Attendance down at Lake Co. Fair due to rain, flooding

Lake County Fair officials said they were happy with the way the 82nd annual Lake County Fair turned out this year, even if attendance was down.

Fair board President David DeYoung said just over 106,600 people visited the fairgrounds on Peterson Road in Grayslake between July 27 and Sunday. However, he said, that number is about 22,000 fewer than last year.

He said the biggest complaint from fairgoers was that rains washed out the parking area at the fairgrounds and forced people to park off-site.

He said people were shuttled in and out of the remote parking areas by buses.

"Two and a half inches of rain doesn't do anyone any good anywhere," DeYoung said. "The ground just can't take the water with all the rain we've had. And then, to make it worse, people have to drive across it and it turns into a mud puddle."

He said traffic was good on Wednesday through Friday, but the crowds tapered off Saturday and Sunday due to the parking issues.

He said the fair has no inclination to pave or gravel the parking area.

"The cost of paving 100-acres just to accommodate the six-day fair is too expensive," he said. "Besides, I don't think we turned away 22,000 people because of parking. There is no way that could have happened."

He said other than the heavy rain and the squishy parking, he was satisfied with the way the fair turned out. He said everyone seemed to enjoy their time.

"Let's not forget, bottom line, the economy is still hurting us and everyone else," he said. "But, aside from the parking issues, we received nothing but positive feedback at the fair this year. Everyone was smiling and seemed to be having a good time. But the weather? I can't control that."