It happens every year, but some people are surprised when traffic patterns near the State fairgrounds are disrupted.
Changes to traffic will begin Thursday at 6am according to Springfield Police Sergeant Charles Kean.
“We are going to our usual counter-clockwise pattern on Peoria, Tainter, 5th Street and Sangamon. That will last for the duration of the fair and will return to normal August 18th,”says Kean.
Ninth Street from Carpenter to North Grand will be closed Thursday while crews ready for the Twilight Parade. And Ninth north to the fairgrounds will be shut down completely beginning at 4:30pm for the parade.
Area streets will also be off-limits to on-street parking because of the increased fair traffic.
The Springfield Mass Transit District has a suggestion: take the bus.