Over 1M people attended Illinois State Fairs in 2025, Pritzker says

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — More than 1 million people attended the Illinois and Du Quoin State Fairs this year, Governor JB Pritzker said on Tuesday.

The Illinois State Fair welcomed the overwhelming majority of attendees, as Springfield had 723,079 people present for the festivities. This marked the second-largest turnout in this event’s history.

The Du Quoin State Fair experienced 282,202 attendees. This number smashed the previous record of 204,004 which was just set last year.

“Illinois state fairs are a part of a time-honored tradition for generations of families,” Pritzker said. “This year’s attendance figures are proof of the enduring value of state fairs as over 1 million attendees from across Illinois and throughout the nation joined in celebration of our state’s proud agricultural heritage.”

At the Illinois State Fair, Grandstand ticket sales were boosted by record crowds. Sales were also up in 2025 for admission booklets, Mega and Jumbo passes. Camping numbers also increased significantly.

In Springfield, the Megan Moroney concert broke the Grandstand attendance record with 15,532. The previous record was set by Lil Wayne’s concert at the 2024 Illinois State Fair.

At the Governor’s Sale of Champions, the Grand Champion Steer sold for $105,000, and the Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Steer sold for $70,000, which was a record setting price. The commodities and livestock sales combined for a total of almost $294,000.

At the other state fair in Du Quoin, Grandstand ticket sales were boosted as well. According to Pritzker, this was due to a “strong lineup” that consisted of Little River Band, TESLA and Tucker Wetmore. Additionally, the carnival vendor logged 245,000 rides with the Mardi Gras Glass House and the Giant Wheel among the most popular.

The Du Quoin camper presence was also substantial, with 625 permits being issued. The Illinois Product Expo in Du Quoin, which debuted in 2022, also increased in 2025. Revenue from the sale of local products exceeded $25,000, which was a $5,000 increase from last year.

A recent study conducted by the International Association of Fairs and Expose (IAFE) found that fairs in America’s heartland, defined by them as Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, had a $2.7 billion regional economic impact.

And on top of the dollars being spent at the actual fair, attendees spend money on things such as hotel rooms, gas and shopping at local businesses.

This study also found that 29% of the country’s population attends a fair each year. This mark is more than the combined attendance of Major League Baseball and the National Football League.

“Illinois is fortunate to have state fairs that bring people together, creating a shared space for celebrating food, family fun, and Illinois agriculture,” said Jerry Costello II, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “Our team has worked hard to preserve the traditions people expect while innovating our offerings to continue engaging families every year.”

The Illinois State Fair will take place from Aug. 13-23, 2026, and the Du Quoin State Fair from Aug. 28-Sept. 7.