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Chicago Tribune
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Live animals attract fans to Kane County Fair, organizers say
Jenna Fiorito of Batavia looks forward to the middle of July each year because she gets to visit a venue she's been coming to 'since I was a little girl.' 'I've lived here since I was three years old and I'm familiar with this event – coming here every year and seeing the animals. I'll be here tomorrow as well,' Fiorito said as she passed rows of stalls filled with cows this Thursday afternoon in St. Charles. 'I like coming here to see what's going on in Kane County and have fun. I think this event is very clean and very well organized.' Beginning Wednesday, July 16, the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles welcomed thousands to the 156th annual Kane County Fair – billed as 'one of the oldest and long-standing fairs in the country.' With an eclectic mix of entertainment that runs the gambit from a petting zoo, classic car show, nightly music shows, and carnival rides, the annual fair always reintroduces guests to its share of animal attraction including pig races, bull riders, and even barrel races, which were added this year. President of the Board of Directors for the fair Larry Breon of Batavia said he believes the continued appeal of the fair is definitely tied to the animal attractions that are offered. 'There are carnivals every year around our area all the time so that's nothing special, but what makes ours unusual is that we have livestock. Back in the day, not too many years ago, our area was agriculturally-based,' Breon said. 'People see livestock which they don't see anymore, which makes our event different. We have a 4-H program in our county and we give them a chance to show off their work and projects to the public.' Breon added that guests who come to the fair 'can see everything from a cow being milked through a window to goats and beef cattle and pigs.' 'I really think the animals are the attraction from the racing pigs, but we also have magic shows and bull riding and a demo derby and there are lots of activities going on every day – there's different things for different people,' he said. Breon notes the outdoor venue can draw 60,000 people over the five days, weather permitting. 'I'd say we get about 15 percent new people that come out each year,' he said. 'A lot of people for many years didn't realize the fairground was redeveloped and redesigned. I used to say for many years we have two seasons – we had dust and we had mud, and now we don't have either. It's a very nice venue.' Lightning, followed by an hour's downpour of rain, pushed back Wednesday's opening for more than an hour, officials said Thursday, although carnival rides and food vendors later reopened. On Thursday, cloudy skies remained but the fair pressed on and featured professional championship women barrel racing at 7:30 p.m. as well as a magic show, petting zoo, an animal race featuring 'swifty swine racing pigs' and music at the sound stage. Tony Siracusa of Peotone was working an arcade booth that offered the chance to shoot at targets and said he has been at the fair 'for over 10 years' adding that the event 'has grown exponentially.' 'Definitely – from when I first started. We have good years and bad years like everything else in business but hopefully this will be another good year,' Siracusa said. 'Coming out to something that has this much history – it pays off. We do have a lot of spots [other carnivals] that we play, but with all the time it takes to get things set up here – it's heartwarming to be a part of it.' While carnival rides weren't drawing a lot of attention within the first hour of opening Thursday afternoon – animal exhibits certainly were. Missy Johnson of Sycamore said she brings beef cattle every year and 'has been coming here since 1992.' 'For me, I grew up doing 4H and this was always a big part of our lives and all our friends were here and we all had common interests,' she said. 'This was where we came to be with all our friends and now my kids do it.' Mary Beth Casty of Winnetka and her cousin Judy Bond of Northbrook said this was their first time visiting the event and both professed to be animal lovers. 'I love animals – the attraction is they're sometimes more human than humans – many are consistent and I just like them because – they have a heart,' Casty said. 'This is our first time and we heard about it on the radio and were out in Geneva at a shop and decided to come over and check it out,' Bond added. 'The big reason we came was to see the animals – we saw pigs and cows and rabbits. I'm not a farm girl, but I enjoy the animals.'
