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Triest
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Springfield State Fair
« on: Aug 5th, 2006, 2:19pm » |
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Hometown feel, more stick food highlight State Fair
Associated Press - RYAN KEITH
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Just when you thought they couldn't come up with some new delicacy on a stick, the 2006 Illinois State Fair proves you wrong.
Cotton candy and corn dogs are old news. Pork chops and candy bars on a stick have been done. Now it's the egg's turn.
A hard-boiled egg jammed on a stick and dunked in horseradish sauce, honey mustard or some other topping is the new culinary creation at this year's State Fair. And fair officials say the result has come out surprisingly well, both in form and taste.
"Every year, you have to have something new on a stick ... and for the life of me, I could not figure out how they're going to do it," said Amy Bliefnick, the fair's director.
In her second year at the helm, Bliefnick hopes a combination of good weather, strong promotion, curious attractions and a hometown feel equals a large crowd at the annual agriculture showcase.
The fair runs from Friday, Aug. 11, through Sunday, Aug. 20. Admission is $3, while senior citizens pay $2 and children 12 and under get in free. Fair officials are again pushing the Mega Pass, which for $60 allows for unlimited rides throughout the 10-day event.
It features a return of many favorites.
There are 14 different ethnicities at the Ethnic Village, with all kinds of exotic food and entertainment. In all, more than 300 vendors and 13 free entertainment tents will cover the sprawling fairgrounds.
Attractions at the grandstandinclude rock groups Foreigner, Counting Crows and Goo Goo Dolls, hip-hopper Bow Wow and country stars Montgomery Gentry and Carrie Underwood. Motocross racers, truck and tractor pulls and rodeos will tear into the dirt track at the arena.
And there will be plenty of politics, with an election year expected to draw statewide and local candidates for office and their supporters for big rallies and glad-handing on Gov.'s Day (Aug. 16) and Republican Day (Aug. 17).
Bliefnick's spent the last three months traveling the state to promote the fair. A new Hometown Pride showcase uses some of the communities she's visited to help with the promotional work.
For nine of the fair's 10 days, a different city will feature its best selling points - from economic development and tourism to recreation and history. The participants include Decatur, Champaign, Effingham, Quincy and Galesburg, and officials believe it will be a successful partnership.
"We hope it's going to be a mutually beneficial thing for the communities and for us," Bliefnick said. "It's going to be a great opportunity for you to get the feel and flavor of what it's like to be in a hometown community."
A new exhibit last year, The Jungle section will feature new animal acts: tigers, lions, black bears and sharks.
A small "drive-in" theater gives fairgoers a place to relax and catch a cartoon, while those wanting a bigger thrill can check out the new Maximum Velocity Stunt Show with bikers and skaters soaring, flipping and twisting.
Last year, speed eaters chomped on grilled cheese sandwiches. This time they'll tackle "horseshoes" - plates of meat, bread and french fries covered with melted cheese that are a specialty in Springfield. The contest is an official stop in the 2006 World Series of Competitive Eating.
The fair will tout its state pride by displaying the Chicago White Sox 2005 World Series baseball trophy for a few hours on Aug. 19. Kids will be able to build their own state fair teddy bear the final four days of the event.
Bliefnick isn't making predictions about attendance but is counting on more cooperation from the weather, after intense heat and a rainstorm that briefly knocked out power hurt last year's crowds.
She's also responded to complaints about past lackluster finishes by scheduling a grandstand concert on the final Sunday with Underwood and Phil Vassar, which so far is the biggest ticket seller.
"Let's end it with a bang," Bliefnick said. "Let's end it in a big way."
Posted on Sat, Aug. 05, 2006
http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/state/15207207.htm
Stay True & Rock On!
Triest
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| « Last Edit: Aug 5th, 2006, 2:20pm by Triest » |
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babsil30
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What's the point in all this screaming
 
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Re: Springfield State Fair
« Reply #1 on: Aug 6th, 2006, 12:40pm » |
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woot woot! i'll be there! i'm not trying an egg on a stick though! sounds disgusting! LOL
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d.e.n.i.s.e.
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Re: Springfield State Fair
« Reply #2 on: Aug 7th, 2006, 2:56pm » |
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Boy, if those eggs go over big, that is going to be one smelly concert - and I'm not talking about sweat 
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babsil30
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What's the point in all this screaming
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Re: Springfield State Fair
« Reply #3 on: Aug 7th, 2006, 3:36pm » |
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all the more reason to avoid the hard boiled eggs!
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I put my heavy coat on for a while
It's freezing in the corner of my mind
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