Latest news with #IllinoisStateFair
Chicago Tribune
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Women's barrel racing a new addition to this year's Kane County Fair
Cowgirls are taking center stage this week at the 156th Kane County Fair as a professional women's barrel racing competition joins favorites like bull riding and the demolition derby at the fairground's grandstand. '(Barrel racing) is very popular around the country. I think people will be pleased by it,' fair board Chair Larry Breon said. The new competition, which requires riders on horseback to race around barrels in a clover leaf pattern, is expected to be one of the highlights of the annual fair, which also features the usual fare of carnival rides and games, 4-H exhibits, pig racing, live music and plenty of food over the course of its Wednesday-through-Sunday run at the St. Charles fairgrounds. Always a big draw when the weather cooperates, the fair brought in between 50,000 and 60,000 people attend last year, Breon said. 'If we have good weather, we have good attendance,' he said. 'I hope we have good weather,' Breon said. The female barrel racing is proving to be a big draw for professional racers who are coming from around the country to participate, he said. The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. There also will be other grandstand shows, like a series of professional championship bull rider and cowgirl events Friday and Saturday night and Saturday afternoon. Tickets for bull riding and barrel racing can be purchased at 'Bull riding is very popular,' Breon said. 'Everything is first class.' Always a big draw is the demolition derby, which starts at 2 p.m. Sunday and costs $10 to attend. Another fan favorite is pig racing, he said. 'Everyone loves them so we keep bringing them back,' he said. But if you want to see the heart of the fair, don't miss the 4-H exhibitions, Breon said. 4-H members get to not only display their skills and livestock but also teach others about agriculture, he said. It's sometimes surprising for children when they connect the dots between the food they consume and where it comes from, he said. 'Kids don't realize milk comes from a cow because they think it comes from Jewel. You can come here and see a cow being milked,' he said. Breon, who's been coming to the fair for 70 years, joined 4-H when he was 10 years old. His family owned a farm outside of Batavia, and he showed cattle when he was young, he said. That first ribbon you win is unforgettable, he said. 'You felt pretty good about it,' Breon said. As he got older, he won state and national championships and ultimately became part of the National Beef Association and a member of the Illinois State Fair board. He was a farmer until retiring last year. Live music is always an important aspect of the fair, and this year there will be a variety of genres performing on the Miller Lite Sound Stage. Eric Chesser, a Nashville-based country musician, kicks things off with a 7 p.m. show Thursday. On Friday night, Trippin' Billies, a Dave Matthews tribute band, will take the stage at 7:30. Saturday, Mark Atkins performs at 5 p.m. and the Hillbilly Rockstarz go on at 8:30 p.m. The latter is known for mashing up pop, rock and dance songs. The How Rude Band closes out the fair with a show at 6 p.m. Sunday. They play '90s hits, including pop and grunge. Fantasy Amusements returns with its thrill rides like the OMG 360, which swings riders in 360 degrees while revolving, and Pharaoh's Fury. The midway also will have family-friendly rides, games, and, of course, funnel cakes and other fair foods. Fair hours are 3 to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to midnight Friday and Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Admission prices are $5 on Wednesday and Thursday and $5 for children and $10 for adults Friday through Sunday. There's no cost for children under 3. Free admission is available for seniors 62 and older and miltary with ID until 5 p.m. Thursday. A ticket to be used all five days costs $25. (Credit card purchases add 4% to the price.) Wristbands are available for unlimited carnival rides, and range in price from $27 to $32 depending on the day. The fairgrounds is located at 525 S. Randall Road in St. Charles. For more information, go to
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Snoop Dogg, Sheryl Crow and more: Full lineup for the 2025 Illinois State Fair
