Illinois State Fair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Illinois State Fair |
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| Genre | State fair |
| Date(s) | every August |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Springfield, Illinois |
| Years active | 1853-1860; 1865-1892; 1894–1916; 1919–1941; 1946–2019; 2021– |
| Inaugurated | 1853 |
| Attendance | 509,000 (2019) |
| Sponsor | State of Illinois |
The Illinois State Fair is a big yearly party in Springfield, the capital city of Illinois. It's all about showing off amazing things from Illinois, especially farming. This fun event has happened almost every year since 1853.
Today, the fair takes place for 11 days in the middle of August. It's held at the special Illinois State Fairgrounds. In 2019, over 500,000 people visited the fair!
Contents
The Fair's Exciting History
How the Fair Began
The very first Illinois State Fair was held in 1853 in Springfield. Back then, it cost only 25 cents to get in! Farmers created these early fairs. They wanted to share ideas and learn from each other. They also wanted to find out what farming tips really worked.
After the American Civil War, rules for judging farm products became clearer. More farmers started showing their best crops and animals. People also learned more about genetics. This led to showing special purebred farm animals. You could see them at both local county fairs and the Illinois State Fair.
New Machines and Big Changes
In the early 1900s, new engines changed farming forever. Companies that made agricultural machinery loved showing off their new inventions. The Illinois State Fair was a perfect place for them to do this.
The fair has happened almost every summer for over 150 years. But sometimes it was paused. For example, in 1893, a huge World's Fair in Chicago had even more farm displays. So, the Illinois State Fair took a break that year.
Finding a Permanent Home
For its first 40 years, the Illinois State Fair moved around. It was held in many different towns across Illinois. But in 1894, the state bought a large piece of land in Springfield. This became the permanent home for the fair.
A big grandstand and racetrack were built there. The first auto races happened at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack in 1910. The fairgrounds grew even bigger in 1924.
The Amazing Dome Building
In 1895, a special building called the Dome Building was built. It had a giant glass dome, which was the second largest in the world! This dome had been part of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It was bought and moved to the fairgrounds.
The building was huge and could hold 10,000 people. It showed off beautiful plants and had offices for the National Guard. In 1917, about 1,500 soldiers stayed there before going to war. Sadly, the building caught fire on August 17, 1917. The huge glass dome crashed down. The building was later taken down. The fair was also canceled in 1918 because of the Spanish flu.
The fair was paused again from 1942 to 1945. During World War II, the fairgrounds were used by the U.S. Army Air Force. They stored supplies there and even trained over 1,000 Chinese military people.
The Fair Today: Fun for Everyone!
After World War II, farming became more efficient. This meant fewer people worked on farms. So, state fairs started to change. They became less about just showing farm products and more about entertainment.
Concerts and Excitement
The State Fair Grandstand was first used for horse racing. It's still used for that today! But it also became a popular place for concerts. Many famous singers and bands have performed there.
Today, you can still see amazing farm animals and competitions. But many people come to the fair for other reasons. They love watching parades, going on exciting rides, listening to music, and enjoying all the festival food.
More Than Just a Fair
The Illinois State Fairgrounds has over 100 permanent buildings. During the fair, even more tents and trailers pop up! The Illinois Department of Agriculture runs the fair. They say its goal is to "showcase Illinois agriculture and offer wholesome family entertainment."
The fairgrounds are busy all year long. They host other fun events like motorcycle and car races, horse shows, and rodeos.
In 2019, the fair had 509,000 visitors. This was a big increase from previous years! Famous performers like Snoop Dogg and Reba McEntire entertained the crowds.
The 2020 fair was much smaller because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois. It was the first time the main shows were canceled since World War II. Some farming and racing events were moved to later in the year.
