Illinois State Fair 2025
About Illinois State Fair 2025
Thursday, August 7 - County Fair & Horse Racing Day
This is the official start of the fair! Gates open at 7:00 a.m. More than 70 county fair queens and 105 fairs and expositions from across the state are represented at the fair. It is also the first day of harness racing at the fair’s one-mile dirt track, which is the fastest in the world. The first day of the fair also features the twilight annual Twilight Parade which starts at 5:30 p.m. from Lincoln Park.
Friday, August 8 - Agriculture Day
Illinois agriculture, which is featured throughout the fair, is highlighted on this day.
Saturday, August 9 - Kids Day
The first Saturday of the Illinois State Fair is dedicate to our youngest fairgoers. Kids Day will feature special programming aimed at educating and entertaining kids of all ages. And remember - Kids 12 & under get in FREE to the Illinois State Fair!
Sunday, August 10 - Veterans & Gold Star Families Day
Veterans and their families are admitted to the grounds for free. A veterans parade and activities are some of the highlights for the day. Discounted ride passes for families of military veterans.
Monday, August 11 - Senior & Scout Day
Fair visitors 60 and older are admitted to the fairgrounds for free. Special events for Senior Citizens will take place throughout the day in the Illinois Building. The Scout Day Tent will be located directly outside the entrance to the Carnival Midway.
Tuesday, August 12 - Twosday
A fantastic mid-week special that encourages families to attend the Illinois State Fair. Discounted admission is offered for adults and seniors on this day, and all rides in the Carnival Midway and Adventure Village will be just $2 each.
Wednesday, August 13 - Governor’s Day
While the Governor attends much of the Illinois State Fair, this is his day to host special guests, including former Illinois Governors. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend the Governor’s Sale of Champions. At this event, the grand champion commodities and junior livestock including the barrow, steer, wether, poultry trio and rabbit trio are auctioned off to benefit our agricultural youth.
Thursday, August 14 - Republican Day
Illinois Republicans host special guests on this day.
Friday, August 15 - First Responder & Healthcare Heroes Day
Welcome to the weekend! Today all police officers, firefighters, EMTs and Healthcare Workers who show their badge at the gate will be admitted to the Illinois State Fair for FREE. Also, look for special offers and discounts from various food vendors while you enjoying your day on at the fair!
Saturday, August 16 - Park District Conservation Day
Members of more than 45 Park Districts from throughout Illinois entertain fairgoers across the grounds and host activities in Conservation World.
Sunday, August 17 - Family Day
Bring the family out and enjoy the last day of the fair.
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Illinois State Fair 2025 schedule
About the festival headliner - Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Rick Allen (drums, backing vocals), Phil Collen (guitar, backing vocals), and Vivian Campbell (guitar, backing vocals). This is the band's longest-standing line-up.
The band's strongest commercial success came between the early 1980s and the early 1990s. Their 1981 album, High 'n' Dry, was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who helped them begin to define their style, and the album's standout track "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" became one of the first rock videos played on MTV in 1982. The band's next studio album, Pyromania in January 1983, with "Photograph" and "Rock of Ages" as the lead singles, turned Def Leppard into a household name. In the U.S., Pyromania was certified diamond (10× platinum). In 2003, the album ranked number 384 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Def Leppard's fourth album Hysteria, released in 1987, topped the UK and U.S. album charts. As of 2009, it has reached beyond the success of Pyromania, having been certified 12× platinum for sales of over 12 million in the U.S. and has gone on to sell over 25 million copies worldwide. The album spawned seven hit singles, including the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one "Love Bites", alongside "Pour Some Sugar on Me", "Hysteria", "Armageddon It", "Animal", "Rocket", and "Women". Their next studio album, Adrenalize (the first following the death of guitarist Steve Clark), reached number one in the UK and U.S. charts in 1992, and contained several hits, including "Let's Get Rocked" and "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad". Their 1993 album, Retro Active, contained the acoustic hit song "Two Steps Behind", while their greatest-hits album Vault, released in 1995, featured the UK hit "When Love & Hate Collide".
As one of the world's best-selling music artists, Def Leppard have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and have two albums with RIAA diamond certification, Pyromania and Hysteria. They are one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums selling over 10 million copies in the U.S. The band were ranked No. 31 in VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" and ranked No. 70 in "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
