Monday, August 15, 2011

THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR OFFERS AFFORDABLE ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois State Fair offers families food, fun and an affordable way to spend the day together. It has 14 stages of free entertainment this year. The acts include everything from music and magic to competitions and demonstrations.    
“One of the things I love about the Illinois State Fair is that it offers families a chance to have a great time together without spending lots of money,” Illinois State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick said.  “In addition to the free stages, there also are other entertainment options, such as Farmer’s Little Helper, the Ag Tent and Watershed Park that offer families fun, educational, hands-on activities for free.”
The Illinois State Fair showcases an array of specialty shows with performances for all ages.  Attractions include the Amazing Rainforest, Pet Overboard and Big Aerial Show, which are located in “The Jungle.”  Families can even take in a free Grandstand show Monday, Aug. 15, when the Illinois Symphony performs with the Million Dollar Quartet.   
The Illinois State Fair for the first time this year is offering $25 carnival Bargain Bracelets.  The bracelets allow fairgoers to ride the Midway and Adventure Village rides as many times as they like during specified hours. 
For more information on all that is happening during the 2011 Illinois State Fair, visit www.illinoisstatefair.info. 

SPECIAL EVENTS CONTESTS

            Winners of the Fiddle and Banjo Contest and Talent Contest for Group Vocal, Male Vocal Solo and Keyboard or Instrumental performance have been announced.   The results follow:


Fiddle – 16 and Under
1.      Scott Daniel, Oak Park
2.      Paige Johnson, Evansville
3.      Dante Freund, Mansfield
4.      Arden Hooper, Wheaton
5.      Stella Faux, Urbana
Fiddle – 17-59 Years
1.      Jennifer Wisehart, Whittington
2.      Robin Kearton, Urbana
3.      Brittany Johnson, Urbana
4.      Chelsea Perkinson, Fayetteville
5.      Jonathan Field, Springfield
Fiddle – 60 and Up
1.      Jerry Myers, Mattoon
2.      Mike Casey, Cicero
3.      Richard Harness, Fulton, MO
4.      Chuck Perkins, Augusta
Banjo – 16 and Under
1.      Nicole Warnecke, New Athens
2.      Paige Johnson, Evansville
3.      Ben Politte, High Ridge, MO
4.      Rebecca King, Monticello
Banjo – 17-59 Years
1.      Doug Knecht, Roanoke
2.      Tom Faux, Urbana
3.      Kyle Kieszling, Latham
4.      Justin Robbins, Hillsboro, MO
5.      Darrell Hooper, Wheaton
Banjo – 60 and Up
1.      Jim Herzing, Woodlawn
2.      Mike Casey, Cicero
3.      Jerry Myers, Mattoon
4.      Chuck Perkins, Augusta


Group Vocal – 13-18 Years
1.      The Pickin’ Chicks, New Athens
2.      Kayla Sallenger and Kerry McMahon, Chatham
Male Vocal Solo – 12 and Under
1.      Justin Brandon, Pleasant Plains
2.      Paul Schrieber, Jacksonville

Male Vocal Solo – 13-18 Years
1.      Christopher Simmons, Marion
2.      Cody Salem, Pekin
3.      Keyboard & Instrumental/ 12 and Under
4.      Olivia Bolles, Bloomington
5.      Miles Ralph, Springfield
Keyboard/ Instrumental – 13-18 Years
1.      Joey Unger, Bloomington
2.      Anna Ferraro, Jacksonville


UPCOMING EVENTS: Monday, Aug. 15
Senior Citizens Day/Scout Day

Scouts and fair visitors 60 and older are admitted to the fairgrounds for free. Special events in the Senior Citizens Center, including inductions into the Illinois Senior Hall of Fame, take place throughout the day. The Scout Day Tent will be located directly outside the entrance to the Carnival Midway.

The Illinois Tractor Pullers Association (ITPA) returns for three separate days of pulling on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 15-17. 

Welcome to the Jungle:  Daily Shows
Big Aerial Show – 1:20 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 7:10 p.m.
Amazing Rainforest Show – 11:35 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:25 p.m.
Pets Overboard – 12:45 p.m., 3:40 p.m., 6:35 p.m.
Extreme Trampoline – 12:10 p.m., 3:05 p.m., 6:00 p.m.

Illinois Building/Senior Center: Daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Features interactive, informative displays and quality entertainment geared towards seniors.  Various screenings are available from hearing tests to blood pressure checks.  Screenings will include pulmonary functioning, bone density, mental health and facial screenings for skin cancer, blood pressure, body composition, height and weight and blood sugar.  The Prairie Heart Center and the Illinois Department on Aging are sponsoring these screenings.

GrandstandIllinois Symphony with Million Dollar Quartet, 8 p.m.
The Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Chicago cast of Million Dollar Quartet will be giving a free concert for fairgoers.  Million Dollar Quartet is inspired by the famed recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time.  The musical is currently running on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre and at the Apollo Theater in Chicago.
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