Advance Boone County Fair tickets selling fast

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) – Advance tickets for the 2024 Boone County Fair are selling fast.

Admission tickets and tickets to this year’s grandstand shows went on sale July 6, and sales have already topped $20,000.

The Boone County Fair opens Tuesday, Aug. 6. According to Advertising Director Tom Ratcliffe, a large crowd gathered at the fairgrounds Saturday and waited for hours to get tickets.

Ratcliffe says now that tickets have gone on sale, opening day will come quickly.

“We’re in full mode right now,” he said, “getting things looking sharp—trimming bushes and some trees, and resurfacing some streets that need resurfacing. It’s a continuous process.”

And while it’s no small feat, it takes just a few days for the empty grounds to be filled with the sights, sounds and smells of the six-day event.

“It really kicks in the weekend before the fair, that Saturday and Sunday before the fair starts,” Ratcliffe said. “So that Saturday, Sunday and Monday, there’s a lot of activity. The carnival comes in probably late Sunday night and starts setting up all day Monday so they’re ready to go Tuesday at noon.”

Vicky Vargas and her son, Ethan, bought tickets Monday to this year’s demolition derby, something they do every year.

“We like to be in the grandstand because it’s so hot out there, and you want to be covered,” Vargas said. “And we like to be in the splash zone. We like to be really close up. So, we get tickets early.”

Ethan says he enjoys just about everything at the fair but the excitement of the derby is his favorite.

“It’s just amazing how they are like so brave to actually crash into each other,” Ethan said. “That’s what I like about it.”

Tickets can be purchased in person at the Boone County Fairgrounds or by phone at 815-544-2900. Season-ticket packages are available.

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