Several area county fairs have gotten underway, and there’s plenty of fun for the whole family no matter which one you go to.
The Knox County Fair kicked off earlier this week with harness races, stock care races and mud drags, but this weekend is the demolition derby.
Nick Fox of Robbos Extreme Derby Promotions is responsible for trying to build excitement for the demo derby.
He tells WGIL that they’ve added a new twist to the derby, a short-bus derby that aims to raise money for good causes.
“It’s a great way to bring some new things to the fair, to the derby. Knox County is always been known for some spectacular demos and we threw a twist at it,” Fox says. “We got these four buses given to us and we decided to turn them into donation buses charity buses is what they’re called.”
Shave For the Brave, and the East Galesburg Girls Scouts are a two of the causes that are represented in the short bus derby. The Gabe Strong bus, will give one lucky donor a chance to drive in the derby.
Also going on is the Warren County Fair, which starts Saturday with the Pageant and mud volleyball and tractor pull on Sunday.
In Mercer County the fair will be getting underway. Friday night will be the Illini State Pullers Truck and Tractor Pull, and Saturday is the Baby Crawl, Talent Contests, and Demo Derby.
Your weekend could include catching the first production to be performed in a pageant wagon on the Prairie Players Civic Theatre’s newly opened back patio.
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” is being put on starting tonight and running through this weekend and the next.
Director Betsy Hippely says this rendition of Shakespeare isn’t your typical production of the iconic playwright.
“Often when people think of Shakespeare, they think of serious plays and poetry, and people having to emote very emotionally. Whereas this takes a very different tact.”
The four-person cast will be putting on the show Friday night and Saturday night at 7:00, and Sunday afternoon at 2:00 at the Civic Theatre’s back patio.
This will be the first production to be performed in a pageant wagon on the theatre’s newly opened outdoor patio.
Cost is $15 for adults, $8 for students. Attendees will need to bring lawn chairs for seating.
More can be found on our community events page.
