August 20, 2025

Food stands offer extensive menu for hungry visitors

RANTOUL, Ill. — A burrito truck will be a new addition to the food court at the Half Century of Progress event, set for Aug. 21-24.

“We’ve got around 32 different vendors for food items,” said Larry Barry.

“There will be kettle corn, pies, cobblers, ice cream, barbecue meals, rack of ribs, pork sandwiches and steak sandwiches,” he said. “And we’ll have fair food like corn dogs, funnel cakes and french fries.”

In addition to the food court, food trucks will be located in the tractor pulling area and near the corn shelling field.

“They are going to be in areas that haven’t been serviced before, so we’re trying to spread it out a little bit,” Barry said.

He sent out contracts to the food vendors who have been involved in previous Half Century events.

“We probably have a 95% retention of previous vendors,” he noted. “I think there are two church or community groups left and I’d like to have more, but they don’t have enough volunteers.”

About 50,000 people are expected to attend the four-day event. “We have people coming from 25 to 30 different states and three or four foreign countries.”

Those attending the show, Barry said, like to reminisce about old times.

“You see a lot of families,” he noted. “It’s pretty hard to get five generations, but we’ll have a lot of four generations on the grounds.”

“There will be something you can eat, you’re not going to starve,” he said. “There will be plenty of drink stations with water, soda and lemonade.”

Martha Blum

Martha Blum

Field Editor