After being canceled last year due to COVID-19, this year’s State Fair in Springfield kicked off mid-week at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. After the unveiling of this year’s butter cow on Wednesday afternoon, gates opened on Thursday.
In the days leading up to the start of the State Fair, new mask mandates and other pandemic mitigations were announced by Gov. Pritzker. On Aug. 6, the Governor announced that masks will be required at all indoor areas at the fair regardless of vaccination status, and that all concertgoers will also be required to wear masks. Additionally, those watching concerts from the “standing room only” areas on the track in front of the grandstands will be required to show paper or digital proof they are fully vaccinated or show a negative COVID-19 test that is less than 72 hours old.
Special featured days this year include Kids Day on Aug. 14, Veterans & Gold Star Families Day on Aug. 15, Senior and Scout Day on Aug. 16, Agriculture Day on Aug. 17, First Responder Day on Aug. 20, Park District Conservation Day on Aug. 21, and Family Day on Aug. 22.
New attractions at the fair this year include a “Route 66 Experience,” a flying water circus featuring acrobats performing 40 feet above a swimming pool, and a “Dino-ROAR” exhibit featuring live-action dinosaurs. The fair in Springfield will run from Aug. 12-22. For information regarding vendors, parking, entertainment, etc., please visit https://www2.illinois.gov/statefair/Pages/default.aspx.