40°45′53″N 89°37′7″W / 40.76472°N 89.61861°W / 40.76472; -89.61861

Heart of Illinois Fair
StatusActive
GenreAnnual fair
FrequencyAnnually
VenueExpo Gardens
Location(s)Peoria, Illinois
CountryUSA
Years active73–74
AreaCentral Illinois
LeaderRoxy Baker
SponsorsPeoria County Farm Bureau
Websiteheartofillinoisfair.com

The Heart of Illinois Fair is an annual fair located in Peoria, Illinois, featuring livestock competitions, rides, concessions, motor contests, and concerts. It is held at the Expo Gardens, a fairground in northwest Peoria.[1][2] A full hook up camping area is also featured on the grounds. Exposition Gardens is a non-profit organization whose goals involve providing opportunities for educational and recreational events.[1]

History

The Peoria District Fair began fundraising in 1945.[3] More than 24,000 people donated and 160 acres of Walter Poppen's farm were purchased for a groundbreaking in April 1948.[3] On April 24, over 100 volunteers moved a quarter-million cubic tons of dirt to level the farmland; it garnered national attention from Time and Life magazines.[3]

Established in 1949, the fair has grown from being centered solely on rides, games, and foods to being centered on bigger events, such as rock concerts, livestock competitions, and tractor pulls.

Half of the acreage was sold in 1955, which eventually became the site of Richwoods High School.[3]

Sideshows (also known as freak shows) continued through the 1970s and 1980s.[4]

2020 saw the fair go on hiatus until 2021, caused by COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6]

Attendance

Attendance estimates are from IRS filings (Exposition Gardens Inc. EIN: 37-6005523) and news reports.

Attendance by Year
Decade 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09
1950s 40,000[7]
1960s
1970s 273,062[7] 309,610[7]
1980s
1990s 245,000[7]
2000s
2010s 45,000[8] 45,000[8] 40,000[7]
2020s

Events

Concerts

Over the past years, rock concerts have become a popular part of the fair.

From the 1970s to 2003, several well-known acts performed at the fair, including: Tiny Tim, Jan and Dean, Connie Stevens, Mac Davis, Tanya Tucker, Bo Diddley, Leann Rimes, Mel Tillis, Pat Boone & Family, Glen Campbell, Eddie Rabbitt, Merle Haggard, and Gloria Estefan.[3][9][7] Comedians who performed included: Foster Brooks, Gabe Kaplan, Bob Hope, and Alan King.[9]

Due to financial constraints, the fair focuses on "showcasing up-and-coming artists" from central Illinois.[3]

Acts that were featured in the 2008 Heart of Illinois Fair included Mojo Risin (a Doors tribute band), Puddle of Mudd, Saving Abel, Drowning Pool, comedian Joe Recca, Next Generation Wrestling, Night Storm Teen Dance Party, and Confederate Railroad.

Motorsports

All motorsport events take place in the arena located at Expo Gardens. Motorsports events and competitions include truck and tractor pulls, super semi pulls, demolition derbies, and bog and mud drags.

Livestock show

The fair features livestock shows for beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and pigs, as well as pig racing.

Home Arts

The fair's Home Arts department features include gardening, floriculture, textiles, photography exhibits, food competitions, hobby shows, and science exhibits.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Exposition Gardens website
  2. ↑ "Home". Heart of Illinois Fair. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cody, Tom (2023-06-27). "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow at the HOI Fair". Peoria Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  4. ↑ Luciano, Phil (2016-07-10). "Luciano: Amid social awakenings elsewhere, freak shows remained an HOI Fair favorite in the '70s". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  5. ↑ Bradley, Julia (2020-06-18). "Heart of Illinois Fair postponed". 1470 & 100.3 WMBD. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  6. ↑ Vlahos, Nick (2021-05-27). "Who will get the crown? Pageants are returning to the Heart of Illinois Fair this June". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mac Davis — all-time attendance hero of the Heart of Illinois Fair". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  8. 1 2 Bruch, Thomas (2018-07-21). "Heart of Illinois Fair looks to stabilize after dropping to five-day schedule". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  9. 1 2 Luciano, Phil (2016-07-09). "In the '70s, stars packed the HOI Fair grandstand". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-10-07.

Sources

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