Alligator on a stick. The Butter Cow. Conservation World. The High Dive Show. Ethnic Village. These are just some of the many traditions at the Illinois State Fair kicking off this week in Springfield. The annual festival, which brings nearly one million people though its gates, celebrates agriculture, one of the state’s biggest industries. Agriculture is responsible for more than 430,000 jobs in Illinois.
Preview night on Aug. 13 unofficially kicked off the State Fair with free admission and discounts on carnival rides, with the official opening celebration Aug. 14. The 11-day event features live music from some of music’s biggest names, harness racing, carnival rides, dozens of food vendors, various entertainers, animal shows, and displays from groups and organizations from across the state.
The Illinois State Fair runs August 13-23. Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children, $3 for senior citizens, and free for kids. For more schedules, list of vendors, and the Grandstand lineup, check out the Illinois State Fair website. For those who can’t attend the fair in person, you can follow the action on social media with hashtags #GrowingIllinois, #ISawTheButterCow, and #StateFairSelfie.