Indianapolis Star
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Deep-fried deals and discounts you don't want to miss at the state fair
The Indiana State Fair returns Aug. 1 to 17 with 15 days full of food and fun. Whether you're looking to sample deep-fried favorites, explore the 4-H exhibits, or ride the rides, there are deals to help you do it on a budget. Get ahead of the crowds, and costs, by purchasing tickets in advance. Admission and parking are 20% off through July 31, and midway wristbands are available at a 38% discount for select days. Mark your calendar because each day of the fair features its own specials from $2 food items to free entry for military families. Other perks include $1 off admission for those who bike to the fair, plus free secure bike parking. The fairgrounds will be closed on Mondays during the fair. The hours for all remaining days of the week are as follows:
Chicago Tribune
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Women's barrel racing a new addition to this year's Kane County Fair
Cowgirls are taking center stage this week at the 156th Kane County Fair as a professional women's barrel racing competition joins favorites like bull riding and the demolition derby at the fairground's grandstand. '(Barrel racing) is very popular around the country. I think people will be pleased by it,' fair board Chair Larry Breon said. The new competition, which requires riders on horseback to race around barrels in a clover leaf pattern, is expected to be one of the highlights of the annual fair, which also features the usual fare of carnival rides and games, 4-H exhibits, pig racing, live music and plenty of food over the course of its Wednesday-through-Sunday run at the St. Charles fairgrounds. Always a big draw when the weather cooperates, the fair brought in between 50,000 and 60,000 people attend last year, Breon said. 'If we have good weather, we have good attendance,' he said. 'I hope we have good weather,' Breon said. The female barrel racing is proving to be a big draw for professional racers who are coming from around the country to participate, he said. The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. There also will be other grandstand shows, like a series of professional championship bull rider and cowgirl events Friday and Saturday night and Saturday afternoon. Tickets for bull riding and barrel racing can be purchased at 'Bull riding is very popular,' Breon said. 'Everything is first class.' Always a big draw is the demolition derby, which starts at 2 p.m. Sunday and costs $10 to attend. Another fan favorite is pig racing, he said. 'Everyone loves them so we keep bringing them back,' he said. But if you want to see the heart of the fair, don't miss the 4-H exhibitions, Breon said. 4-H members get to not only display their skills and livestock but also teach others about agriculture, he said. It's sometimes surprising for children when they connect the dots between the food they consume and where it comes from, he said. 'Kids don't realize milk comes from a cow because they think it comes from Jewel. You can come here and see a cow being milked,' he said. Breon, who's been coming to the fair for 70 years, joined 4-H when he was 10 years old. His family owned a farm outside of Batavia, and he showed cattle when he was young, he said. That first ribbon you win is unforgettable, he said. 'You felt pretty good about it,' Breon said. As he got older, he won state and national championships and ultimately became part of the National Beef Association and a member of the Illinois State Fair board. He was a farmer until retiring last year. Live music is always an important aspect of the fair, and this year there will be a variety of genres performing on the Miller Lite Sound Stage. Eric Chesser, a Nashville-based country musician, kicks things off with a 7 p.m. show Thursday. On Friday night, Trippin' Billies, a Dave Matthews tribute band, will take the stage at 7:30. Saturday, Mark Atkins performs at 5 p.m. and the Hillbilly Rockstarz go on at 8:30 p.m. The latter is known for mashing up pop, rock and dance songs. The How Rude Band closes out the fair with a show at 6 p.m. Sunday. They play '90s hits, including pop and grunge. Fantasy Amusements returns with its thrill rides like the OMG 360, which swings riders in 360 degrees while revolving, and Pharaoh's Fury. The midway also will have family-friendly rides, games, and, of course, funnel cakes and other fair foods. Fair hours are 3 to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to midnight Friday and Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Admission prices are $5 on Wednesday and Thursday and $5 for children and $10 for adults Friday through Sunday. There's no cost for children under 3. Free admission is available for seniors 62 and older and miltary with ID until 5 p.m. Thursday. A ticket to be used all five days costs $25. (Credit card purchases add 4% to the price.) Wristbands are available for unlimited carnival rides, and range in price from $27 to $32 depending on the day. The fairgrounds is located at 525 S. Randall Road in St. Charles. For more information, go to
Los Angeles Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Feeling blue? ‘Find Your Happy' at the 135th annual Orange County Fair
