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UID:4504@staging.dscc.uic.edu
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240808T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240811T190000
DTSTAMP:20240724T152816Z
URL:https://staging.dscc.uic.edu/events/sensory-friendly-hours-and-activit
 ies-at-the-illinois-state-fair-in-springfield/
SUMMARY:Sensory-Friendly Hours and Activities at the Illinois State Fair in
  Springfield
DESCRIPTION:The 2024 Illinois State Fair will offer free entertainment\, ac
 tivities and a dedicated quiet zone for individuals with sensory-processin
 g needs\n\nThe 2024 Illinois State Fair is happening in Springfield from A
 ug. 8-18.\n\nWe are excited to help support the Illinois State Fair’s se
 nsory-friendly efforts for this year's event.\n\nOur Division of Specializ
 ed Care for Children (DSCC) team members from central Illinois will help s
 taff the fair’s Sensory Station. The fair is also offering sensory-frien
 dly Sunflower Hours and other programming to make the fair a more comforta
 ble and enjoyable experience for all.\n\nOur DSCC team will be at the fair
 ’s Sensory Station from Thursday\, Aug. 8\, through Sunday\, Aug. 11.\n\
 nThe Sensory Station is inside the Emmerson Building\, just off Main Stree
 t and Brian Raney Avenue in the center of the fairgrounds. It will be open
  from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.\n\nIt is an air-conditioned\, dedicated qui
 et zone with activities and resources to help visitors regroup and refocus
 .\n\nThe Sensory Station will feature:\n\n 	Noise canceling headphones\n 	
 Calming pods\n 	A foam block pit\n 	A stuffed animal “petting zoo”\n 	
 A coloring station and other sensory-friendly activities\n\nThese tools an
 d activities are for children and adults who need help processing the sigh
 ts\, smells\, noises and crowds at the fair.\n\nOur DSCC team will also ha
 ve a tent and table outside the Sensory Station on these four days. We wil
 l have coloring activities and information about our programs and services
  for families.\n\nThe fair is also hosting Sunflower Hours on Saturday\, A
 ug. 10\, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. During this time\, the fair will adjust ce
 rtain programs and activities to create a softer\, more calming environmen
 t for children and adults with sensory processing sensitivities.\n\nThe fa
 ir has Sunflower Hours stickers available for families to use during this 
 timeframe. This sticker allows fair visitors with sensory sensitivities to
  enjoy select amusement rides for free during the Sunflower Hours. Riders 
 must have the Sunflower Hours sticker and an adult and/or caregiver accomp
 anying them.\n\nDSCC has a limited number of stickers available for our pr
 ogram participants. If you are a DSCC participant family and would like us
  to send you a Sunflower Hours sticker\, please email dscc@uic.edu with 
 your name and your participant’s name. To allow enough time to mail stic
 kers\, please make your request by Aug. 5. We will send stickers on a fi
 rst-come\, first-served basis.\n\nAll families may visit the Sensory Stati
 on during the Sunflower Hours event to get more stickers. The stickers wil
 l be available while supplies last.\n\nConservation World\, located at the
  fair’s Eight Street entrance\, will also host Sunflower Hours on Tuesda
 y\, Aug. 13\, and Saturday\, Aug. 17\, from 9 to 10 a.m. Fairgoers can exp
 lore the great outdoors in a more peaceful and sensory-friendly setting du
 ring these times.\n\nThe Illinois State Fair has a social story to help 
 you plan your visit to this year’s event. It is a step-by-step guide to 
 help parents and caregivers explain what to expect during a visit to the I
 llinois State Fair.\n\nYou can find the social story and more details abou
 t the Sensory Station\, Sunflower Hours\, the entertainment schedule and m
 ore in the Sensory Friendly Fair section of the Illinois State Fair websit
 e.
CATEGORIES:Special Event
LOCATION:Illinois State Fairgrounds\, 801 E. Sangamon Ave.\, Springfield\, 
 Illinois\, 62702\, United States
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 ngfield\, Illinois\, 62702\, United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Illi
 nois State Fairgrounds:geo:0,0
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DTSTART:20240310T030000
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