The Galena Country Fair celebrated its 30th year Saturday at Grant Park amid a few snowflakes, strong wind and some afternoon sunshine.

While the event is known for its more than 150 vendors of arts, crafts and foods, The Legends band has become an attraction of its own. Ray Kumor, of The Legends, has a unique perspective of the event. He has watched it unfold from the bandstand each year.

"We got a call in 1979 asking us if we'd be interested in volunteering some time for this new event," Kumor said. "Since it was for Catholic Charities and we have two adopted sons, one of them through Catholic Charities, we thought, 'sure, we could help out.' "

Kumor said the fair attracted at most a couple thousand people in its first few years, but it has steadily grown. Thousands will pass through the park this weekend, and between

1 p.m. and 5 p.m. they will hear The Legends perform as always.

"It's one of those things where we all get here in the morning and it's complete silence," said Kent Henderson, who has sold his pottery

Advertisement

at the event for more than 20 years. "Today we had frost and nobody was saying anything as we got set up. Then you get your first customers and the music starts and you know you're at the Country Fair. I sympathize with those guys today, playing in 30-degree weather."

Pete Kieffer's tent fit in among the snowflakes. Kieffer peddles Christmas trees decorated with Chicago Cubs ornaments.

"I have a Cubs room and a Bears room myself," Kieffer said. "I'm going to sell out today."

Kieffer said he used to travel to craft shows throughout Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa, but the Country Fair is the only one he still attends. He's been a part of it for 27 years.

"I love it," Kieffer said. "The live music and good food ... just being here."

On a day when the baked-potato stand appeared to be outselling the beer stand, where the beverages were being hawked as climate-controlled beers, Kumor wasn't sure how many would sit in the wine garden to take in the show. He recalls with a smile a group of patrons from the past.

"The one thing I always enjoyed was when the trains would arrive at noon and the people would just pour out of them and flood this place," Kumor said. "One year, a group had bought a bunch of rain gauges and they were sitting in front of the band stand drinking beer out of them. Five o'clock rolled around and the whistle blew and one of the guys says, 'I think that's our train.' Then we see the train start rolling down the track, and he says, 'I think that was our train.' They stayed the night and caught the first train on Sunday."

Proceeds from the event benefit the Jo Daviess County Country Fair Charities, Inc. Since 1979, more than $200,000 has been awarded to nonprofit organizations.

"Over the years, it has really become a tradition and something that people look forward to," Kumor said.

The tradition continues today.