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“The flag, which will
be carried by Springfield firefighters and police officers, was
chosen to demonstrate Illinois' support for the American service
people fighting terrorism around the world and for the first
responders who protect us here at home,” said Mark Kolaz, deputy
director of the state fair.
The parade has a
theme this year of “United We Stand” and consists of 148 entries,
including 41 floats, eight bands and 14 dignitaries. It will begin
Thursday, Aug. 7, at 5:45 p.m. at Ninth Street and North Grand
Avenue before traveling down Ninth to Peoria Road and then north on
Peoria Road to Eleventh Street, which will take the parade through
the main gate. The parade then will follow Main Street through the
fairgrounds to Grandstand Avenue before concluding at the north end
of the grandstand.
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Following the
conclusion of the parade, awards to the best entries will be
presented in a ceremony at the Pork Pavilion, and there will be a
fireworks display at the grandstand.
Admission to the
fairgrounds is free on Preview Night. All carnival rides, including
those in Adventure Village, will be open and offered at a discounted
price of $1.25 apiece.
For further information about Illinois
State Fair contests and activities, visit
www.illinoisstatefair.info. The 2003 Illinois State Fair
officially opens Aug. 8 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 17.
[Illinois
State Fair press release]
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