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Chicago architectural gems open to the public during Open House Chicago
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People flock to Chicago from all around the world to marvel at the unique architecture found all across the city. While many visitors take in Chicago infamous skyline from the Chicago River or one of the observation decks or rooftops, but during Open House Chicago, you can get a behind-the-scenes look at the city’s most iconic and historical sites.
Open House Chicago, hosted by the Chicago Architecture Center, is one of the largest architecture and urban festivals in the world. Taking place Oct. 17 – 18, this free public festival offers behind-the-scenes access to more than 200 sites in over 30 neighborhoods.
Illinois State Fair celebrates more than 170 years of history
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Long before the Ferris wheel, corn dogs and concerts became staples of Springfield, the Illinois State Fair was already bringing people together.
The first Illinois State Fair was held in Springfield in 1853, when the city was a small capital and Abraham Lincoln was serving his final year in the Illinois General Assembly. The fair was designed primarily to show off agriculture, livestock, industry, education and the arts. Admission cost 25 cents, and as many as 20,000 people attended its third day.
The following year, the fair became an unlikely stage for Illinois politics. U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas spoke at the 1854 fair, with Lincoln delivering a rebuttal the next day.
Springfield did not remain the fair’s permanent home immediately. The event traveled to 12 different Illinois communities over the years including Chicago, Peoria, Quincy, Decatur and Centralia. It eventually returned to Springfield for good, with the first permanently located fair opening Sept. 24, 1894.
Much of the fairgrounds history remains visible today. The exposition building, constructed in 1894, is the oldest building on the grounds. The fairgrounds also acquired the Dome building from the 1893 World’s Colombian Exposition in Chicago. The massive structure was reassembled in Springfield for the 1895 fair, but was destroyed by a fire in 1917.
Today, the fair covers 366 acres, and has grown into an 11-day event. It features a wide variety of events, staying true to its roots featuring livestock and agriculture, but also modernizing with things like concerts and unconventional food.
More than 170 years after the first fair, the Illinois State Fair remains a staple in Springfield. It connects the past of Lincoln and Douglas to the present of how we see Illinois today.
Illinois Department of Agriculture to host first Illinois Product Expo in Chicago
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The Illinois Department of Agriculture is hosting the first-ever Illinois Product Expo in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 16 from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Isadore and Sadie Dorin Forum at the University of Illinois Chicago, located at 725 W Roosevelt Rd.
The event aims to connect consumers with a diverse range of Illinois-made products while highlighting farmers, entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Serving up tradition at the Burgoo Festival
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Ditch the crockpot and head to downtown Utica to enjoy a fresh bowl of traditional burgoo stew and community festivities from Oct. 10-11 at the 56th Annual Burgoo Festival hosted by the LaSalle County Historical Society.
The event’s signature dish, burgoo stew, dates back to the 19th century when early settlers used this meal to feed large groups. The ingredients for this stew include beef, carrots, potatoes, hominy, celery, tomatoes, cabbage, onions, peppers and other vegetables blended with spices and herbs.
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