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At each of three shows, staged at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. in the Gate 2
area, kids chosen from the audience had the chance to play various
games, with winners moving on to the Slime Potato game. The game,
played with five players, is exactly like hot potato, with each
person getting slimed upon being eliminated. The first qualifying
game, Nick Did What on Television?, was based on the old show "You
Can't Do That on Television." Incorrect answers on Nickelodeon
trivia questions or saying "I don't know," earned a bucket of slime
to the head. The contestant who got slimed least moved on.
Game two was the Great Slime Race, where teams poured slime from
cup to cup and tried to get the most in their buckets in 45 seconds.
The third game, called Slime Cake Crazy, involved stacking foam
cakes covered in a flour mixture and pouring slime over it in the
quickest time. The captain of the winning teams moved on to join the
other winners and two randomly selected audience members in the
Slime Potato game.
Jarrett Stanfield was one of the lucky kids chosen to get slimed
by the Slime Across America crew. The Louisville, Ill., native
sheepishly said he couldn't wait to get back home to tell all his
friends about the experience, which he summed up in one word.
"Fun," Jarrett said.
And Jarrett's favorite Nickelodeon show?
"Spongebob Squarepants," he said.
His mother, Karon Stanfield, said that both Jarrett and his older
brother wanted to get slimed. She was glad at least her younger son
got the change to fulfill a childhood dream.
"(It was) awesome," Stanfield said. "I knew he wanted it real
bad, so I'm happy for him."
[to top of second column]
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 Appearances by NBA players and mascot offer fairgoers unique
opportunity
Also located in the Heartland, just down the street from the
Nickelodeon's Slime Across America Tour, is the NBA Fair. The
exhibit includes a number of "hands-on" experiences, including
displays that allow fairgoers to compare their grip with those of
NBA stars like Peja Stojakovic and Ben Wallace, compare their height
with that of players like Shaquille O'Neal (7-foot-1) and Nate
Robinson (5-foot-9), compare their shoe size with those of LeBron
James and Steve Nash, and compare their arm span with Yao Ming, who
has a whopping 8-foot reach.
Fairgoers also can compete in a variety of shooting competitions
and a slam-dunk contest. All competitors receive prizes.
Touring emcee Ryan Vesalpour said the NBA Fair is a family
affair, with moms, dads, grandparents and grandchildren taking part.
While returning fairgoers may recognize many of the activities,
one thing is new: Two NBA players and a mascot are making
appearances for the first time in Illinois State Fair history,
Vesalpour said.
Harry the Hawk, the mascot for the Atlanta Hawks, entertained
Saturday, performing his patented "Chicken Feather" dance, while
Minnesota Timberwolves center Mark Blount posed for photographs with
spectators.
Blount also participated in NBA Stance, the NBA Fair's rendition
of Simon Says.
He said the NBA Fair is a unique opportunity for children to
interact with NBA players instead of just watching them on TV or
seeing them courtside. And, it's a good opportunity for him "to be
honest and have fun," Blount said. In encouraging fairgoers to come
out for his Sunday afternoon appearance, he said with a laugh, "You
might even be on my shooting team and win eight in a row."
Harry the Hawk also returned Sunday afternoon.
The NBA Fair will be there for the remainder of the state fair.
Next weekend, Philadelphia 76er's center-forward Steven Hunter will
make an appearance Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 4
p.m.
[Text
from
Illinois State Fair news release received from the
Illinois Office of Communication and Information] |
