If Gov. Jim Edgar decides to celebrate his 52nd birthday Wednesday at the DuPage County Fair in Wheaton, fair officials have promised to have a birthday cake and corn dog waiting.
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“We know that the governor has many requests for appearances,” said Robert Radkiewicz, president of the DuPage County Fair Association, which recently issued a written invitation to Edgar to attend opening-day ceremonies, a 4-H presentation and birthday lunch. “But we would like to shake his hand and thank him for all of his hard work on behalf of Illinois county fairs.”
A spokeswoman for Edgar said Monday that the governor’s plans for Wednesday remained uncertain. But thousands of other Illinoisans are expected to show up for opening day of the 44th annual DuPage County Fair, which kicks off at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the county fairgrounds and continues through Sunday. Big-name entertainment, demolition derbies, tractor pulls, a watermelon-eating contest, food and 4-H exhibits are scheduled to figure in the fun.
Monday morning, several dozen workers battled sweltering heat as they began the long process of trucking in and assembling carnival rides and setting up food-service booths.
“We do the setup today and the maintenance tomorrow,” Carl Snoddy of Crystal Lake said Monday. Snoddy is part of an amusements company crew that was installing a new demolition derby-style ride with small cars.
As for the heat, “I’ve been with this company for 27 summers,” Snoddy said. “You get used to it.”
Tim O’Brien, who was putting up a giant “MEALS-SANDWICHES” sign on a fair cafe building with the assistance of his son Jared and nephew David also was used to hot weather: The O’Brien family’s home base is Brandon, Fla. Each year, his company provides meal service at 14 fairs across the country, O’Brien said.
“For a county fair, this is a good fair,” O’Brien said of the DuPage County event. “We do good business here.”
In addition to carnival rides and food, fair-goers can choose from exhibitions and other entertainment options. Grandstand attractions include country music super group Diamond Rio, which performs Wednesday, and country star Patty Loveless, who headlines Thursday with teenage country chart-topper Lila McCann as opening act. Other grandstand events include truck and tractor pull events on Friday, rodeo performances on Saturday and demolition derby events on Sunday.
George Burns impersonator Eddie Gromaki, children’s entertainer Buttons the Clown, Mr.D’s Magic Show, oldies group Danny & the Twisters, the Banjo Buddies Dixieland Band and country group Joel Daly and the Sundowners are among the acts scheduled to perform in the Program Tent. For fair-goers who don’t want to miss church, an interdenominational worship service will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday in the Program Tent.
Chain-saw carver Ben Risney will demonstrate his craft several times each day, with the resulting creations to be auctioned daily at the WGN stage. Robinson’s Racing Pigs will hurtle out of the starting gate six times daily for the duration of the fair, with each pig attempting to cross the finish line first and win a cookie.
On the 4-H front, exhibits include rabbits, sheep, poultry, swine, goats, cattle, horses and home economics and horticulture projects, with judging to take place Wednesday through Saturday. An awards program is scheduled for Sunday, and barnyard tours will be offered daily.
Other attractions include a petting zoo, exhibits of vintage tractors and farm machinery, and free stagecoach rides.
As in previous years, opening day has been declared Litter-Free Day. Volunteers from DuPage Clean & Beautiful, a local environmental organization, will be on hand to encourage fair-goers to do the right thing and toss empty lemonade cups, corn dog sticks and other debris into the proper containers.