Illinois State Fair Food Vendors Lament Fewer People, Lower Sales

Food and drink vendors at this year’s Illinois State Fair say fewer people lined up for things like corn dogs and lemon shake-ups. That fits with an official report of declining overall attendance.

Fair officials say attendance was down 8 percent over the previous year, and vendors could feel the pinch.

One of those vendors, Vose’s Korndogs, is a Springfield staple — with 50 years in business and a loyal clientele, it’s one of the most popular businesses on the fairgrounds. So it’s really saying something when owner Ken Vose says even his sales were down.

“We were down a little bit from past years," Vose explained. "and I know there were some that I talked to that claim they were down quite a bit. It could have been the item they were selling or maybe people just didn’t have the money to spend, I guess.”

Vose says even with his loyal client base, he could have done better. But certain factors got in the way.

“I think it’s just a little bit of the economy," he said. "Schools start back up during the fair. I think people are watching their money a little bit more.”

Looking for a silver lining, fair officials say as of August 31st, vendors reported a 16 percent jump in sales over the previous year. But that’s a preliminary number. Vendors have until December to submit their receipts.