Illinois State Fair underway through August 18th

The 2024 Illinois State Fair kicked off Thursday in Springfield. 

Gov. JB Pritzker led a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning to officially open the festivities. This year's butter cow sculpture was revealed, created for the eighth time by Sarah Pratt of West Des Moines, Iowa, whose family has also sculpted the Iowa State Fair butter cow for decades. Pratt sculpted the 800-pound art from recycled and unsalted butter.

Illinois Department of Agriculture director Jerry Costello noted that last year's fair set an all-time attendance record with more than 700,000 visitors.  “Two years ago, we broke the 2019 attendance record by 126,000. Last year, we broke that record by 72,000. God willing, with great weather on a weather-dependent event, I think we are geared to break that record again.”

Grandstand performers will include Shaboozey, Lil Wayne, Keith Urban, Motley Crue, the Jonas Brothers, the Smashing Pumpkins and Miranda Lambert. 

The fair runs through August 18th.



(AP Photo John O'Connor)