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I’m finding it difficult to get excited about the Illinois State Fair this year, what with the overtime session and all…
Although Illinois government is operating without a spending plan and amid the specter of a possible shutdown, state fair manager Amy Bliefnick and Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke were all smiles at Thursday’s state fair preview, giving little credence to suggestions that the fair could be canceled.
“The fair is going to go on, and we’re confident that, by the time the state fair starts, we will have a budget and we will be going on as normal,” Hartke told reporters after the preview.
Bliefnick said, “Our plans are to plan for the fair. That’s our plan. We’ve been instructed to go ahead, just as all the rest of the state agencies have. We’re still excited about that.”
After a long week of negativity and weirdness, let’s all try to look at the bright side today.
Question: What do you like most about the Illinois State Fair? Try to avoid snark and downer comments, please. Let’s keep this an “up” thread if we can.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:30 am
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The excellent chance to people watch…and all the animal exhibits. Plus, eating ones self sick on the all the food.
Comment by Siyotanka Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:32 am
I’m from Springfield, so I look forward to the Butter Cow, Vose’s Corn Dogs and the beer tents. Simple down home fun.
Comment by Tidy Bowl Man Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:32 am
Nostalgia…
The Giant slide and the conservation world events, really horrible (health wise) food. A chance to get good itallian beef and gyros
Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:33 am
It reminds me when I was a youngster ( long long ago ) and how I looked forward to rides and all of the food.
Comment by downhereforyears Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:34 am
i’ve never been to the Illinois state fair, but I have other midwestern and my home state southern fairs. does illinois have a nice arts & crafts area that is real art like quilts and lace, not weird macrame and knitted tissue boxes? i’d like to go some year.
Comment by anon Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:36 am
Corn dogs, beer-tent-music, and the general atmosphere. Plain old timey fun.
Comment by shermans ghost Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:37 am
I love the Tom Thumb donuts. While there are other fair food favorites (root beer barrel, ribeye and porkchop sandwiches, vinegar fries dipping dots), and I loved slipping over to the fair for lunch during those lazy hazy days as a staffer (when an overtime session was like a laughable war story from the “old-timers”). But above all, since I cannot regularly get mini-donuts at other fairs, I love those Tom Thumbs!
Comment by Matt Jones Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:40 am
Tatooed carnies, all food cooked-in-grease, animal excrement underfoot, 90 degrees/90% humidity, loud carnival ride music and announcers … what’s not to like?
Comment by Doodles Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:40 am
All the delicious food and harness races.
Comment by Shallow Pharnyx Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:41 am
(Strange) people watching, the unhealthy food once a year, walking through the animal barns, tractor pulls, and harness racing. Use to love the drum and bugle corp. competitions growing up. Would like to see them bring those back. I’ll be working Gate 12 on Sat. 11th with my soccer team, stop by and say “Hello.”
Comment by Downstater Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:46 am
all the beer tents that house the smaller bands - i haven’t been for years but i loved seeing the small bands play during the day - and the animals and being away from the city and getting a glimpse of a different type of life - would love to bring the kids one year when they are a bit older to enjoy
Comment by annoyed all the time Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:50 am
Need a thread just for fair food…Turasky’s, taffy, turckey legs, allegator, fried candy bars…
Prarie hart needs to open up a cath tent the fair.
Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:53 am
*heart
Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:54 am
The Kids love the fair, its great to see all their happy faces.
Comment by JR Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:58 am
I love the Illinois wine tent. What a great opportunity to support state business that it might otherwise be difficult to get to. Thru the fair I found my fav wine, Alto Vineyards Chambourcin, which I drive to Champaign for every few months.
Comment by Rayne of Terror Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:58 am
Always enjoyed going with my family when I was growing-up and then later taking my children, who are now grown. It’s also one of the few times of the year I can eat what I want, with out getting into to much trouble.
By the way, I wonder if they will have a “Dunk Tank” this year?
Comment by South of I-80 Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:59 am
Corn dog, lemon shake up, and the horse races.
Comment by scoot Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:05 am
yelling at people from the Sky Ride and making it rock.
Comment by anon Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:05 am
“What do you like most about the Illinois State Fair?”
I like most that the Illinois State Fair receives government funding and is tax-exempt, which means that they must designate a Green Day in addition to Democrat and Republican Day. Seriously.
