Du Quoin Fair Plans Full 10-Day Run

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ "We're ahead of schedule on our plans for a full 10-day fair," Du Quoin State Fair manager John Rednour said this morning in the face of rumors that the fair might cut days or events because of Illinois' recession.

The only time the fair was curtailed was during the Jabr ownership of the grounds during the early 1980s and during World War II.

The Du Quoin State Fair opens on Friday, August 28th and runs through Labor Day September 7th. Both Rednour and assistant manager Norm Hill said this morning it's going to be a great fair that will give Southern Illinois a chance to set their troubles aside and enjoy some great entertainment and great events on the grounds.

"We should announce our theme next week," said Rednour. Last year's theme was "It's a Jungle in Here" and both attendance and revenues held up despite the onset of the recession. Rednour said the fair in planning on a full grandstand entertainment schedule and a solid free entertainment schedule on the grounds. The schedule will be anchored by the return of USAC and ARCA auto races and the World Trotting Derby. The fair has fielded rumors about whether the cavernous Southern Illinois Center might be shut down. "Not at all," said Rednour. The center will host back to back moto cross weekends starting this weekend, midget races in March and major sporting and campvention events throughout the summer.

The fair's full horse show schedule starts in early April, as well.