DU QUOIN – The heat emergency across Illinois has forced the Du Quoin State Fair to cancel the opening parade on Friday.
“With forecasts projecting a high of 100 degrees and heat indexes between 111 and 117 degrees, we feel canceling the parade is in the best interest of our parade participants,” said Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II. “This is not to take away from people enjoying the fair safely, but to avoid a clustering of families along the parade route and parade participants in costumes and uniforms from overheating.”
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for Southern Illinois through Friday night, like it has for all of Illinois. The high for Friday is expected to be 100 with a heat index of 115.
Other steps are also being taken to accommodate the extreme weather. The Fairytales on Ice performance scheduled for Friday evening at 7 p.m. will be moved from the Grandstand to inside the Southern Illinois Center. Families with previously purchased tickets will be provided with preferred seating. Free hydration stations will also be placed throughout the fairgrounds.
In addition to the first aid station inside the north end of the grandstand, several buildings on the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds will serve as cooling centers, including:
- Harness Club Room on the second floor of the Grandstand
- Expo Hall
- Southern Illinois Center
- First Heat Building
- Second Heat Building
Earlier this week, the Illinois Department of Health advised residents to take precautions and watch for the signs of heatstroke.
Know a useful resource?
Share it with your community!
We aggregate links that connect to resources across Illinois. If you know of a site that should be included or want your website listed, please submit it!
