Does the thought of mini doughnuts and vinegar fries make your mouth water?
Do you dream about what the Butter Cow will look like each year?
Are you raring to take in a good dusty tractor pull or demolition derby?
If livestock, food on a stick and riding the Mega Drop until you’re nauseous are your thing, The State Journal-Register has you covered. Read on for just about everything you need to know to enjoy the 157th “All-American” Illinois State Fair.
DATES and HOURS
Friday, Aug. 14 through Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009
Fairgrounds open 7 a.m. to midnight
Most buildings open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
TWILIGHT PARADE
6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13
The parade begins at Ninth Street and North Grand Avenue and proceeds north on Ninth Street/Peoria Road and continues north on 11th Street to the main gate of the fairgrounds. The parade then goes through the main gate, proceeds down Main Street, takes a left onto Illinois Avenue, then proceeds to the Grandstand, where it ends.
All carnival rides this night are $2 and the Mega Drop is $3 from 5 to 11 p.m.
ADMISSION
General admission (adults 13 and over): $5
Children 5-12: $2
Children under 5: free
Senior citizens (60 and over): $2
PARKING
$7 on the grounds
On-street parking is available in some neighborhoods around the fairgrounds, but watch for parking-restriction signs. Dozens of residents who live on property surrounding the state fairgrounds allow parking on their lawns for a fee, typically $3 to $10 a day depending on their proximity to the fairgrounds and the day of the week. Watch for the folks with flags waving you in.
GETTING THERE
Traffic flow around the fairgrounds will change at 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14. It will become a one-way counter-clockwise pattern until 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24. Affected streets are Peoria Road, Taintor Road, Fifth Street and Sangamon Avenue. Signs, barricades and traffic cones will help motorists navigate the streets.
Springfield Mass Transit District buses drop off and pick up at the main gate of the fairgrounds every 15 to 30 minutes daily. Buses run from downtown Springfield to the fairgrounds. The bus schedule is:
* Thursday, Aug. 13 – service begins at 6 a.m. Buses operate every 30 minutes until 6 p.m. and every 15 minutes from 6 p.m. until midnight.
* Friday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 15 – service begins at 6 a.m. Buses operate every 30 minutes until 6 p.m. and every 15 minutes until 12:30 a.m.
* Sunday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Aug. 23 – service begins at 8 a.m. Buses run every 15 minutes all day with the last bus leaving the fairgrounds at 12:30 a.m. the first Sunday and 11 p.m. the second Sunday.
* Monday, Aug. 17 through Saturday, Aug. 22 – service begins at 6 a.m. Buses run every 30 minutes until 6 p.m. and every 15 minutes until midnight.
For more information on the SMTD fair route schedule, including a map of pick-up and drop-off locations, visit
www.smtd.org and click on the state fair link on the left.
GETTING AROUND
Most people stroll their way around the fairgrounds, but if riding is more your speed and you’re not important enough to be assigned a golf cart, here are a couple options.
* Sky Ride – This overhead ski-lift-like ride runs from the south end of the Grandstand to the corner of the Heartland area near Gate 2, offering visitors a good aerial view of the grounds and the activities below. The ride operates from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. each day and costs $3 for adults and children.
* The Tram – Ever wondered how to hop a ride on the tractor-pulled wagon that runs throughout the fairgrounds? These trams operate full tours of the fairgrounds from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. each day. Cost varies. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., tickets are $3 for adults 13 and older and $1 for children 12 and younger. From 5 to 9 p.m. the cost is 50 cents for everyone.
Fairgoers can board at any of 12 loading areas: Central Avenue across from the Old Firehouse; Gate 2 area near the AFL/CIO pavilion; the race horse barn area north of the carnival midway or at the racing office; Gate 6; the goat barn north of the Grandstand; Conservation World; 4-H Lane and Eighth Street Road; The Arena and Eighth Street Road; the campgrounds; Happy Hollow at the Watershed Park entrance; and the Illinois Building.
