Illinois State Fair Adds Cooling Centers, Free Water as Heat Index Climbs into Triple Digits (Springfield, IL) – As temperatures soar into the triple digits, the Illinois State Fair is stepping up safety measures to keep visitors cool and hydrated on the final day of the fair.
Fair officials announced the opening of several air-conditioned buildings as cooling centers, including the Orr Building, Livestock Center, Illinois Building and the Emmerson Building lobby. In addition, a cooling tent has been set up behind the Coors tent on Grandstand Avenue.
Other buildings, such as the Expo Building, Hobbies Arts and Crafts Building and the Coliseum, while not air-conditioned, are equipped with fans to provide relief from the afternoon sun.
The fair is also providing eight free water stations, where visitors can refill bottles and cups. Those stations are located at the Governor’s Tent, Lt. Governor’s Tent, First Lady’s Tent, Comptroller’s Tent, Attorney General’s Tent, Agriculture Tent, Treasurer’s Tent and the Sensory Station.
“Our goal is to make sure fairgoers can stay safe and comfortable while still enjoying everything the fair has to offer,” officials said in a statement.
Medical support is also available on-site. The SIU School of Medicine staffs a first aid station behind the Emmerson Building, across from the Dairy Building, and emergency responders are on standby.
For Sunday night’s Turnpike Troubadours concert at the Grandstand, fair organizers say they will provide additional water supplies on the track and buses to serve as temporary cooling stations.
With a mix of concerts, rides, exhibits and food still drawing large crowds, officials are encouraging visitors to “cool down, recharge, and keep the fun going” despite the extreme heat.
Illinois State Fair Adds Cooling Centers, Free Water as Heat Index Climbs into Triple Digits
