Lake Co. Fair celebrates 80 years
The Lake County Fair continues to evolve.
What started in April 1928 as an agricultural fair now features animal exhibits, carnival rides and games, antiques shows, demolition derbies, pageants and motocross events.
As the Lake County Fair reaches its 80th anniversary starting Tuesday, organizers once again have planned some new events not only to celebrate, but also to offer educational activities and entertainment for all ages.
The Lake County Fair will run today through Sunday at the fairgrounds on routes 45 and 120 in Grayslake. Gates will open each day at 8 a.m.
The Lake County Fair has moved around the county since the first fair in Antioch. Other fair locations include Gurnee, Waukegan, Libertyville and Wauconda High School before moving to its current property in 1955.
The fair will be moving again next year to a new location along Peterson Road west of Route 45 between Libertyville and Grayslake.
Becky Seiler, the fair's marketing specialist, said organizers wanted to bring a big concert to the fair this year to serve as a springboard to highlight the type of events they will be able to offer at the new fairgrounds.
"We want to use this as a steppingstone, and we want to go out with one big bang," Seiler said.
Country newcomers Ashton Shepherd and Josh Gracin will perform in a free concert at 8 p.m. Saturday at the north end of the fairgrounds.
Another addition to the fair this year will be Woody's Menagerie and Petting Zoo, where children can feed and pet the animals. There also will be an educational wildlife presentation each day.
Making its return after a successful debut last year will be the muttin' bustin' competition, Seiler said. In this event, children hold onto the back of a sheep and try to stay on the sheep as long as they can as the animal runs.
"The first day, five kids came out," Seiler said. "On the last day, between 80 and 100 kids came. It was a lot of fun to watch."
The fair will be filled with many of the popular attractions from the motocross racing event and fair pageant to the animals, arts, antiques and culinary work by 4-H Club members and county residents, fair President David DeYoung said.
"We look at this as an opportunity for people in the county to see what others in the county are doing," he said.
As the Lake County Fair celebrates its anniversary, DeYoung said the focus continues to be providing a family event that also educates them about the county's agricultural roots.
"They get the opportunity to see animals and to learn something from all the adventures they can take in one day," he said.