THEME DAYS
Thursday, Aug. 13 – Preview Day
Friday, Aug. 14 – County Fair and Horse Racing Day
Saturday, Aug. 15 – Local Officials Day
Sunday, Aug. 16 – Veterans Day
Monday, Aug. 17 – Senior Citizens/Scouts/Red Hat Day
Tuesday, Aug. 18 – Agriculture Day
Wednesday, Aug. 19 – Governor’s Day
Thursday, Aug. 20 – Republican Day
Friday, Aug. 21 – Futures for Kids Day
Saturday, Aug. 22 – Park District/Conservation Day
Sunday, Aug. 23 – Family Day
GRANDSTAND ACTS
Friday, Aug. 14 – Lynyrd Skynyrd with Bo Bice
Saturday, Aug. 15 – Kelly Clarkson with Eric Hutchinson
Sunday, Aug. 16 – Josh Turner with Jamey Johnson and Chuck Wicks
Monday, Aug. 17 – Illinois Symphony Orchestra (free)
Friday, Aug. 21 – Montgomery Gentry with Kellie Pickler, James Otto and Candy Coburn
Saturday, Aug. 22 – Heart and The Bangles
Sunday, Aug. 23 – Intergalactic Wrestling Federation (free)
Grandstand ticket office hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. All shows begin at 8 p.m. except Montgomery Gentry, which begins at 7 p.m. For ticket prices and a Grandstand seating guide, visit
http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/gstand/default.htm. Under a promotion announced last week, people who buy four seats in the third and lowest price range will get $5 off each ticket, a total of $20. In addition, the fair is throwing in one free Illinois State Fair T-shirt for each set of four tickets.
RACING, PULLS AND DERBIES
* Harness Racing – Pari-mutuel wagering. Free Grandstand entry. Dates and times:
Noon Aug. 14, 15 and 17
4 p.m. Aug. 18
3 p.m. Aug. 19 and 20
* USAC Silver Crown Series and ARCA Super Series races – In the Grandstand. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $10 for children 11 and under.
Saturday, Aug. 22 is USAC Silver Crown Series and ARCA Super Series races. Silver Crown qualifying at 10:25 a.m. Feature event at 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 23 is ARCA/ReMax Super Series. Practice at 9 a.m. Feature event at 2 p.m.
* PRO-AM Arena Cross and Freestyle Motocross – 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 15 in The Arena.
* ITPA truck and tractor pulls – 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, Tuesday, Aug. 18, and Wednesday, Aug. 19, in The Arena. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
* Demolition Derby – 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 in The Arena. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children.
CARNIVAL RIDES
The Illinois State Fair has two carnival areas – the main carnival midway on Illinois Avenue and Adventure Village between Main Street and Gate 2.
The main carnival features thrill rides, free entertainment and other attractions. Adventure Villlage has games and rides geared toward younger children, including a train, Ferris wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl and more.
Hours for the two areas are: noon until 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and both Fridays, 10 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. on both Saturdays and the first Sunday, and noon until 10 p.m. on the second Sunday.
Individually, tickets can be pricey for a family – $5 for four coupons, $25 for 22 coupons, $60 for 55 coupons. However, there are other options for those who expect to spend an entire day or more enjoying rides at the fair:
* The main carnival midway has “pay-one-price days” Monday, Aug. 17 through Friday, Aug. 21. Cost is $25 per person. Riders will get their hands stamped and can ride unlimited from noon until 6 p.m. The same option is available from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, also for $25 per person.
* A “mega pass” can be purchased through the state fair for $60. The pass – which is a fair-issued photo ID worn on a lanyard – allows riders to enjoy all the rides they want, anytime, any day during the course of the fair. Passes can be purchased on the first floor of the Emmerson Building. The cost does not include gate admission to the fairgrounds, the Giant Slide or the Sky Ride.
* Children’s Miracle Network one-day passes cost $25 per person and allow unlimited riding on the main carnival midway or in Adventure Village on any one day of the fair during designated times. They are not available for purchase on the fairgrounds but can be bought at numerous retail outlets throughout the area or online at
https://www.st-johns.org/sjh/events/statefairtickets.aspx (add $2 per ticket to buy online). Riders with these passes exchange them for a wristband at the fairgrounds.
The CMN passes are good for both children and adults. They are non-refundable. The times they can be used are: noon to closing on Friday, Aug. 14 and Monday, Aug. 17 through Friday Aug. 21; 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, Sunday, Aug. 16, and Saturday, Aug. 22; and noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23.
NEW THIS YEAR
* The Rev. Darrell Best, a minister from Shelbyville, will bring his mobile wedding chapel to Gate 2, where he will marry fairgoers with a valid Sangamon County marriage license. He also will do vow renewals. The chapel, a 1942 American La France fire truck, was converted into the chapel by the folks at Country Music Television’s “Trick My Truck” TV show.
