Today’s quotable: Illinois State Fair
Tuesday, May 4, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pritzker was asked yesterday if we’ll see an Illinois State Fair this August…
I am very much looking forward to the Illinois State Fair. We’ve obviously been doing all the planning that’s necessary for it. Barring some highly unusual event occurring that would prevent a large gathering, this is a very large outdoor space, if you’ve not been to the State Fair, this is a very large fairgrounds. I think that the IDPH is working with the Department of Agriculture to make sure that people will be safe. So I think we’re gonna have a lot of fun this summer. It’s in August. I hope everybody will come down to Springfield to enjoy it. And then we have a second state fair down in Du Quoin, Illinois, and that also a lot of fun. And, again, an enormous amount of space out there. I think we’ll have a big crowd and everybody will enjoy it.
I’m in.
- OneMan - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 8:39 am:
Perhaps they can find a disinfectant that they can spray on the Giant Slide to make it even faster and germ-free.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 8:51 am:
===I hope everybody will come down to Springfield===
Spoken like a true Chicagoan.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 8:53 am:
Maybe we can have a State fair in the Thompson Center?
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 8:57 am:
“Barring some highly unusual event occurring that would prevent a large gathering”
This. Everything should be fine if there are not major infection spikes or new variants that evade control. The fully vaccinated are in very good shape, for now. Lots of us feel we’ve paid our pandemic dues and want to start living again.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:16 am:
Hope is always good.
With the vaccine, hope has moved to planning… planning things like the Fair.
Great to read.
- Magic Dragon - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:17 am:
Baseball stadiums, football stadiums, youth sports parks, school soccer, baseball, softball, and football fields are large outdoor spaces too.
- Soccermom - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:28 am:
Magic Dragon — I think the problem with sports is less the large outdoor spaces where the audience sits and more the (often badly ventilated and cramped) areas where the athletes dress and shower
- Annonin' - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:34 am:
Radio Legend Sam Madonia announced on the air this a.m. that he got his contract to continue his side gig doing PA at the Fair. Warm up the corn dog fryerw
- flea - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:36 am:
This is great news for all fair goers, and ECONOMIES in Spfld and Duquoin areas.
- OneMan - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 9:52 am:
Have to admit, looking forward to walking through a commercial building or two and eating a ribeye sandwich.
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:01 am:
Glad to hear it. I was disappointed to see that the München Oktoberfest has been cancelled for 2021. I guess with all the arrangements needed plus Germany is not vaccinating their pop. as rapidly as we have.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:05 am:
Good. Now if we can order up the weather we had last year during “fair week” the turnout would be excellent.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:11 am:
Great news. Now I just need to remember where I put my good tube top, jorts and cowboy boots.
- Bigtwich - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:16 am:
==Maybe we can have a State fair in the Thompson Center?==
It would make a great venue for a Giant Slide.
- Give Me A Break - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:26 am:
Have DPH stand at the entry gates to both state fairs, one line for those vaccinated one for those not vaccinated.
Those in the non vaccinated line get ran through shoots like cattle getting their vaccinations before allowed entry.
If cattle can’t get in the feedlot without being vaccinated to protect the heard, that can be the case for un vaccinated fair goers.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 10:59 am:
This is good news, but now I want a corn dog.
- Blue Dog - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:11 am:
Can you imagine the butter cow with a facemask.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:15 am:
=== Can you imagine the butter cow with a facemask.===
The lions at the Art Institute… Michael Jordan statue… the Picasso…
Here, I gave you your attention for the day, with your frivolously silly thought.
It’s been done, it sends a message.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:17 am:
===my good tube top, jorts and cowboy boots===
No need to get all gussied up. It’s not like a trip to Walmart.
- Sir Reel - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:18 am:
I know the fair is to celebrate the State’s big industry, agriculture, is a tradition, benefits the local economy, etc, etc, but it’s telling the Governor mentions big space twice.
Both fairgrounds are major infrastructure fully used just once a year and in need of significant funding to maintain.
I wish there was some way to improve the return on investment.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:20 am:
===improve the return on investment===
Hasn’t been much of an investment until recently.
- dbk - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:41 am:
If there’s an award for “Most Optimistic Governor,” I know who I’d nominate.
Seriously though, hope all goes well.
- RNUG - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:55 am:
== fully used just once a year ==
In a normal year, the State Fairgrounds gets a lot of use. Most of the horse barns on the NE corner, at least the ones in good condition, are used year round. A number of the horse shows occupy the arenas and barns on the SE corner for a week or more for each show. The Orr Building and the Illinois Building are often rented out for single day or multi-day events.
Yes, they could work on holding more events there, but they used to have one or two a week in normal conditions.
I don’t have a clue on how much the Du Quoin Fairgrounds are used.
- RNUG - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 11:56 am:
Looking forward to the easing. I have a small convention planned for here in Springfield shortly after the State Fair.
- Lurker - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 2:33 pm:
Two “State” fairs is always a waste but increased this year
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 2:46 pm:
=Two “State” fairs is always a waste but increased this year=
Why increased this year?
Isn’t this the time to invest state dollars in a economic generator for two towns? Bring in tax dollars and out of state travelers? Just have some place to enjoy the summer weather and kick back?
Odd.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 2:59 pm:
If masks are required outdoors then I will not be attending this year.
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 3:08 pm:
==If there’s an award for “Most Optimistic Governor,” I know who I’d nominate.==
If you want to take that “Most Optimistic” category all throughout Illinois history, I think Thompson would rank among at least the top 3. Maybe even No. 1 Most Optimistic Governor in the state’s history.
- SIU 1984 - Tuesday, May 4, 21 @ 3:36 pm:
The Du Quoin Fairgrounds has multiple events each week in a normal year. Yes is it is a big space actually bigger than Springfield.