County fairs invoke images of Ferris wheels, demolition derbies, deep-fried candy bars and livestock.
Here is a quick guide to the county fairs in Northern Illinois and Indiana. We give you the essential info, plus tidbits on what’s new and what’s a must-see. See the websites for more detailed information.
Kane County Fair
Where: Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles
When: July 20-24
Hours: 3 to 11 p.m. Wednesday; noon to 11 p.m. Thursday; noon to midnight Friday and Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Cost: $5, July 20-21; $10, July 22-24; $5, children 3-12; free, children under 3. Seniors and military with ID free on July 20-21 until 5 p.m. Season ticket, $20.
Information: 630-584-6926; Kanecountyfair.com.
Parking: Free parking with entrances at Oak Street, Route 38 and Route 64.
What’s new: “One thing new we’re doing this year in the grandstands is a Charredo show,” said fair board president Larry Breon. “It’s a Hispanic performance (known for) beautiful dressing and trick roping. It’s not a rodeo, it’s just a performance (with) horses and horseback riding. It’s very interesting.”
Kids can also find basketball, floor hockey and soccer in the main Prairie Events Center, free and running daily. Also new this year are Mariachi bands performing July 24 on the Miller Lite Stage.
What’s back: 4-H exhibits, classic fair food, the Kid Bucks game show, Miller Petting Zoo, Kiddy Land and Swifty Swine Racing Pigs.
Back this year — but modified for kids — is the Jack Axe Obstacle Course, located also in the Prairie Center. The company put on a professional show last year with events like a caber toss.
“This is an obstacle course for young people,” Breon said. “It’s safe, it’s not the business we’ve had previously where we’ve had professionals do it. It’s something for young people to participate in.”
Must-see: Championship bull riding, 2 and 7 p.m. July 23. ($7-$14)
What else: Carnival, food vendors, 4-H exhibits. July 20 and 21 are customer appreciation days; $20 gets you admission and unlimited rides from 3 p.m. to closing if purchased at the gate.
Mainstage: Championship Bull Riding July 22-23, Smash ’em Bash ’em Demolition Derby 2 and 7 p.m. July 24. ($10)
Miller Lite Stage: The Boy Band Night on July 20, 7th Heaven on July 21, Hi Infidelity on July 22, Hillbilly Rockstarz on July 23.
Porter County, Ind. Fair
When: July 21-30
Where: Porter County Expo Center, 215 Division Road, Valparaiso
Hours: Noon-11 p.m. weekdays and noon to midnight weekends.
Cost: $7 adults; free, children 10 and under. Free before noon daily. 10-punch value pass $40.
Information: 219-462-0321; Portercountyfair.com.
What’s new: Grandstand entertainment includes Chris Janson on July 21, Cole Swindell with special guest Drew Baldridge on July 22, Alabama on July 23, demolition derby July 24 and 29, bull riding July 25, truck and tractor pull July 27 and Global Force Wrestling on July 28.
What’s back: 4-H exhibits, livestock, Cutest Baby contest, carnival. Free family entertainment from roving entertainers like physical comedian Kenney Ahern and children’s musician Duke Otherwise. There is also the Nerger’s Tiger show, Matt’s Family Jam, Porter County Fair queen pageant, antique machinery exhibit, Barnyard Cackle Revue, Bear Hollow Wood Carvers, Good Time Cloggers, Pitch Black Drumline, Sweet Adelines, Silly Safari animal show, Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, Britton Pankratz Yo Yo Show, bingo, T. Texas Terry Comedy Wild West Show and performances from area groups and teams.
Must-see: K&F Dirt Mud Drag Racing at 7 p.m. July 26. Watch ATVs and pickup trucks compete for cash prizes, or bring your own vehicle and compete.
What else: Special Needs Day is from 1-6 p.m. July 25. Anyone with special needs and a chaperone can ride select carnival rides for free. Parking is free; shuttles run from various lots to the fair. There are 108 campsites on the fairgrounds.
DuPage County Fair
Where: DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton
When: July 27-31
Hours: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
Cost: $10; $4, children 3-12; free, children 2 and under. Season pass, $30. Seniors 62 years and older and military with ID free until 3 p.m. July 27-29.
Information: 630-668-6636; Dupagecountyfair.org.
