Illinois State Fairs Top One Million Visitors in 2025

The Illinois State Fair in Springfield drew 723,079 people in August, the second-largest turnout in its history. When combined with the Du Quoin State Fair, which welcomed a record 282,202 visitors, total attendance at the two state fairs surpassed one million.

Grandstand ticket sales were fueled by record-setting performances, highlighted by Megan Moroney's concert in Springfield, which set a new all-time attendance record with 15,532 tickets sold, breaking the mark set in 2024. Sales of admission booklets, Mega and Jumbo passes, and camping permits also climbed compared to the previous year.

Agriculture remained central to the fairs' success. At the Governor's Sale of Champions, the Grand Champion Steer sold for $105,000, while the Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Steer set a record at $70,000. Combined livestock and commodities sales reached nearly $294,000.

In Du Quoin, acts from Little River Band to TESLA to Tucker Wetmore boosted Grandstand sales, and carnival vendors reported 245,000 rides. The Illinois Product Expo also grew, surpassing $25,000 in revenue, an increase of $5,000 from 2024.

A recent study by the International Association of Fairs and Expos found that fairs across Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska contribute $2.7 billion in regional economic impact and found that 29 percent of Americans attend a fair each year.

Dates are already set for the 2026 Illinois State Fair, which is scheduled to run August 13-23 in Springfield.