A Day At the Fair

There are certain things you can count on when you visit the Illinois State Fair.

Livestock.
Great fair food.
The Butter Cow.
A whole lot of people.

And parking that operates according to an entirely different set of laws.

The Illinois State Fair parking situation is legendary. There are rules, technically. I’m sure there are. But once you enter the gates, you’ll quickly realize that the only real rule is “Don’t run over anyone.”

One wheel over a curb? Good enough.

Parked halfway (or fully) in the grass? Perfectly acceptable.

Nestled up between two tie-out pens of cattle? Good for you!

Fire lane? No habla inglés.

And golf carts. My goodness, the golf carts.

Yes, this is all just normal.

Of course, we did plenty of wandering through the livestock barns. There’s something about being surrounded by cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and all the people who work so hard raising and showing them that makes the fair feel like home.

There’s a lot more to the fair than most people realize. Behind the ribbons and show rings are early mornings, long days, muddy boots, sore backs, and families who have poured a whole lot of time and heart (and money!) into their animals.

And then there’s us, walking around in the middle of it all, trying not to melt. Because the humidity. Was. Unbearable.

Not just “Oh, it’s a little sticky outside” humidity. I’m talking about the kind where you exit your car and immediately feel like you’ve been wrapped in a warm, damp towel. Your clothes stick to you. Your hair goes into a ponytail immediately. Your glasses fog up. And somewhere around hour two, you start seriously considering whether you actually need to see everything at the fair or whether you’ve seen enough.

But we kept going!

We made our way over to Conservation World, which was a really neat change of pace. The kids got to learn more about Illinois wildlife, conservation, and the natural resources we have right here in our own backyard. It was also a nice place to find a little shade, which, on this particular day, was a luxury amenity.

And, of course, we had to see the Butter Cow. Because you simply cannot go to the Illinois State Fair and skip the Butter Cow.

It’s one of those things that sounds completely ridiculous when you say it out loud.

“What did you do at the fair?”

“Oh, we looked at a cow made out of butter.”

And yet, somehow, it makes perfect sense once you’re there. It’s a tradition. It’s quirky. And every year, I find myself standing there thinking, Well, this is pretty impressive.

And don’t forget the famous young Abraham Lincoln statue, another reminder that we’re at a fair celebrating a state with a whole lot of history.

Lincoln, livestock, conservation, butter, corn dogs, and golf carts.

Honestly, I’m not sure you can get much more Midwest than that.

By the end of the day, we were hot, tired, sweaty, and probably a little stinky.

But that’s okay.

Because the State Fair isn’t necessarily about having a perfectly comfortable day. In fact, if you go expecting that, I’ve got some bad news for you.

It’s the experience. It’s the barns. It’s the families who come year after year. It’s catching up with old friends from near and far. It’s seeing excellence on display.

It’s the Butter Cow.

It’s wandering through exhibits you didn’t expect to enjoy.

It’s chaotic.

It’s hot.

It’s humid.

It’s a little ridiculous.

And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Until next year, Illinois State Fair. We’ll be back…possibly with a golf cart.