This year Illinois will celebrate the 150th birthday of the State Fair in Springfield.

The first State Fair was held in Springfield in 1853. The fair was installed not only to improve livestock and agriculture, but to display labor, education, the arts, and sciences.

Admission to the fair was 25 cents, and attendance was around 20,000 people. In 1854, the feature was Senator Steven Douglass’ speech and a rebuttal the next day by Abraham Lincoln.

In 1858, terror struck the fair when a hot air balloon display accidentally detached from the fence releasing two young children into the air. The balloon landed 18 miles away leaving the children scared but relatively safe.

The tenth anniversary of the fair was restricted due to the Civil War and the economic depression. Few prizes were given and there was no general fair site.

In Sept of 1894, they held the first permanent fair. It ran for six days and they set up several buildings that they determined they would use for future shows. Admission to this Fair was 50 cents for adults, 75 cents for one person riding on horseback, and $1.50 for a wagon full of four people.

Today the fair is still held in Springfield and it runs for ten days beginning Aug 9. It is filled with several attractions and also plenty of entertainment.

Throughout the years it has had some of the most extensive agriculture shows in the country.

This year there will be nine concerts, demolition derbies, and even auto race shows. Hundreds of thousands of people attend the fair each year.

Some concerts include Toby Keith, the artist who sold the single “How Do You Like Me Now” in 1999, and Journey, the popular 1980s band who had singles such as “Wheel in the Sky,” and “Open Arms.” They will also have the Gin Blossoms, Spin Doctors, Seven Mary Three, and Sponge.

Other events include a demolition derby with combines on Aug 9, and on Aug 10 a demolition derby with cars. They will have truck and tractor pulls on Aug 15 and 16 On Aug 17 they will hold the Silver Crown Series Auto Races and on Aug 18 there will be the Super Series Auto Races.

This year in particular, the fair is going to be focused on the 150th anniversary. Included in this is a free preview show the Thurs before the fair begins. The preview show begins at 6 p.m. that evening with a parade “they will be dressing in 1853 dress or having floats that depict Fair history,” John Herath said, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Agriculture,.

Also this year, along with the 1853 theme, “There will be a book coming out later this month highlighting the history of the Fair,” Hearth said. He also said some of the vendors at the fair will be using original packaging to keep the historical feel of the State Fair. Some extreme rides, such as bungee jumps, may or may not be present.

However, there is supposed to be a simulated hang-glider, “I’m anxious to see that,” Hearth said.

The historical information in this article was provided by the Illinois Department of Agriculture web site (www. illinoisstatefair.info). Check the web site for specific concert prices and times.