What’s new: The XPogo, an extreme pogo stick team, will perform on the midway every day during the fair. “It’s a pogo stick stunt team that does crazy jumps and stunts and flips all over the place, so that should be kind of fun,” said fair board president Jim McGuire.
Also new is the sock hop July 29 with the Neverly Brothers in the main exhibition building. A karaoke contest kicks off the fair July 27 and is open to everyone, he said.
“We’re going back to the theme of the fair, ‘Come out and Share Your Talent,’ and there will be cash prizes awarded,” he said.
For the first time, the fair presents Fiesta de Feria, a two-day event down in the horse area on the northwest corner of the grounds featuring a marketplace, live music, folkloric dancing and small rodeo events, he said.
What’s back: The Axe Women Loggers of Maine return to the fair. These “lumberjills” will race each other in wood chopping and then try to knock each other off rolling logs. The carnival returns with mega passes available. And there are 4-H exhibits in home economics and agriculture, as well as open class entries in interests as varied as computer science and needlecraft.
Must-see: A graffiti artist named Arcy will be painting a mural during the duration of the fair on the backside of the grandstand. Folks who come more than once will get to see how it shapes up.
Now, if you resent your minivan and all it stands for, get a vicarious thrill while watching the minivan demo derby at 6 p.m. July 31. There’s a lawn mower derby and a Power Wheels derby for 6-9-year olds as well. Both are part of the 1 and 6 p.m. demo shows. This year there will be two complete demo derby shows, he said. “Some is for entertainment, and some is for competition, but they should be great shows,” he said.
What else: Gold Medal Flour Cookie Contest 10 a.m. July 30, talent contest at 2 p.m. July 30, Latting Rodeo 1 and 6 p.m. July 30. That day is also country music day at the fair, with line dancing and the rodeo, he said. There will be two different stages all five days featuring live music, he said.
Additionally, the DuPage County Fair Association is continuing the Give a Goat Program by collecting change to purchase goats for the people of Haiti. Change jars will be located around the grounds for people to donate their extra change. They are also continuing the Dream Big Food Drive, where fair goers are encouraged to bring canned foods to the fair, to be distributed locally.
Lake County, Ill., Fair
Where: Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake
When: July 27-31
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 27-28; 10 a.m. to midnight. July 29-30; and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 31.
Cost: $10; $5, seniors 65 and older and children 6-12; free, children age 5 and under. Military in uniform with ID free. Military and family (with active ID) and veterans $5. Military and veterans free on July 29. Grandstand events included with admission.
Information: 847-680-7200; Lcfair.com.
What’s new: An air-conditioned Army simulation semi-truck; plus, the fair has added an additional beer garden to the layout.
What’s back: Despite some efforts last year to get rid of the act, the Banana Derby — which features Capuchin monkeys dressed as jockeys riding on the backs of dogs — returns to the Lake County Fair for three shows a day. Also returning are Robinson’s Racing Pigs, Ag Adventure, the carnival, livestock and horse competitions, talent contests, bingo and the Lake County Forest Preserve show July 29.
Headlining the grandstand includes Who’s Who (tribute band) on July 29, Mandy Z and Rural Route 1 on July 30, and Six Speed Tranny followed by Hurricane Reggae on July 31.
You’ll also find live music in Festival Square; such as Rosehill Revival (Allman Brothers tribute band) on July 27, Suburban Cowboys on July 28, Bella Cain on July 29, Kashmir (Led Zeppelin tribute) and Libido Funk Circus on July 30, and Shining Star (Earth, Wind, and Fire Tribute Band) on July 31.
Meanwhile, on the Front Porch Stage on July 30, you will find a pie eating contest at 1 p.m. followed by the Strolling Pirate Choir at 2 p.m. and Lake County Trivia at 3 p.m.
Finally, there are many new and returning craft and food vendors.
Must see: The crowd-drawing demolition derbies at 7 p.m. July 29 (Night of Destruction) and 1 p.m. July 31 (this one’s billed as a “Crash Fest”). The truck and tractor pull 6 p.m. July 28 is another must-see. Finally, you can’t go wrong with the Pro Rodeo Stampede at 2 and 7 p.m. July 30.
Kankakee County Fair
Where: 213 W. 4000S Road, Kankakee
When: Aug. 3-7
Hours: Varies. Gates open at 7 a.m.
