they want get out of a liquor license that's been created for the site.

Under the license created by the Grayslake village board last week, beer and wine sales would be allowed at the annual Lake County Fair in late summer. Fair officials intend to discuss if they want to go that route for the 81-year-old event.

David DeYoung, president of the Lake County Fair Association Inc. board, said immediate plans call for having full bar service at the new complex's indoor events center. The fairgrounds are now north of Peterson and Midlothian roads.

Weddings, parties and business meetings will be among the 68,000-square-foot events center's uses, DeYoung said. He said it'll be easier to attract a variety of gatherings once the fair association applies and formally receives the liquor license.

"You can't book things and say, 'We'll try to get a liquor license,' " DeYoung said Monday.

DeYoung said discussion will occur soon on whether to start serving beer and wine at the Lake County Fair, scheduled to run July 28 to Aug. 2.

Grayslake would limit the fair to beer and wine sales in a "controlled, fenced and designated area," according to village documents. The same rules would apply to other outdoor events at the fairgrounds

"We have to look at the economics," DeYoung said. "We have to look at all the other things that go along with it."

Grayslake Mayor Timothy Perry said while alcohol sales won't be a priority at the fair, the event at least has the ability to offer another amenity to its guests. He said having a confined area outdoors was a necessity for the village.

"It's still a family event," Perry said. "It is a large area outdoors."

Plans remain for suburban Cleveland-based Developers Diversified Realty Corp. to build a mall on the fairgrounds' former site near routes 45 and 120 in Grayslake.

Developers Diversified paid $12.5 million for the old fair property and gave the organization the Titus Farm near Peterson and Midlothian roads for the new facility.

Flea markets for antiques and collectibles, a class car-parts swap meet and home show were on the fairgrounds' schedule for this month and February.

Perry said the village used to issue temporary liquor licenses to the fairgrounds for certain events. He said it'll be easier for the fair association to operate with a permanent license.