With the nearest major theme park hours away, Champaign was treated this past weekend to a dose of fun and rides it doesn’t normally see.
The Champaign County Fair hit town Friday and runs through Saturday, July 31.
The fair was packed full of families Sunday for Family Day, a part of the nine-day fair devoted to events that are fun for the whole family.
For many people, the best aspect of Family Day is another draw: Bracelet Day.
“We came to the fair because it’s Bracelet Day and my kids love to ride the rides,” said Amber Latham, a resident of Allerton, Ill. “The bracelets are $20 and give the kids unlimited rides. We don’t get a chance to go to amusement parks all the time, so having the rides come close to home is exciting for them and a good way for all of us to have fun.”
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Tickets for the rides can be bought individually for $1.25 each or $20 for 22 tickets. The rides range in price from one to three tickets.
However, the $20 bracelet on Family Day — that allowed for unlimited rides from noon to 5 p.m. — seems to be what drew the crowd Sunday afternoon.
Champaign resident Kirsten Dennison was happy to have her whole family with her at the fair.
“There is a real nice range of activities here for people of all ages,” Dennison said. “We’re here today because the kids love to ride the rides, but also to just enjoy the nice weather and each other. Our kids are 6 and 10, and they look forward to the fair all year long. They love it.”
The rides varied from relaxing Ferris wheels to the exciting scrambler, Viking boat and spinning Starship.
“I’m a townie. I’ve been coming out to the fair for 45 years, and the rides were always fun for me when I was young and it is a lot of fun for my daughter now,” Champaign resident Will Stone said. “My daughter is 13 and simply loves the rides. The bracelet allows for her to run around and ride as many as she wants, and doesn’t end up costing me a great deal of money either.”
The fair will provide two more bracelet days. On Tuesday, the $20 bracelets allow for unlimited rides between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and on Saturday the bracelets are good from noon to 6 p.m.
