It wouldn’t be summer without a trip to the fair, and Illinois celebrates the season with not one but two statewide celebrations. Learn a few fun facts about these summer events below.
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- The first Illinois State Fair took place in October 1853 with an admission of 25 cents.
- The first Du Quoin State Fair was held in 1923.
- The Illinois State Fair has been hosted by 12 different cities, including Chicago, Alton, Freeport, Olney and Peoria. It settled permanently in Springfield in 1894.
- During World War II, no fairs were held. The Illinois State Fairgrounds were used as a supply base for the U.S. Army Air Forces.
- The Illinois State Fairgrounds cover 366 acres.
- The Du Quoin State Fairgrounds span 1,600 acres.
- Both fairs run for 11 days and feature many exciting attractions, livestock shows, agricultural exhibits and entertainment.
- A cow sculpture made of 500 pounds of unsalted butter has been the Illinois State Fair’s unofficial icon since the 1920s.
- The Du Quoin State Fair draws more than 280,000 attendees annually, while the Illinois State Fair attracts more than 720,000.
Sources: Du Quoin Tourism Commission, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois State Fair, Illinois State Library Digital Archives
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