* Veterans will get the red-carpet treatment on Veterans Day at the fair Aug. 16. In addition to free admission for them and their families, each veteran will receive a commemorative pin he or she can wear throughout the day so others can recognize them for their service. Veterans Day activities will go on in the Grandstand from 9 a.m. until noon that day, including a performance by the U.S. Coast Guard Silent Drill Team. Two members of the team are from central Illinois.
* Free family-friendly Intergalactic Wrestling Federation show in the Grandstand at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. Featured professional wrestlers include: Rikishi, “Hacksaw” Jim Dugan, Ronny “The Dice Man” Vegas, The Barbarian, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Bo Bo Brazil Jr., “Boink” The Clown and special guest Playboy Bunny Nicole Marie.
* Aug. 22 demolition derby featuring a celebrity demolition derby. Drivers are scheduled to include fair director Amy Bliefnick, Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin, sports radio host Sam Madonia, Capt. Jim Wolf of the Illinois State Police and others.
* Abraham Lincoln will have a place at the fair this year because of the bicentennial of his birth. Visitors can go to five locations on the grounds to collect rubbings, which they can then turn in for discount admissions to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. There also will be a tent with displays about Illinois communities that have Lincoln ties.
OLD FAVORITES
* Butter cow – Sculptor Sharon BuMann, who is from New York, is in her sixth year of creating the fair’s popular buttery bovine. The theme of this year’s cow, which will be on display in an air-conditioned case in the Dairy Building, remains a secret until its unveiling Thursday. “I can unequivocally say it will have a cow,” BuMann told reporters last week. “Anything other than that, mum’s the word.”
* Commodities Auction and Governor’s Sale of Champions – These popular auctions take place at Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the Livestock Center at the corner of Eighth Street and Central Avenue. The commodities auction, where wine, honey, cheese, milk and other products are sold, is at 4:30 p.m. The Governor’s Sale of Champions, where the grand champion steer, barrow, wether, meat goat, poultry meat pen and rabbit meat pen will be sold, is at 5 p.m. Proceeds from the sale helps 4-H and FFA members attend college, purchase breeding animals and develop future careers. Last year’s sale resulted in several broken records, with two steers going for about $50,000 each.
* Ethnic Village – Open daily from 10:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Free entertainment from noon until 10 p.m. Weekend hours were extended this year. Food options this year are: Filipino, Green, Australian, German, Indian, Thai, Polish, Korean, Jamaican, Italian, Mexican, Turkish, Dutch, French and international beer booths.
* High Dive Show – The US Cellular All-American High Dive Show is on Central Avenue at the four-way stop. The show takes place daily at 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. It includes the fire dive, 80-foot high dive, clown diving and the world-famous man-out-of-the-audience comedy act.
* Twilight Ballroom – Open 7 to 10 p.m. nightly. Includes Illinois wine tasting with offerings from nearly 20 state wineries and music by various live jazz, swing, blues bands and orchestras.
* Conservation World – Open 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily. This is a 30-acre tract of rolling hills and woodland on the northwest corner of the fairgrounds. Attractions include lumberjack demonstrations, fishing clinics, 17th Street Barbecue, trick dog thrill show, field dog demonstrations, fish display, chainsaw carving demonstrations, “The Whip Guy” Chris Camp, Abe Lincoln storytellers and much more.
* Fair Factor – Back for a second year, this competition allows fairgoers to test their resolve and the strength of their stomachs. It’s a take on the similarly named TV program, “Fear Factor.” The show happens at 6 p.m. each day. Aug. 14-21 it will be at the Lincoln Stage. Aug. 22 and 23 it will be at the Ethnic Village stage.
* Abe’s Amble – A 10-km race for runners of all ages that begins at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, in front of the Grandstand. For information, e-mail abe@runabe.com or register online at srrc.net.
* Fireworks – A fireworks display will take place at dusk every night of the fair, with the exception of Tuesday, Aug. 18, and Thursday, Aug. 20. There will be fireworks on Preview Day, Thursday, Aug. 13.
