THE BALLOON MAN

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Western Illinois Fair kicks off region's fair season on
Wednesday

from: whig.com
By DEBORAH GERTZ HUSAR/Herald-Whig Staff Writer
Jun 24, 2013

GRIGGSVILLE, Ill. -- The Western Illinois Fair marks its 125th year with a new look to the fairgrounds and old favorite grandstand entertainment.

The fair -- and the region's county fair season -- kicks off Wednesday at the fairgrounds in Griggsville.

Executive Secretary/Manager Lynn Freeman said the fair provides plenty of entertainment at a reasonable price.

A DARE program on Wednesday's Family Night offers kids activities and prizes. "It turned out to be a really, really big night last year, and I think it will grow this year," Freeman said.

Grandstand entertainment the rest of the week offers the queen pageant with 12 candidates, the school bus demolition derby, regular demolition derby and tractor pull.

Miller Spectacular Shows returns to the midway, bringing "a really good show," Freeman said. "They bring us six state fair rides which you won't see at most county fairs."

Carnival hours are 5-11 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 1-4:30 p.m. and 5:30-11 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m.-closing Sunday.

Admission price is $8 per person including rides on Wednesday night and $8 without rides and $15 with rides Thursday-Sunday. Admission includes parking and grandstand shows.

The fairgrounds sport several improvements for this year's fair including a new pavilion for dances and bands, a new sign for sponsors at the main gate and a new look for the livestock barn.

Using a $50,000 gift from the Richard L. Gray Perpetual Charitable Trust, "we have completely redone our barn for 4-H and FFA," Freeman said. "It is nice. It's probably the thing we're most proud of. Those kids will really get a boost out of it."

In addition, Freeman said old livestock barns at the entrance to the fairgrounds were taken down and some overhead power lines were taken down and installed underground.

"We tried to spruce up the place, make it look better," Freeman said.