Don't be afraid of the heat as 92nd fair opens

You can't ignore the National Weather Service's weekend heat advisory for Southern Illinois, but you don't have to stay away from the opening of he 92nd Du Quoin State Fair because of it.

There is relief everywhere. Eighteen cooling stations have been built or located in tents on the grounds. The fair has brought back the covered bus trams so you can easily ride from place-to-place on the grounds. Water misting hoses will be strategically located around the midway on hot days.

Pinckneyville Ambulance Service director Shane Malawy said fairgoers are welcome to stop in at the air conditioned first aid station behind the steps on the north end of the grandstand. That station is open from 8 a.m. to midnight every day of the fair. He was working on a schedule for one or more ambulances that will be parked immediately north of the grandstand and the medics who staff them.

And, of course, there are cold drinks and cold beer as well as cold concessions like lemon shakeups and fiddlesticks everywhere. Fair manager Shannon Woodworth has called this the people's fair and if there is anything else he can do for fairgoers you can call the fair office at 542-1515 and the staff will see if it can help.