Kankakee County Fair Is Summer’s Hottest Ticket
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It’s always the hottest ticket in town, drawing some 65,000 people through the gates. The 44th annual Kankakee County Fair and Exposition, July 30 through Aug. 3, 2008, is expected to be just as popular, according to manager Tammy Focken.
The School Bus Figure 8 is a new Grand Stand event that’s sure to stir up school rivalries and get spectators cheering. Area high schools will compete for the best-decorated bus, and then professional drivers will race the buses in a full-track figure eight.
“We’re basically going to tear them up,” Focken says.
Other events include lawn mower races – with some traveling more than 80 miles per hour – an IPRA rodeo and calf scramble for the kids, a truck and tractor pull, and the Grand Stand finale – a demolition derby.
Additionally, there will be a carnival and a full circus performing shows on the midway, live music at the bandshell, a karaoke contest, 4-H activities, and livestock and horse shows.
But fair time isn’t the only time the fairgrounds is put to good use. The newly renovated Expo Center brings a wide array of activities to the valley.
“The fairgrounds offers 16,000 square feet of space at the Expo Center for trade shows, dog shows, business gatherings, company picnics, receptions and special events,” Focken says. “We do a lot of wedding receptions and banquets here. The facility is booked about every weekend. The main reason we’re here is to promote agriculture in Kankakee County.”
However, some don’t realize the fairgrounds is not run by a government entity.
“The fairgrounds is privately owned and run by an 18-member volunteer fair board,” Focken says. “We get no tax money, no funding from the county or any other government agency. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we stay afloat by booking the facility throughout the year.”
Check out the calendar of events at www.kankakeefair.org.
Story by Carol Cowan
Photo by Todd Bennett