Music fans can now see the full lineup of artists who will be performing at the state fair in August. Nine recognizable musicians and bands are coming to Springfield. Here's who will be performing at the fair that runs from Aug. 7 to Aug. 17. Country star Jake Owen can boast 10 No. 1 singles and more than 2.5 billion U.S. on-demand streams. He will take the stage in Springfield on Friday, Aug. 8. Owen is the most recent performer to be announced. Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 17 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. 'August 8 is Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair, and this is the perfect way to celebrate,' stated Jerry Costello II, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. 'Country artists are a crowd favorite in central Illinois," he added. Owen released his first studio album in 2006. More: Part of the fabric of the Midwest: Central Illinois county fairs kick off in late May The Black Crowes debuted in 1990 and have sold over 30 million albums worldwide. The blues-rock band will perform on Saturday, Aug. 9. 'The Black Crowes represent the kind of powerhouse talent that makes the Illinois State Fair's Grandstand lineup stand out year after year,' Costello II stated. The group formed in Atlanta, Georgia. People Magazine called Moroney "Country's New Darling" and the Illinois State Fair billed her as bringing "emo cowgirl charm" to the fair. The Georgia-native claims nearly two billion global streams. "The Illinois State Fair has a long tradition of showcasing artists early in their careers," Costello II stated. "She has a bright future in Country music." Moroney will perform on Sunday, Aug. 10. Sheryl Crow is a nine-time Grammy winner with a soft rock or alternative rock-style. She will perform on Tuesday, Aug. 12. Crow last performed at the state fair in 1996 in a performance with John Hiatt. 'Her music lifts people up, brings them together, and we can't wait for that to happen at the Illinois State Fair,' Costello II stated. More: Farmers markets will soon open in the Springfield area. Here's what to know. Snoop Dogg, the American rapper who has sold over 37 million albums worldwide and released 20 studio albums since 1993, will perform in Springfield on Wednesday, Aug. 13. He previously performed at the fair in 2019. Clark said the rapper reaches music fans of multiple generations. Country star Brad Paisley has won three GRAMMYs, two American Music Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 14 Country Music Association Awards. He will perform in Springfield on Thursday, Aug. 14. Paisley performed at the fair in 2017 and 2013. 'Brad Paisley's music celebrates family, tradition, and good times — values that align perfectly with what the Fair is all about,' Clark stated. "Known for their boundary-defying fusion of pop, indie, electronic, alternative, and rock, Drew Taggart and Alex Pall have consistently shaped the landscape of popular music," the fair said in a news release. The Chainsmokers will perform on Friday, Aug. 15. The group's debut album in 2017 reached the #1 spot on the Billboard 200, followed by critically acclaimed releases Sick Boy, World War Joy, and 2022's So Far So Good, which marked their fourth #1 debut on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart. 'We are always looking to bring the best entertainment to Springfield, and The Chainsmokers are one of the biggest names in music today,' Clark stated. 'Their ability to blend genres and engage audiences of all ages makes them the perfect addition to our Grandstand lineup.' Def Leppard, an English rock or heavy metal group that became popular in the 1980s, has sold over 110 million albums. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. Def Leppard will perform on Saturday, Aug. 16. 'Def Leppard has a catalog that's spans so many years, and it has so many cross generational appeals,' said Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark. Turnpike Troubadours is an American country music band from Oklahoma that started making music in 2005. They will perform Sunday, Aug. 17. The Turnpike Troubadours has achieved 1.5 billion streams globally. 'Turnpike Troubadours perform a unique kind of music that we are happy to have at the Illinois State Fair,' Costello II stated. 'This band will feel right at home here in central Illinois.' Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@ This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: 2025 Illinois State Fair: Full lineup announced for this year's fair
Time Out
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Illinois State Fair announces musical headliners Snoop Dogg, Sheryl Crow
The fair's coming to town! Yes, the Illinois State Fair will return to the state capital of Springfield—about 200 miles from Chicago—for its 2025 edition from Thursday, August 7 to Sunday, August 17. And every single night of the event, a major musical act will be taking to the Grandstand stage to entertain a spirited crowd of fairgoers. Yes, as of this week, the Illinois State Fair has announced its full lineup of Grandstand headliners for the popular summer event. And it's quite a starry, varied bunch, ranging from rap icons like Snoop Dogg to alt-rock goddesses like Sheryl Crow, from country crooners like Brad Paisley to hair-metal legends like Def Leppard. The nightly sets kick off at 8pm CDT, and you can check out the full fair-long schedule below. (Note: The headliner for August 11 show has not yet been formally announced, but we'll keep you posted!) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Illinois State Fair (@myilstatefair) Tickets for the Illinois State Fair are set to go on sale at 10am Central on Saturday, May 17; you can gain access a day earlier during a special presale by becoming a "Main Gate Insider." Tickets for the headliner performances range from $30 to $165, spanning standing-room-only admission to premium reserved "Blue Ribbon Zone" seating. A headliner ticket does not cover admission to the fairground, so those will have to be purchased separately: Tickets to the fair cost five bucks from Sunday to Thursday and $10 on Saturdays and Sundays for attendees aged between 13 and 59 years old. There are also discounts for senior citizens and free tickets for children aged 12 and younger. More information can be found on the Illinois State Fair's website.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Country star Brad Paisley set to perform at Illinois State Fair again
