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You can still munch on a corn dog, wash it down with a lemon shake-up and then head over to marvel at the Butter Cow.

But if Democratic stem-winders are more to your taste, dont look to the Illinois State Fair this year.

A political tradition dating back at least half a century at the fair will look and sound a bit different this year.

When Democrats gather on the fairgrounds in Springfield for the 2017 version of Democrat Day, it will not feature the traditional mid-day political rally a partisan powwow aimed at ginning up support for candidates and incumbents.

Rich Miller of the Capitol Fax blog was first to report the rallys demise.

Steve Brown, a spokesman for Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, the chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, said the rally wasnt canceled because nothing was ever scheduled in the first place.

The focus of Democrats on the 17th of August will be chairmans brunch, Brown said, adding that more than 1,000 attendees were expected.

The Democratic county chairmans event is another longtime staple of the event. But it was always the outdoor rally, held on The Directors Lawn that was the days centerpiece.

Mayor Richard J. Daley, waving, leads the Chicago contingent at Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, August 14, 1969. File Photo. | United Press International Wirephoto.

Every year, fair organizers set aside two days for Democrats and Republicans to hold speeches and other party events. The party that holds the governors office calls its day Governors Day. This year, Aug. 16 is Governors Day, and August 17 is Democrats Day.

For Democrats, the big outdoor rally also took a backseat in 2016, when the Democrat Day breakfast was the backdrop for speeches meant to drum up party support.

The rally has also been the scene for some awkward moments over the years. In 2012, Gov. Pat Quinn after being heckled by labor union leaders mixed up the names of President Barack Obama and slain al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich is shown as the the Flying Elvi perform behind him during Democrats Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Ill., Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003. (AP Photo/ Illinois State Fair, David Blanchette)

Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, left, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, center, and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, right, confer while participating in a Democrats rally at the Illinois State Fair on Governors Day in Springfield, Ill., Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009. File Photo. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Ten years earlier, then-candidate Rod Blagojevich was campaigning for governor and squabbling with Madigan. The speaker, who is also state Democratic Party chairman told reporters: I dont plan to get into any criticism of Blagojevich. I could do that. I could talk about his indiscretions, but Im not going to do that because I believe in solidarity within the political party.

Madigan never elaborated on what indiscretions he was talking about.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama is surrounded by reporters as he attends a Democrat Day rally at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Ill., Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006. (AP File Photo/Seth Perlman)

Democrat Roland Burris addresses a crowd at a rally during Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield in 1997. File Photo. (AP Photo/Randy Squires, File)

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Democrat Day at State Fair to be a bit quieter this year - Chicago Sun-Times