County fairs serve up old-fashioned fun

Crashing cars, racing pigs, bucking bulls and big ol' lumps of sugary fried dough - yep, it's nearly county fair time.

Summer in the suburbs is almost here, and fair organizers are finalizing plans on some of the season's most anticipated local events. Complete with carnivals, talent contests, live entertainment, livestock exhibits and more, these fairs promise to be as fun-filled as ever.

Here's a sneak preview:

Kane County Fair

Looking for family fun? The Kane County Fair promises to deliver. "It's five days of the most affordable family fun available all summer," says Larry Breon, president of the Kane County Fair board.

New this year is the Great Bear Show, an educational event that will feature small live bears. Other entertainment includes racing pigs, the comedian Grandpa Cratchet, a magic show, a petting zoo, the KidBucks Game Show, a carnival and a talent show.

The music lineup is diverse, featuring 15 onstage acts throughout the fair, anchored by American English, the well-known Beatles tribute band, on Saturday. There's also country group Mountaineer Rockstars, live band karaoke, a tribute band honoring Elton John and Billy Joel, a celebration of the Blues Brothers, a polka band and jazz and Latin music.

Grandstand shows include motocross, a truck pull, championship bull riding, a rodeo and a demolition derby. Admission for these shows is $10. General admission is $7 daily and $2 on Wednesday; children under 5 are free.

For a full list of prices and specials, see the website. The fair opens at noon daily.

DuPage County Fair

"American Idol" fans won't want to miss standout singer Danny Gokey, who will perform his hit "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me" on the DuPage County Fair's opening day.

Families will enjoy the Great American Duck Races, the KidBucks Game Show, a magic show, a stilt walker, pig racing, a petting zoo, a demolition derby and a talent show.

A special partnership with the DuPage County Forest Preserve will bring a semitrailer fish tank on site that contains fish from local rivers and streams.

"It's quite a variety of fish and a great attraction," says Jim McGuire, DuPage County Fair president.

The Ag-Ventureland section also features scores of daily activities including pony rides, blacksmithing, a wildlife display, milking demonstrations, wood carvers, sheep shearing and camel rides.

An important element of any county fair is to showcase local skills, McGuire says, and organizers this year are working to involve more local residents. Organizers hand out more than $90,000 in cash prizes in various categories from flower arranging to rabbit displays.

"One of the main things a county fair does is give everyone the opportunity to bring forth their best talents, whether it's in woodworking, gardening, sewing, baking or photography," he says.

Fair admission is $10 for those over 12; $2 off coupons will be available. Children 3 to 12 are $3 and children under 3 are free. Fair hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Lake County Fair

Petting zoos, popcorn and tractor pulls - this year's Lake County Fair features all your favorites. The 82nd annual event, which celebrates the county's agricultural past, features motocross, a rodeo, demolition derbies, a talent contest, battle of the bands, a carnival, a queen pageant, 4-H exhibits, livestock and horse shows, live entertainment, an RV sale, an antique car show, a gun show and flea market. Whew!

The fair also provides a place for old friends to catch up, says Dave DeYoung, president of the Lake County Fair Association. He grew up going to the fair and remembers showing a cow in 1956. "Through all these years, the most exciting part for me is to walk around and see all the people you didn't get to see that year, to get a chance to say hi and visit for a few minutes," he says. "It's like a reunion."

This year, DeYoung says he is especially looking forward to the professional rodeo and the return of the livestock shows, which offer kids the chance to see cows and pigs up close.

"When you walk by and a family is there with children for the first time, and their eyes get as big as doughnuts, it's really exciting," he says. "That's what it's all about."

Admission is $10; $5 for seniors and children 5 to 12. The fair opens at 8 a.m. daily.

McHenry County Fair

The McHenry County Fair is about getting back to county roots: agriculture and farming. And a highlight is seeing the work of local 4-H kids, whose projects will be on display.

"That's really the heart and soul of a county fair in my book," says Dick Crone, president of the McHenry County Fair Association.

There also will be carnival rides, fair food and a pageant queen contest.

A crowd favorite is a salute to veterans, in which the names of all fallen McHenry County vets from the First World War to the present day are read aloud.

The festival also will have tractor pulls, two demolition derbies and an educational tour for children, in which they can solve puzzles and visit exhibits across the fairgrounds. In each activity, organizers try to incorporate rural elements.

"The fair is a slice of Americana," Crone says. "It's an agricultural fair, and we try to make the connection to our agricultural roots."

Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for seniors and children. The fair opens daily at 10 a.m.