Because of the excessive heat, the Du Quoin State Fair Parade is being canceled for Friday evening.
The decision was made after consultation with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and working with forecasts from the National Weather Service.
The ribbon cutting ceremony will continue as scheduled at 5:30pm. on Friday.
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. 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 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
The Du Quoin State Fair runs from Friday through Labor Day.