Cost: $8; free, kids 5 and under. Season pass, $20.
Information: 815-932-6714; Kankakeefair.org.
What’s new: They’ve added an additional show to the Beater Bonanza demolition derby: shows are Aug. 5 and 7.
What’s back: The truck and tractor pull at noon Aug. 7, antique tractor pull at 11 a.m. Aug. 6 and IPRA Championship Rodeo at 7 p.m. Aug. 6. The Marvelous Mutts K-9 Spectacular and the Wild World of Animals shows perform daily. Live music in the Coors Light Pavilion, antique tractor display, Kid Bucks Game Show, 4-H exhibits, livestock shows, horse shows and the carnival.
Must-see: Extreme School Bus Figure 8 at 7 p.m. Aug. 4. This is where people drive school buses around a figure 8 track and bash into each other.
Kendall County Fair and 4-H Show
Where: County Fairgrounds at 10826 Illinois Route 71, Yorkville
When: Aug. 4-7
Hours: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 4, 8 a.m. to midnight Aug. 5-6, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 7.
Cost: $8, adults; $4, children ages 5-13; $5, seniors 62 and up. Free, active military personnel with ID. Four-day mega passes, $8-$20.
Information: 630-553-2860; Kendallcountyfair.org.
What’s new: A bags tournament with a $500 prize for first place will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 6, along with a mud volleyball tournament at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 7. The demolition derby returns to the fair at 2 p.m. Aug. 7.
What’s back: First and foremost, Kendall County Fair Association president Mike Drendall returns after being sidelined with health issues last year.
“Something that’s been very popular at the fair for many years is the 14th annual Western Speed Show for the horse showmanship, where they’re racing around poles and barrels and stuff like that,” he said. That’s at 11 a.m. Aug. 4.
Another popular returning fair event is the ISP Truck and Tractor Pull at 6 p.m. Aug. 5.
The riders of Freestyle Madness perform motorcycle and bike tricks in the arena at 7 p.m. Aug. 6.
“This is the third year I believe we’ve had that show, and they tell me it’s a better show than ever,” he said. “They have new tricks and new daring acts.”
Also returning is the annual 4-H livestock auction, petting zoo, magic show, Buttons the Clown, craft show Aug. 6, face painting and kids pedal pull. Eating contests include ice cream, watermelon and corn on the cob. There is also a Cooks of Kendall County contest. The Junior Talent Show is Aug. 7, and the winner goes to the state contest in Springfield in January.
“I will say in the last five years we’ve had someone in the top 10 or 12 down there each year,” he said. “Our talent has been very well-received.”
The beer garden will host live music each night, including Billy Croft and the Five Alarm, the Ethan Bell Band and Whiskey Romance.
Must-see: Drendall recommends taking a peep at the 4-H projects and exhibits.
“This year we are going to be more inviting down in the livestock area. We are asking the kids to decorate the area and make it more inviting to the public,” he said.
What else: “One of the fun events we started a few years back was a Pee-Wee showmanship class after the hog show completes. We had some young exhibitors — really young, like 4 and 5 year olds — that like to show pigs and want to be out in the show ring like their big brothers and sisters,” he said. “So they’re going to be out there. That will be Friday afternoon. And we’re going to add a senior class of livestock showing where people my age can go out and show, and demonstrate to these kids how it should be done. That’s just for fun, and it gets us parents and grandparents back involved in activities out here.”
McHenry County Fair
Where: 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock
When: Aug. 3-7
Hours: See website or call.
Cost: $8, adults; $5, kids 5-13, seniors over 60 and veterans with ID. Grandstand entertainment extra. Season pass, $20.
Information: 815-338-5315; mchenrycountyfair.com.
What’s new: Up-and-coming country singer Caroline Kole performs at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4, followed by “America’s Got Talent” finalists The Willis Clan at 8:30 p.m. The 12-sibling band sings country and bluegrass versions of pop songs and performs Irish step-dancing.
What’s back: 4-H, open and junior open livestock and nonlivestock exhibits, educational displays on conservation and agriculture, vendors, food, a carnival, and a variety of ground and grandstand entertainment.
Must-see: The KTM Motocross Race is at 6 p.m. Aug. 5 featuring riders trying to get the fastest time on the track. It’s an all-ages show.