FOOD FINDS
The Illinois State Fair food vendors never fail to disappoint when it comes to offering new or unusual items. Some unique-looking items we spotted on this year’s concessionaire’s list:
* Cryo-Creamery ice cream frozen with liquid nitrogen
* “Rueben dogs”
* deep-fried turkey sandwich
* fried key lime pie
* Red Bull energy slushes
* fried plantains
* deep-fried s’mores
* burger on a stick
* meatballs on a stick
* deep-fried hot dogs
* Cajun-style sweet iced tea
* cherry key limeade
* deep-fried brats
* chocolate-covered strawberries on a stick
* Alaskan king crab cakes
* 8-inch-high waffle bowl sundae
Watch upcoming The State Journal-Registers for food writer Kathy Rem’s story about some of these items, including how they originated and how they’re made.
FIRST AID
The American Red Cross will have a first-aid station in the Emmerson Building annex between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Numerous tents will have free cold water available for fairgoers. The Illinois State Police station is on Grandstand Avenue south of the Grandstand and is open during regular fair hours.
The Red Cross also will have its mobile unit parked near the Lincoln Stage, and fairgoers will be able to donate blood between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.
WHERE TO COOL OFF
Misters, which spray water mist through high-powered fans, will be set up all over the fairgrounds.
In addition, several buildings on the fairgrounds are air-conditioned, including the Artisans Building; the Illinois Building; the Hobby, Arts and Crafts Building; the Livestock Center; the Orr Building; the Twilight Ballroom; the University of Illinois Extension Office; and Kids Korner in the south wing of the Emmerson Building.
IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN
* The fair has strollers available for rent. Regular strollers are $10, and double strollers are $15. They can be rented daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. at the Senior Center inside the Illinois Building and on Grandstand Avenue near the Goat Barn.
* A private area for nursing and diaper changing is available in the south wing of the Emmerson Building in Kids Korner from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
* A Lost and Found Children’s Center is in the Illinois State Police station on Grandstand Avenue south of the Grandstand. ISP broadcasts emergency announcements from the station.
* There are several areas that the younger set will enjoy at the state fair.
-- Conservation World has a variety of kids’ activities, including a fishing clinic, Smokey the Bear, a rocks and minerals dig, and other features. The area includes a paved walkway throughout, making it easy-going for strollers.
-- The Dairy Building has entertainment displays and free children’s games, an antique milk truck and the Butter Cow.
-- The Fire Museum/Fire Services Tent has games with prizes, free popcorn and shows for all ages. Kids can climb on a real fire engine, dress up in firefighter gear and have their photo taken. They also can play computer games and color pictures that can be made into buttons. Fire safety materials are available too.
-- Happy Hollow is now called “Welcome to the Jungle” and features a variety of animal exhibits and shows. This year’s shows are include Bear Mountain, Wild About Monkeys, Woody’s Menagerie, and Zoo Dynamics.
-- Watershed Park – On the far end of Happy Hollow, this free attraction has a scavenger hunt, duck races and education about how to protect water quality and has daily prizes for kids.
-- Milk A Cow – Ever wondered what it’s like to milk a cow? Here’s your chance to find out. Head to cattle barn 25Q between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. Take a camera, but keep in mind it’s tough to get a decent photo because of the way the cow and the milker are positioned in the barn.
-- Kids Korner – on Brian Raney Avenue east off Main Street, inside and outside the Emmerson Building. All free. Outside, there is a small playground for youngsters, the secretary of state’s bicycle skills course and Bobcat equipment that kids can climb on and have their picture taken in. Inside the Emmerson Building is an air-conditioned area that has family entertainment, shows throughout the day, a coloring mural, face painting and a tiny tots play area with lots of push- and ride-on toys.
-- Kids Ag-tivity Tent – Parents can take a load off while youngsters milk a wooden cow, toss bean bags, ride on pedal tractors, watch baby chicks and play grocery games.
IF YOU ARE A SENIOR CITIZEN
* The fair has wheelchairs available for rent for $10. Electric scooters are available for $45. They can be rented daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. at the Senior Center inside the Illinois Building and on Grandstand Avenue near the Goat Barn. The Senior Center phone number during the fair is 524-8634.
* The Senior Center in the Illinois building features a variety of interactive informative displays and entertainment for seniors. Available health screenings include pulmonary functioning, bone density, mental health, facial screenings for cancer, blood pressure, body composition, height and weight, stroke and blood sugar.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
* Visit The State Journal-Register’s fair blog, In All Fairness, starting this week and throughout the fair for news updates, stories from the fair, photos, videos and more. The blog can be found at
http://blogs.sj-r.com/isf
* Follow our Illinois State Fair updates on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/sjrbreaking.
* Visit the Illinois State Fair’s official Web site at
www.illinoisstatefair.info
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