This year, at the 2021 Illinois State Fair, more than 472,000 visitors walked through the gates, marking the second highest attendance since the Illinois Department of Agriculture began tracking the numbers back in 2014. This year’s attendance was surpassed only by the historic record set in 2019.

The first week of the fair, more than 15,000 more people joined the celebration in 2019. Grandstand ticket sales and revenue saw over 40,000 tickets sold, generating $1.5 million in revenue.

Residents and tourists looking to beat the heat this summer have a great selection of city pools and waterparks across Illinois. Here are some of the state’s popular waterparks.

Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis has been preserved and maintained since 1908, when it became Illinois’ first state park. Located at the southern tip of the state, the park overlooks the Ohio River and is home to 1,500 acres that offer camping, hiking, fishing, boating and hunting opportunities.

The park is also well known for its annual Fort Massac Encampment festival in October, which recreates the lifestyles and atmosphere of the late 1700s, attracting approximately 200,000 people every year. Historically, the site of the park was home to multiple military forts throughout the nation’s early years, playing a role in the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

With summer on the horizon and COVID-19 vaccination rates rising, many Americans may be looking for opportunities to hit the road. Luckily, the Illinois Office of Tourism has decided to give them a lot of options.

The Office of Tourism and Governor JB Pritzker have newly announced their “Time for Me to Drive” multi-state ad campaign, which shows people suffering from cabin fever the many opportunities Illinois offers for tourists with every interest. Their newly updated website, “Enjoy Illinois,” features more than 60 road trip itineraries and highlights things to do and places to see from across the state.

People visiting Mattoon, Ill., may be surprised to learn they won’t be able to find a Whopper at the local Burger King. This is because the Burger King in Mattoon is the only Burger King restaurant in the U.S. that is owned and operated independently of the more widely known Burger King franchise.

In 1952, two local residents, Gene and Betty Hoots, purchased a successful ice cream shop named Frigid Queen, and within a few years had expanded their menu to include hamburgers and french fries. When deciding what to call their expanded business, Betty felt that every queen needed a king, and so the couple selected the new name of Burger King. The Hootses registered the name with the state in 1959 and successfully secured the state trademark in Illinois.