Du Quoin State Fair cancels parade, moves other events due to heat advisory
DU QUOIN, Ill. (KBSI) – “The paramount need for all of us every year at the fair is fairgoer safety.”
Fairgrounds Manager Josh Gross said this six-letter word beginning with “s” is the reason the fair moved multiple events and even canceled the parade.
“We just thought any time there was an event that was going to pack people into a small, congested area, you know, just increasing the heat exposure, it just wasn’t a safe environment for us,” he said.
In addition to canceling the parade, the fair has adjusted the motocross racing from Friday and Saturday to just Saturday and has moved the rodeo to Sunday at 4 p.m.
The Fairytales on Ice Show will now take place inside the convention center as opposed to the grandstand.
Gross outlined some additional precautions the fair has taken to ensure fairgoers’ safety.
“We increased our cooling stations. We’ve increased our number of fans. We’ve ordered extra water,” he said.
Gross said with the fair being held in late August, they are always prepared for the heat, but this year will be exceptionally hot.
“If it comes to any kind of safety aspect, whether it’s heat or any other type of weather, we’re always going to err on the side of caution,” he said.
