History of the State Fair
The first Illinois State Fair was first celebrated in 1853 in Springfield. In that first year, the admission fee was 25 cents. The fair moved to Chicago in 1855. Currently, the fair is held annually at the Illinois State Fairgrounds over an 11-day period in mid-August of each year. During the years after the Civil War, the rules of agricultural judging became standardized, and more and more farmers began to show their farm products. Agricultural show operations, competitions, and judging continued in Springfield, but many State Fairgoers in 2015 were attending the fair to watch parades and spectacles, enjoy the festival rides, listen to music, or drink beer in one of numerous "beer tents." The attendance number was 369,144 in 2018.
In Illinois, the State Fair Grandstand, originally built as a place to watch harness racing (and still used for that purpose as of 2018) became a venue for concerts and recitals. The Illinois State Fairgrounds now contains more than 100 permanent buildings. In addition, participants set up countless pavilions and trailers during the period the State Fair is in operation. The Illinois State Fair is operated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, which states in the state's official "Illinois Blue Book" that the purpose of the State Fair is to "showcase Illinois agriculture and offer wholesome family entertainment."
The Illinois State Fairgrounds are also used as a venue for other competitive and entertainment operations throughout the year, such as motorcycle and car racing, horse shows, and rodeos.The fair has long been noted for its annual butter cow, a life-size animal formed of pure butter applied to an armature by a sculptor wielding an oversized.Purchase a Mega Pass and enjoy unlimited rides during the State Fair - Good for all ten days! Another big attraction is Conservation World, always a fair favorite; this educational area contains over 30 acres of green grass, trees, rolling hills and ponds. Some of the shows happening this year include Dan + Shay, Why Don't We, Pentatonix with Rachel Platten ,Old Dominion, Snoop Dogg & Friends, and Reba McEntire with Rachel Wammack.
By Kyra