Illinois State Fair attendance up, figures show

SPRINGFIELD — Preliminary figures show attendance was up slightly at this year’s Illinois State Fair.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports that nearly 854,000 people attended the fair through Saturday. That’s up nearly 3 percent from last year.

Through Saturday, almost 53,000 people attended concerts at the fair’s grandstands — up about 2 percent.

Officials credit the nice weather for boosting figures.

The fair began Aug. 8 and ended Sunday. Final figures haven’t been released yet.

Concerts included performances by Ke$ha (KEH’-shuh), Toby Keith and Journey.