Prairie State Wire

SPRINGFIELD, IL - When considering the Illinois State Fair, food often comes to mind. From sweet to savory, a variety of options are available throughout the fairgrounds. However, not everyone may have the appetite or budget to sample everything.

To address this, the Illinois State Fair offers "Small Plates, Big Tastes." For $3, attendees can purchase sample-size portions from any Village of Cultures vendor. This initiative allows visitors to save money while trying a range of foods.

"We wanted to give fairgoers a way to ‘travel' around the world in the Village of Cultures without breaking the bank," said Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark. "The sample-size portions allow fairgoers to try foods from many different parts of the world, and if they enjoy what they try, they can go back for the full-size portion!"

Additionally, the popular "Feeding Frenzy" returns in 2024. The "Jaws" theme song will be played over loudspeakers to mark its beginning and end every weekday (August 8-9 & August 12-16) from 2-5 p.m. During this time frame, participating vendors will offer discounts on select menu items.

For an updated list of participating vendors and their locations, please check the Illinois State Fair website or visit Information Booths at the event.