MONSTER TRUCK & PACE CAR TO JUMP START TWILIGHT PARADE

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The 2004 Illinois State Fair will “start its engine” as the “White Night,” a six seat, gasoline-powered monster truck and the pace car for the USAC and ARCA races mark the opening of Preview Night, roaring down the streets of Springfield in the themed “Start Your Engines” Twilight Parade.

The entourage of rumbling horsepower, high school marching bands, decorative floats, and local organizations making up the 2004 Twilight Parade will commence at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12 at the corner of Ninth St. and North Grand Ave.  The procession will travel west on Ninth to Peoria Rd. before heading north on Peoria to Eleventh St.  From Eleventh, the parade will head through the Fairgrounds’ Main Gate onto Main Street and continue to Grandstand Ave. for its conclusion.  The parade will end at the north end of the Grandstand.

Judges from around the state will give out awards for best floats and marching bands. The high school marching bands will be judged in categories of percussion, color guard, drum majors, and best overall. The overall marching band winner will receive a $2,000 prize. Floats will be judged based on public appeal, craftsmanship and theme among other criteria.

Deadlines for all entries in the Twilight Parade are quickly approaching.  High school marching bands, floats and other interested parties have until July 31 to turn in their entries to the Special Events Office. Questions about Special Events contests should be directed to Dennis Morris at (217) 782-0777.

Admission to the fairgrounds for Preview Night is free.  Carnival rides, including those in Adventure Village, will be open and offered at a discounted price of $1.50.  The “Mega Drop” attraction located in Carnival Midway will be $3.

Ticket prices for the Grandstand seats for the USAC Tony Bettenhausen 100 on Saturday, Aug. 21 and the ARCA 100 Wynn’s Sportman Nationals on Sunday, Aug. 22 are $20 for adults and $10 for children under 11. Infield tickets are $15.

The Extreme Monster Truck Nationals are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 21 at 2:00 p.m. and 8 p.m. and for Sunday, Aug. 22 at 2:00 p.m in the Multi-Purpose-Arena. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for children under 11. VIP seats are $25 and include:  reserved seating, access to the pit area before the event and a meet and greet session with Spiderman before the show. 

Tickets can be purchased phone 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 can be sent to the Illinois State Fair Ticket Office, P.O. Box 19427, Springfield, Illinois 62794.

For more information on State Fair contests and activities, visit the website at www.illinoisstatefair.info.

The 2004 Illinois State Fair runs Aug. 13-22 in Springfield.

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