Waning attendance and plunging revenue over the last five years prompted Lake County Fair organizers to scale back the event this July.
The fair, held in Grayslake, will be five days instead of the customary six; cost $2 less during the weekdays; and no longer have the traditional rodeo Friday and Saturday.
Instead, the Lake County Fair Association’s board of directors decided to plow more money into high-profile special events to attract more people, said Sheri Vyfvinkel, the fair association’s general manager, Vyfvinkel said. For instance, there will be fewer music acts, but they will be more popular and well-known, she said.
The first day of the fair had been Tuesday. It will now run from Wednesday, July 25 through Sunday, July 29.
Last year, about 90,000 people showed up, which is a drop from previous years, Vyfvinkel said.
“We have been trending downward due to the economy,” she said.
The Lake County Association Board President Kelli Kepler-Yarc said dwindling revenue made it more difficult to maintain the fair’s standards. She said she didn’t know how much revenue the fair has lost in recent years.
“We are trying to be fiscally responsible,” Kepler-Yarc said. “People aren’t spending the money like they used to. We have been seeing less revenue and ride receipts were down.”
She added that 12 years ago the fair was five days instead of six. At the time, the board decided to add a day in a bid to increase revenue. That hasn’t panned out recently due to the additional expense for security and ticket handlers, she said.
By cutting a day, the nonprofit organization will have 20 percent more money to spend on high-profile musical acts and new exhibits, Vyfvinkel said. The two-day rodeo traditionally held on Friday and Saturday had proved expensive, and the board wanted to try newer attractions, Vyfvinkel said.
But the popular Banana Derby, last year’s new event that drew crowds to see monkeys ride on the backs of dogs, will return, Kepler-Yarc said. Also, the organizers hope to bring a Monster Truck exhibit to the fair, Kepler-Yarc said.
Fair patrons will get a break on price. The fair had cost $10 for adults, but this year it will be $8 Wednesday through Friday. It’s also offering new family package that’s $25 for two adults and two children for all five days.
