Governor Ryan Announces 2002 Illinois State Fair Grandstand Lineup

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced the grandstand lineup for the 150th Anniversary Illinois State Fair, headlined by teen sensation Aaron Carter and country stars Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney.

Other grandstand performers include the Gin Blossoms, Seven Mary Three, Sponge, Journey, Kirk Franklin, Engelbert Humperdinck, Lee Greenwood with the 113th U.S. Army Field Band and the Symphonic Pops Orchestra of Chicago.

"As always, the Illinois State Fair will offer a great variety of entertainment in the grandstand, with ticket prices that the average family can afford," Governor Ryan said. "From the patriotic songs of Lee Greenwood and the U.S. Army band to the latest hits by Aaron Carter, this grandstand lineup reflects the wide-ranging styles that have graced the State Fair stage over the past 150 years."

The 150th Anniversary Illinois State Fair kicks off Friday, Aug. 9 as Coors Original presents country superstar Toby Keith. Journey, whose hits such as "Faithfully" and "Wheel in the Sky" dominated Top 40 radio in the 1970s and 1980s, will perform the following night, Saturday, Aug. 10.

Veterans Day, Sunday, Aug. 11, will feature a patriotic twin bill of Lee Greenwood and the 113th U.S. Army Field Band in a free show.

Gospel singer Kirk Franklin will kick off the work week of the State Fair on Monday, Aug. 12, followed by a rock four-pack of the Gin Blossoms, Seven Mary Three, Sponge and a fourth act to be announced later on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Wednesday, Aug. 14 is Governor's Day at the 2002 Illinois State Fair, and the grandstand will feature Engelbert Humperdinck. The following night, raw horsepower will take over the grandstand as concerts give way to truck and tractor pulls on Thursday, Aug. 15.

The GM Card presents Kenny Chesney and his "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem" Tour at the Illinois State Fair grandstand on Friday, Aug 16, followed by "The Little Prince of Pop," 14-year-old Aaron Carter on Saturday, Aug. 17.

The Symphonic Pops Orchestra of Chicago will close out the 2002 Illinois State Fair with a free grandstand show on Sunday, Aug. 18.

All shows begin at 8:00 p.m., except for the Symphonic Pops Orchestra of Chicago, which starts at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $14 to $22. Reserve seating tickets will go on sale Saturday, June 8 at 10:00 a.m. at the Grandstand Ticket Office on the State Fairgrounds and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Track tickets will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 15.

The 2002 Illinois State Fair will also feature five nights of free musical entertainment in the Multi-purpose Arena. The free shows include Kevin Chalfant, lead singer of The Storm, on Monday, Aug. 12; The Byrds on Tuesday, Aug. 13; .38 Special on Wednesday, Aug. 14; The Little River Band on Thursday, Aug 15; and Blues legends Lonnie Brooks and Koko Taylor on Sunday, Aug. 18. All of the free shows will start at 8 p.m.

Truck and Tractor Pulls will be held in the grandstand at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 and 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16 with tickets priced at $10 for adults and $5 for children. Motor events will continue the following weekend with the USAC Silver Crown Series on Saturday, Aug. 17 and the ARCA Super Series on Sunday, Aug. 18. Tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $10 for children.

The State Fair has added two nights of demolition derby for 2002. Drivers in farm combines will face-off to crunch metal in the Multi-purpose arena on Friday, Aug. 9 as Bell Boyz presents the first night of demolition derby. The Bell Boyz Demolition Derby will return the following night in cars on Saturday, Aug. 10. Both demolition derby events will start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $7 for adults and $5 for children.

Tickets for all motor events will go on sale on June 8.

Phone orders for grandstand tickets can be placed at the Grandstand Ticket Office by calling 217-782-1979, TDD 217-524-9833 or at Ticketmaster at 800-827-8927, TDD 800-359-2525. Mail orders will be accepted with a postmark of June 5, 2002 or later at the Illinois State Fair Ticket Office, P.O. Box 19427, Springfield, Illinois 62794.

No phone or walk-up orders will be accepted before June 8, 2002. All sales are final. The fair does not provide refunds or exchanges on ticket purchases.

The 2002 Illinois State Fair runs Aug. 9 - 18. A complete lineup follows.