What else: The Illini State Pullers put on the truck and tractor pull show at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Aug. 6. The demolition derbies will be at 1 and 5 p.m. Aug. 7. Both shows, as well as the motocross, require additional admission. There’s also a lip sync battle, talent show and mother-daughter look-alike contest.
Lake County, Ind., Fair
Where: Lake County Fairgrounds, 889 S. Court St., Crown Point
When: Aug. 5-14
Hours: General admission is 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Exhibit buildings close at 10 p.m.; 8 p.m. Aug. 16.
Cost: $5, adults; $2, children ages 9-12; free, children 8 and under. Parking is $5 on the fairgrounds. Admission and parking free before 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Free parking and shuttle bus service from Crown Point High School starts at noon.
Information: 219-663-3617; Lake-county-fair.com.
What’s back: 4-H exhibits and livestock shows. Bluegrass, blues, folk and gospel music on the Heritage Stage free at 6 p.m. daily. The fair has a number of cool contests; including bean spitting, Hot Wheels racing, paper airplane, apple peeling, kids’ coloring and pie eating. There’s also a carnival with wristband specials.
Must-see: The Showcase Tent has all types of music, events and entertainment running daily throughout the fair. And it’s all free.
What else: Grandstand entertainment includes truck and tractor pull 7 p.m. Aug. 5-6, All-Star Monster Truck Show 7 p.m. Aug. 7-8, Martin Xtreme Racing/MXR Promotions Supercross Series 6 p.m. Aug. 9-10, West Creek Mud Runners Mud Drags 7 p.m. Aug. 11-12, international demolition derby 5 p.m. Aug. 13-14.
Will County Fair
Where: 710 West St., (Wilmington-Peotone Road), Peotone
When: Aug. 24-28
Hours: 10 a.m.-midnight Aug. 24, 8 a.m.-midnight Aug. 25-28
Cost: $4; free, children under 10. Seniors and veterans, $2 on Aug. 25.
Information: 708-258-9359; Willcountyfair.org.
What’s back: 4-H exhibits, a carnival, the seventh annual Children’s Ping Pong Ball Drop at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24. IPA Truck and Tractor Pull 6:30 p.m. Aug. 25, demolition derbies 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 and 7 p.m. Aug. 27. Baby show at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 28. Rodeo at 2 p.m. Aug. 28. The beer garden entertainment is provided by All Star Music Machine.
Must-see: Seventh annual Chili Cook-off at 3 p.m. Aug. 28. Cooking begins at 8 a.m. in the beer stand. Judging is based on aroma, consistency, red color, taste and aftertaste. There is a showmanship component; and decorations, props, costumes, musical instruments, giveaways and any other equipment or gear used to promote a contestant’s theme are encouraged.
What else: Antique tractor pull, 9 a.m. Aug. 25. Power Wheels demolition derby 11 a.m. Aug. 27. Free parking and air-conditioned restaurant inside the fairgrounds.
Sandwich Fair (DeKalb County Fair)
Where: Sandwich Fairgrounds, 1401 Suydam Road, Sandwich
When: Sept. 7-11
Hours: Gates open at 8 a.m. Buildings open 9 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.
Cost: $9, adult; $6, children 6-12; free, 5 and under. Season pass $8-$22.
Information: 815-786-2159; Sandwichfair.com.
What’s new: CMA New Artist of the Year Frankie Ballard performs at 8 p.m. Sept. 9.
What’s back: NTPA-sanctioned tractor pulls at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 and 12:30 and 6:30 Sept. 10. The demolition derbies are at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Sept. 11. Also returning are live music and roving performers, agricultural and home arts exhibits, magic shows, carnival, FFA farm zoo, Maggie the milking cow, antique farm machinery, Showdown in DeKalb County cowboy show at 2 p.m. Sept. 10 and cooking competitions with everything from pizza to chocolate to chicken.
Must-see: The free, All-American Lumberjack Show is at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7. See these professional athletes compete with axes, modified racing chain saws and cross cut saws on land and water. There’s also audience participation and chain saw carving giveaways.
The Beacon-News, Courier-News, Daily Southtown, News-Sun and Post-Tribune contributed.
Annie Alleman is a freelance writer.
