State Fair Grandstand Box Office To Open

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Beginning this weekend, tickets for 2010 Illinois State Fair concerts can be purchased at the Grandstand box office on the fairgrounds.  The box office will open June 5 with special Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Thereafter it will be open weekdays, except holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, July 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 "I think fairgoers will find our line-up very appealing," State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick said.  "Whether they enjoy country, rock or even Christian music or whether they're looking to attend a show on a weekend or weekday, the fair has an attractive concert to offer them."  

Lady Antebellum will perform on opening night of the fair, Friday, Aug. 13.  The decorated country trio just recently won three Academy of Country Music awards, including Song of the Year for its smash hit "Need You Now" and Top Vocal Group.  

The Original Kiss Army, a tribute band noted for an excellent reproduction of its legendary namesake's costumes and music, will take the stage with Journey Unauthorized Saturday, Aug. 14.  On Sunday, Aug. 15, Shinedown, a hard rock band that has sold more than six million albums worldwide, will play.

The Grandstand this year will feature entertainment on both weekends and weekdays.  The line-up includes MercyMe, Billboard magazine's reigning Christian artist of the decade, Tuesday, Aug. 17, country star Blake Shelton Wednesday, Aug. 18, and rock icons Cheap Trick and Blondie Friday, Aug. 20.   In addition, there will be free shows Monday, Aug. 16, by the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Thursday, Aug. 19, by home and style expert Sandra Lee, host of the hit Food Network show "Semi-Homemade Cooking."

The final weekend of the fair the Grandstand will host auto races during the day and concerts at night.  Saturday, Aug. 21, the USAC Silver Crown Series and a performance by Selena Gomez, star of the Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place, are on the schedule.  Sunday, Aug. 22, the ARCA Super Series will race in the afternoon and be followed by an evening concert from Darius Rucker, whose debut country album "Learn to Live" has produced three chart-topping singles.

All shows begin at 8 p.m. except for the Selena Gomez concert and Sandra Lee appearance, which start at 7 p.m. Tickets also are available on the internet at Ticketmaster.com or in person at any Ticketmaster outlet. Concertgoers can call 1-800-745-3000 to purchase tickets over the phone through Ticketmaster, or (217) 782-1979 to order them from the Grandstand box office. Ticket order forms can be downloaded on the Illinois State Fair website at www.illinoisstatefair.info.

All adults and children 3 years of age and older must have a ticket.  All sales are final. The fair does not provide refunds or exchanges on ticket purchases.

DATE                        PERFORMER                                                                       TICKET PRICES

                                                                                                            Reserved                     Track

Aug. 13                       Lady Antebellum                                            $28-23-18                   $28

Aug. 14                       The Original Kiss Army with                          $5-5-5                         $5

                                    Journey Unauthorized

Aug. 15                       Shinedown with Chevelle                               $25-20-18                   $25

Aug. 17                       MercyMe with 10^th Avenue North                 $18-15-15                   $18

Aug. 18                       Blake Shelton with Candy Coburn                 $20-18-15                   $20

Aug. 20                       Cheap Trick with Blondie                               $30-25-20                   $30

Aug. 21                       Selena Gomez with Mitchel Musso                $25-20-20                   $25

Aug. 22                       Darius Rucker with Eric Church                     $25-20-18                   $25

Aug. 16                       Illinois Symphony                                           Free Admission

Aug. 19                       Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade                         Free Admission

Aug. 21                       USAC Silver Crown Series Auto Races          Adults $20           Children $10                                                                                                                            Day of event - $25

Aug. 22                       ARCA Super Series Auto Races                    Adults $20            Children $10

                                                                                                                    Day of event -$25