The five-day run of the Kankakee County Fair gets underway tomorrow (Wed). And it's the 50th birthday for the event. The fairgrounds, just off Route 45 south of Kankakee, is bustling with activity.

The fair includes the expected displays of tractors along with the popular attractions of figure 8 school bus racing and demolition derby cars.

The gates open at 7 o'clock Wednesday morning. The daily agenda includes the predictable sheep and swine competition, as well as a carnival midway. Then, new this year, the Wambold Amazing Animal Show is set for 6 and 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday night's grandstand show features the oddity of cars and trucks pulling trailers, instead of the standard stock car racing. Thursday's main event is the bus racing.
Friday night's grandstand show gets back to the fair's roots, with a rodeo and calf scramble. Saturday offers a new event for children, a treasure hunt, also staged at the grandstand area. The activity will send various age groups out in a search for special "stars." These tokens can be redeemed for major prizes, including video game systems, as well as cash prizes, and coupons that can be redeemed for midway food or at area McDonald's restaurants.

Sunday wraps things up with a demolition derby. A complete list of fair activities can be found at www.kankakeefair.org.

94.1 WGFA