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) — An award-winning country music star will return to the Illinois State Fair in August. Brad Paisley will perform on the Illinois Lottery Grandstand Stage during the Illinois State Fair on Aug. 14., an Illinois Department of Agriculture news release stated. He is one of country music's most decorated male solo artists with three GRAMMYs, two American Music Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 14 Country Music Association Awards. 'Three-peat, Grandstand crowd favorite, Brad Paisley is always welcome at the Illinois State Fair,' Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II said. 'His award-winning songwriting and showmanship are unmatched, and we're honored to bring him back to our Grandstand.' Tickets for the show will go on sale on March 22 at 10 a.m. and will be available for purchase here. Tickets will cost from $55 to $125 depending on the tier. The 2025 Illinois State Fair will run from Aug. 7 through Aug. 17. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Illinois community college enrollment increase reaches record high
CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) — The latest surge in community college enrollment across the state is the highest on record, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced on Tuesday. The 2025 Spring enrollment at Illinois community colleges increased 8.9% from the previous year, according to Pritzker. This is the highest recorded increase from spring-to-spring since the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) began collecting enrollment statistics in the late 1990s. Over 99k granted to Illinois schools for conservation-based field trips Additionally, this is the third consecutive spring that community college enrollment has increased across Illinois. 'With the largest Spring-to-Spring enrollment increase and the third straight year of growth, our community colleges have not only bounced back from the pandemic – they are now stronger than ever thanks to our historic investments in education,' Pritzker said. 'We are the home to the third largest community college system in the nation, and we want to continue seeing growth and opportunity for working families by making higher education more affordable and accessible for students across the state.' In the FY26 Budget Address, Pritzker proposed a student-centered program to allow community colleges to offer four-year bachelor's degrees. On top of this program, Pritzker is helping launch a direct admission program to streamline college admissions to public, postsecondary schools with the goal of saving money for Illinois residents. Illinois State Fair adds Brad Paisley to 2025 Grandstand lineup Also, in the FY26 budget is a 3% increase in operating dollars for public universities and community colleges, and a $721.6 million appropriation for the Monetary Award Program (MAP). This money will be used to help students at, or below median income attend community college at no cost when their financial aid is paired with federal Pell Grants. The 2025 Spring Enrollment Report shows the third spring-to-spring semester increase over the last six years and brings enrollment at in-state community colleges past pre-pandemic levels to over 283,000 students. Other findings from the report include the following: 40 out of 45 state community colleges experienced an increase in headcount enrollment from Spring 2024 to Spring 2025 Dual Credit programs – allowing high school students to earn college credit – increased 19.8% and has increased 61.9% since Spring 2021 Fix out of six instruction areas experienced an increase in headcount enrollment from 2024, including: Transfer programs: the largest instructional area in the Illinois Community College System – up 8.9% Career and Technical Education programs: increase of 7.6% General Associates programs: 23.4% increase Adult Education: serves students interested in basic skills, GED preparation and English proficiency – increase of 5% 'We know higher education is key to our future, which is why we've made historic investments to make education more accessible,' said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. 'Now we're seeing a return on our investment with community college enrollment surging. When education is more accessible and affordable, our entire state is stronger.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
