The Illinois State Fair in Springfield announced that not only will there be an ice cream flavor saluting the Mother Road, but Route 66 itself will also be a grand marshal of the fair’s opening parade.
Route 66 has taken on a more prominent role at the fair in recent years, including the establishment of the Route 66 Experience neon sign park near the southeast entrance.
All of it is part of Route 66’s centennial celebrations. The fair’s theme is “Miles of Smiles.”
First off, the ice cream. The Springfield State-Journal Register reports:
The ice cream flavor this year is Cruisin’ Candy Crunch; a mix of whole and chopped chocolate candies coated with a candy shell mixed into chocolate or vanilla milkshake mix ice cream.
The treat will be served throughout the length of the fair at the Dairy Building where the Mecca of all Illinoisans, the Butter Cow, will rotate in her full splendor.
The milk is sourced from Illinois’ own Prairie Farms, a farmer-owned cooperative with over 500 farm families founded in 1938.
And now for the parade. Route 66 is the honorary grand marshal for the fair’s Twilight Parade at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 — one day before the fair opens. Classic cars will lead the procession.
According to a news release from the State of Illinois:
“Illinois is the birthplace of this iconic highway and ours is the only fairgrounds in the nation to sit on Route 66, making it the perfect honorary Grand Marshal for this year’s Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade,” said Jerry Costello II, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “Just like Route 66 has connected communities and created lifelong memories, this parade invites everyone to take part in a tradition that celebrates what makes Illinois special.” […]
The Twilight Parade will start at 5:30 p.m. in Lincoln Park and travel onto Sangamon Avenue, entering the fairgrounds through the Main Gate. From there, the parade marches down Main Street, turns left onto Illinois Avenue, and then marches down Grandstand Avenue to exit through Lot 21.
“We invite fairgoers from across Illinois and beyond to join us in celebrating 100 years of Route 66 during the Illinois State Fair,” said Rebecca Clark, Illinois State Fair Manager. “From the Twilight Parade to Route 66 exhibits, entertainment and special events, we’re looking forward to welcoming visitors for a celebration that honors our state’s history.”
The fair runs from Aug. 13 through Aug. 23.
Through Aug. 20, visitors to the Illinois State Museum’s “Miles of Memories: Stories of Route 66” exhibit can receive a voucher for one adult weekday admission to the fair.
The fair, established in 1853, has enjoyed a long relationship with Route 66. Visitors from upstate and downstate used the highway to get to it, and the fair itself sits next to the Peoria Road alignment of Route 66.
(Image of the Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield)