PHOTO BY 1221 PHOTOGRAPHY
Ashlyn Yates with Kinley, 8, at the 2024 Illinois State Fair.
A trip to the Illinois State Fair can be an expensive endeavor, especially with family in tow. Thankfully, there are a multitude of ways to maximize value and get the most out of your fair experience.
“We offer over 160 hours of free entertainment each day,” Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark explained. With so many offerings, it pays to do a little research ahead of time and think about what you really want to do during your visit, whether it’s a leisurely stroll through the animal barns or taking in a breathtaking stunt show at Thrillville.
As a passionate fairgoer and mom herself, Clark explained that there are many opportunities for families visiting the fair to take advantage of discounts and stretch their dollar.
“The Illinois State Fair is one of the most affordable state fairs in the Midwest,” said Clark. “Every day of the fair kids 12 and under are free,” said fair manager Clark. “We have a $2 admission day, and seven days of our 11-day run adult admission is only $5.”
While kids 12 and under get in free daily, there are also multiple discount days. Veterans and their immediate families get free admission on Aug. 10, seniors and scouts in uniform get in free on Monday, Aug. 11, and first responders and health care workers get in free on Thursday, Aug. 15. On “Twosday,” Aug. 12, adult and senior admission is just $2, and the carnival rides are offered at a reduced price of $2 each.
Those looking to make return visits or catch a show with a group of friends can save with a discount admission book which can be purchased at the Emerson Building and offers 11 admissions for just $45.
“It’s a popular option for folks who are coming to the fair to work or exhibit animals, but also a great idea if you’re getting a group of friends together to see a band at one of the beer tents,” explained Clark.
The Illinois State Fair program book is free to download, mobile-friendly and is an incredibly useful resource for those looking to take full advantage of all that’s included with admission to the fair. It outlines the full schedule of events for each day, including the showtimes for the 800-seat Big Top Circus located in Happy Hollow, offering free performances daily with jugglers, clowns, trapeze artists and many other performers, as well as location and showtimes for Thrillville, featuring gravity-defying stunt shows.
The ever-popular Budweiser Clydesdales will be returning for the first time since 2021, beginning with an appearance at Thursday night’s Twilight Parade and will be available for public viewing each day of the fair until 9 p.m. They’ll also parade through the fairgrounds starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16.
In addition to the big-time touring productions that take the stage each night at the Grandstand, the Illinois State Fair has 14 musical stages offering free entertainment, from the Strolling Piano playing timeless tunes throughout the grounds to the impressive lineup on offer at the Grand Central Stage under the Reisch Pavilion. This all-ages stage features up-and-coming singer-songwriters such as Kashus Culpeper, a 26-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who blends country with R&B and funk, as well as crowd-pleasing tribute bands including Simply Spice: A Spice Girls Tribute, and Shake Rattle ‘N’ Roll, a tribute to classic doo wop and pioneers of soul.
The Grandstand is also offering a free show this year when country artist Randy Houser takes the stage at 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, with opening act Night Ranger.
Free kids’ activities abound, but some, like the fishing clinics in Conservation World, fill up quickly, so be sure to get there early to reserve your spot. Fishing clinics are held five times daily at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. Other free daily activities in Conservation World (open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) include getting photos taken in a replica eagle nest, an archery range and youth BB gun range. The Paul Bunyan Lumber Jack show happens at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays and at noon, 2, 4 and 6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Always a favorite with kiddos, the Zoo Lady and her Crew will be offering free theatrical-style face painting on the Adventure Village stage from noon to 6 p.m. daily. Located on the south end of Adventure Village, this stage will also feature the comical performances of the stilt-walking Sky High Balloon Guy daily at 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Finally, no trip to the fair is complete without good eats. The happy hour “Feeding Frenzy” program is returning, with participating vendors offering discounted pricing on selected items from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. New to this year’s fair, those looking to imbibe in a myriad of globally inspired eats should check out the Village of Cultures’ “Small Plates, Big Tastes” offerings, featuring sample-sized menu items for just $3.
The fair kicks off with the Twilight Parade at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, which provides plenty of free entertainment before you even set foot on the fairgrounds. The parade begins in Lincoln Park and travels north to Sangamon Avenue, then east to the fairgrounds’ Main Gate. Plus, the carnival will be open from noon to 11 p.m. on Thursday and rides are just $3 each the first day.
Whether you visit the fair once or multiple times, make sure you plan ahead to stretch your dollars while still taking in all that the 2025 Illinois State Fair has to offer.