Things are 'cooking' at the Bureau County Fairgrounds

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Today, Saturday, the Bureau County Fair Board kicks off the season with a special fundraiser dinner for the fair. A grilled pork chop dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Allen Building at the fairgrounds. For $8, you get two grilled pork chops, potato salad, baked beans, applesauce, dessert and a drink. For the lighter eater there is a one chop meal for $7, or get a kids’ meal for $3 with a hot dog and a side dish. Tickets will be sold at the door. During dinner, the musical group Ace will perform. Chicken bingo returns for entertainment following dinner. If you haven’t ever played bingo with a live chicken, you are in for a big treat.

It’s only 13 weeks until the 152nd Bureau County Fair. The fairgrounds is going to be a busy place with all of the spring and summer activities that are planned. Did you realize that during the course of the year, more than 65,000 people visit the Bureau County Fairgrounds? In addition to the fair, they attend the stock car races, flea markets, dinners, Hamfest, gun shows and many other types of shows and sales.

Some of our visitors may come for a short visit, or they may spend some time shopping, eating and even staying overnight in area hotels. Many of our activities have people attending from out of the state. New camp sites at the fairgrounds were added last summer and are available for rent.

An event that will bring a lot of people into the area is coming up on Father’s Day weekend, June 16-17. For those two days, bargain hunters will be traveling all along Route 34 from Sandwich to the Mississippi River during the second annual More on 34 — Miles and Miles of Yard Sales event, searching out garage sales, yard sales and flea markets. Last year’s event was a huge success with the shoppers following a 100-mile route from Princeton to Galesburg along Route 34.

This year, the route has been expanded to 150 miles with even more towns participating. There will be a two-day flea market at the fairgrounds with free admission, great bargains and food. Saturday night there will be a demolition derby for Father’s Day. Townwide garage sales will be held in Neponset, Sheffield and Wyanet with organizations in those towns setting up food stands along the route too. Residents of Princeton, Dover and LaMoille are also encouraged to participate by setting up a sale.

 There are a variety of events in the works at the fairgrounds. Stock car racing is held in front of the grandstand every Friday night through Aug. 10. On May 30, the Liebling Brothers Circus will have two performances.

The whole fairgrounds will be full of ham radio and computer enthusiasts during the Starved Rock Radio Club’s Hamfest on June 2-3.

4H-ers are getting ready for the 4H Fair in July.

Tickets go on sale June 9 for all of the 152nd annual Bureau County Fair’s events including the Blake Shelton Concert on Aug. 24. Come stand in line early for the best seats. Tickets can also be ordered by phone after 9 a.m. by calling (815) 875-2905.

This year the North American Midway Entertainment carnival will be back with several new large rides and smaller kiddy rides. On Aug. 22, you can ride each ride for only $1.50 from 5 to 10 p.m. On Thursday, from 5 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m., you can have unlimited rides for only $17. The younger fairgoers will have their own ride special on Saturday when they have $10 wristband rides from noon to 4 p.m.

There is something for everyone in the whole family to see and do at the fair. With the price of gas limiting long distance vacations this summer, a trip to the Bureau County Fair can be the economical and fun family event you will remember for many years.

Kathy Costerisan is a representative for the Bureau County Fairgrounds.