If you find yourself with a case of the summertime blues, there's perhaps no better place to 'Find Your Happy' than this year's Orange County Fair, which returns to the Costa Mesa fairgrounds on Friday. Organizers of this year's 135th annual celebration have been busy planning the start of the big show, prepping staging areas on the 150-acre site for the more than 1 million visitors anticipated to walk through the gates each Wednesday through Sunday before the fair closes on Aug. 17. 'There are trucks parked everywhere, and they're unloading the rides. Concessionaires are rolling trailers in and putting up all the big signs,' OC Fair & Event Center spokeswoman Terry Moore said in a catch-up session Thursday. 'At Centennial Farm, everything's getting spruced up and looking good. I'm seeing 4-H folks and FFA kids start to get their stuff set up. Kids raise these animals and it's an enormous amount of work and there's a lot of expense but you learn a ton. And it's one of those things you'll find only at the county fair.' Attendance at this year's event will be capped at roughly 50,000 visitors per day, but those who pay for entry to a concert at the Pacific Amphitheater or other ticketed event will be able to access the fair for the entire day, even on days already deemed 'sold out.' Last year, officials reported more than 1.13 million guests visited the fairground, up more than 81,000 people compared to 2023, with 12 of the fair's 23 days exceeding the cap and nine days selling out. More than 130,000 fairgoers attended concerts at the amphitheater, while 32,000 guests enjoyed performances at the Hangar and some 30,000 audience members partook in high-octane events at the Action Sports Arena, OCFEC estimates. Area residents stunned in the competition and display categories — from table settings and personal collections to handicrafts and culinary entries — bringing in 16,259 submissions and netting a collective $38,275 in prize money. This year, eager to stay on top of the latest foodie trends, concession stand operators are offering some new and unique treats, such as nopales tacos, Dubai chocolate brownies at Mom's Bakeshoppe, tres leches cinnamon rolls at Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls and deep-fried apple pie a la mode at Tom's Puffs & Pie. Moore said even employees at the fairgrounds are looking forward to the coming attractions, along with the return of culinary novelties that hit the mark last year. 'A surprising one for me was the bacon cotton candy on a smoked pork belly stick,' she said of a creation concocted at the stand Bacon Nation. 'They have bacon-flavored cotton candy on top of this pork belly stick, then put bacon chunks into it — it's a sweet and savory treat.' Fairgoers looking for a little bit of everything can once more enjoy a special Taste of the Fair every day until 4 p.m., where smaller samples are available at certain vendors for just $5. Ridesharing and public transit are encouraged, and parking costs $15 daily. General admission is $13 for adults on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and $15 Fridays through Sundays. Tickets cost $9 for those over 60 and children aged 6 to 12, while kids 5 and under are free. Fair hours are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and from 11 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays at the Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. For more, visit
Hamilton Spectator
09-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
4-H clubs gather for Boissevain rally
BOISSEVAIN — A parade through town ended at the Boissevain Ag Grounds on Friday afternoon, bringing 76 children from around the region to the Boissevain 4-H Zone Rally. The parade was part of the annual event, which marked its 89th year yesterday showing a healthy heartbeat for the longstanding tradition. Bill Simpson, a local farmer, told the Sun that he tries to come down every year to support his family as they set down a path he once did. 'I got three grandsons and a granddaughter and they're all in the Boissevain beef club,' said Simpson. 'Means a lot to me … I was a 4-H member at one time too.' Simpson is a cattle producer in the Boissevain area. He said the 4-H program is a great way for his grandchildren, between the ages of five and 13, to learn skills. But it wasn't just beef clubs at the event. The rally had a musical horseback ride, as well as competitions for children that included halter classes and horsemanship. A variety of clubs from the region travelled to Boissevain for the community event. The 4-H clubs list included Boissevain Beef, the Archie Light Horse and Pony Club, Boissevain Boots 'n Bits, Boissevain Home and Hobby, Deloraine Community 4-Hers, Killarney Beef Club, Goodlands Variety, and Southwest Saddles and Spurs. While the event focuses on the kids, the stands were filled with parents and family members. Paul Bell told the Sun he has a granddaughter who rode in the musical ride. He's proud to see how she's developed, and showed up to show support. 'She's come a long way with that horse,' he said from the sidelines. 'She only started training a year ago.' Near a pen on the other side of the ag grounds, five-year-old Weston Walker blow-dried a cow named Maple Syrup. His aunt, Erin Maxwell, told the Sun he was making the cow look pretty, a part of getting ready for show and sales. It's the boy's second year of experience in 'future 4-H,' she said, a denomination for kids too young to officially join the real 4-H. When Weston turns six, he'll be able to join the beef club. 'It's good for the kids to learn stewardship of the cattle,' she said. 'Learn to care for them and what they need to do that.' Coral Meggison, who helped organize the rally, said the event is a chance to celebrate work over the year and for the kids to enjoy themselves. Mostly importantly, she said, it gives members a chance to meet others in the ag industry. 'It's mostly a fun day, but it builds on their teamwork … to come and connect with kids from other clubs, other communities,' she said. 'They make connections.' Meggison said the event went well this year. There was still a good attendance in its 89th year, with nice weather and an excellent showing from the kids, she added. Looking to the future, she said organizers are thinking of doing something special for the 90th. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