Comment by Squideshi Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:07 am
I second the wine tent comments. Call me sick, but I love the fair food. I have been going since I was a child and I have developed immunities.
Oh, and Democrat unity day….that was a joke..laugh people!
Comment by Josh Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:08 am
The dive show is always a treat to watch!
Comment by PJ Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:12 am
The Butter Cow! My friends think I’m nuts, because it’s a “must see” for me when I go to the State fair.
Comment by Latham Place Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:28 am
Milking a cow at the FFA tent.
Comment by North of I-80 Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:37 am
Grandstand shows usually have a few good acts. And I always love those miniature cinnamon doughnuts.
Comment by WhoSaidThat Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:47 am
I come down for Governor’s Day/Democrats” Day. My favorite food item at the fair is butter pecan ice cream sold by the illinois Dairyman’s Association.
There’s a great BBQ place by the Crowne Plaza, but I can’t remember the name of the restaurant. I always eat at this BBQ palce every year. I like to go to Boone’s for the Sangamon County Fundraiser, Lisa Madigan’s modest fundraiser, and the Democratic County Chairman’s breakfast at the Crowne Plaza.
Comment by Captain America Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:55 am
I like the corn dogs, wine tent, conservation world and cooking contests. I have to say that I’m disappointed that the quality of big bands at the Twilight Ballroom has decreased over the years.
Comment by state fair groupie Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 11:06 am
The food is fantastic, although eating a bunch of fried stuff when it’s about 95 degrees each day takes some of the fun out of it.
But I would have to say my fave thing at the fair is the SkyWay. Riding that thing with my wife is something I look forward to each year, and I will enjoy it even more when we can take our son on it as well.
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 11:19 am
17th Street Bar-b-que in Conservation World.
Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 11:19 am
C’tain America….it is Smokey Bones? dam good
Comment by scoot Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 11:28 am
I like the “pig-out” run all my friends and I make at least once a year. I like the food contests, flower contests and the canning contests. Sounds like I lean a lot toward food. After all, my wifes favorite flower is Pillsbury! There are so many fun things to see….the large boar, critter judging, Chinese one legged ducks as told to my wife. Ducks sleep standing with one leg tucked under them. She and her friend believed me. The battle of the bands, tractor pull, and beer tents. All the beer tents, ever so slowly and one at a time.
Comment by Justice Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:02 pm
ethnic village area, esp. Indo-Pak tent. Man, where else can you chow down on some goat biryani and enjoy the Palatine over-60 clog dancers at the same time?
Comment by anon2 Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:05 pm
The animals. As a Chicago kid growing up, I always to imagine living on a farm away from the city.
The Fair lets me see farm animals spit-polished and perfect. I love seeing the 4H kids leading their projects around the judges. I try to pick out who I think would be the winner. I love the horse shows and the stables.
It is a part of Illinois I never had a chance to enjoy, so the Fair has always been a complete escape for me away from the Loop and the damn traffic.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:08 pm
I enjoy watching my children have fun. They love the rides and like to play the games. I really enjoy watching them race each other down the giant slide - priceless.
Comment by Herself Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:23 pm
If it’s fried, it’s good, at least at the fair. I do like the International Village. Not bad stuff. The beer tents and the live music is usually pretty good. Joe Walsh this year. Nugent, Dylan, and Cheap Trick last several years. There are always the wwiiiiidde butts carrying that 64oz soda with a stick of cotton candy in case they get dehydrated. Even the “junk” being sold is at least OK to look at. It’s a fair and the people watching is great.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:35 pm
Because “great minds” think alike Capt. Fax and the SJR are running the same QOTD…Here’s the competition’s mid day #s:
If the Illinois State Fair is canceled because of the budget crisis, would you be disappointed?
Yes. It’s the highlight of my summer. I couldn’t live without the butter cow and corn dogs. 45.6%
No. It’s hot, smelly, noisy and has lousy bands. And you can’t deep-fry that! 54.4%
Total votes: 1179
Comment by Mr. W.T. Rush Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:44 pm
What is there not to like at the State Fair! 1) Diary Bldg. Ice Cream! Milk! Butter Cow. 2) Director’s lawn, free dinner, free beer.
3) Conservation world. Fishing, nature, 17th Street Bar and Grill pulled pork sandwiches.
4) Cattle show, Governor’s auction, yes I said governor’s auction, it used to be fun.
5) Sky ride
6) Mini donuts, cozy dogs, rib eye sandwiches, Bud tent
7) IL Symphony free concert
Comment by Anon Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:51 pm
The fair is great.
Fun for both kids and adults
Parents can teach their children to bet on the buggies.
Best sandcastles in the world
Room temp draft beer and bad bar bands
It does not get any better
Comment by Reddbyrd Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:52 pm
Simple pleasures - harness racing, the sight and smell of Midwest livestock, carnival lights and music, the blending of all those food smells, the buttercow, creme puffs, 17th Street Bar-b-que, mini-donuts, lemon shake-ups, and yes, even those absurd fair-goer outfits. In generally, a family-oriented day and/or night that doesn’t bankrupt me.
Comment by Budget Watcher Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:54 pm
Opps..I forgot to mention Mike Madigan’s barbecue..it is the best.
Comment by Reddbyrd Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:54 pm
This things that I like the most are Conservation World, raptor exhibit, ice cream from the dairy tent, salt water taffy, the smile on my child’s face after spending tons of money to win a $.50 stuffed animal, the horse shows at the Coliseum, and food from the ethnic village.
Comment by From the Sidelines Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:57 pm
Cheese on a stick, Spiese’s french fries, funnel cake, elephant ears, grandstand shows and beer tents. Of course it takes me two weeks to work it all off, but I can do that once a year.
Does anyone know whether or not the blues tent will be back this year?????
Comment by GLT Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 1:09 pm
It’s a great preview to the state’s premier and biggest fair: The Sandwich Fair which is held the week after Labor Day.
Comment by Independent One Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 1:11 pm
The Ethnic Village. Granted, living in Chicago is ALWAYS filled with all the different foods, languages, etc… but it was fun to watch the faces and reactions of those, um, less familiar, with the different cultures.
Comment by 312 Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 1:21 pm
Vose’s Corn Dogs, Pork Chops @ the patio, Cajun shrimp on a stick, the wonderful look of pride on the kid’s faces in the barns, used to be the beer tents but now it’s the rides for the kids :c)
Best of all: Watching people…it is the best free entertainment around
Comment by Kudos Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 1:27 pm
I love getting back to the ISF for the livestock shows and hanging around all of the kids i grew up with.
Comment by Elkhart Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 2:13 pm
The smell of livestock, taste of funnel cakes and the roar of loud machinery in the grandstand.
Comment by hollyringo Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 2:39 pm
The fair is such an awsome sampling of Illinois culture….chicagoans clearly out of thier element…its always a “when worlds collide” situation.
Im with you Little Egypt! 17th Street always accounts for 3 or 4 sessions of my fair gluttony.
If I ever get to be Gov 17th Street Magic Dust will always be in the executive kitchen
Comment by prairiestatedem Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 2:40 pm
Vost’s Corn Dogs, YT BBQ, and the ABC lemon shake-ups, you know the ones that come from behind the counter.
Comment by Sprinflield Watcher Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 3:36 pm
Cajun chicken on a stick, Cajun shrimp on a stick, Miller’s corn dogs, milk shake in the dairy barn, Italian sausage with the works, Taft’s poppers, Spiess fries, watching the kids enjoy the carnival and displays and music in the Bud tent.
And don’t go to the doctor for a physical for at least a month after the fair!
Comment by Fed Up State Employee Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 3:53 pm
The dairy barn is great and the butter cow puts it over the top as my favorite.
The lemon shakeups.
The rides are great. There is always a sense of danger you don’t get at 6 Flags because the carnies always look like they could forget to put a few screws in.
The giant slide is fun.
The animal barns are like a scene from Charlottes’ web and as all-american as you will ever find.
The petting zoo is great for watching little kids get all excited and happy.
The band stand shows typically are pretty lame, but they also have an odd wonderfully surreal quality because it is such a bad venue to watch a group.
There is one of the buildings that always has weird gadgets for sale. Its a bit snake oil salesmen and a bit telecommercial.
The displays of prize winning crafts and food are always fun to look at.
It is a great place, I just wish they could do it in September when it isn’t so hot.
Comment by Objective Dem Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 4:16 pm
Kettle korn in conservation world–the best anywhere
Comment by SIL Saturday, Aug 4, 07 @ 7:17 am