Visit This Year's DuQuoin, Illinois State Fair...Illinois' Other State Fair

This year's Illinois State Fair in DuQuoin will feature rock star Alice Cooper with the fair's opening-night grandstand concert leading off Saturday, August 25th. Also appearing on the grandstand during the run of the state fair (Aug 25-Sep 3) will be country singers Gary Allan and Joe Nichols, along with the 26th annual Colgate Country Showdown starring Lorri Morgan, Gary Nichols, the Southern Illinois gospel music show, and the Chicago rock group Chevelle.

There's also plenty of harness racing and motorized racing on the "Magic Mile" track. That includes the World Trotting Derby with an estimated $500,000 purse. The five-day harness horse program includes grand circuit harness racing highlighted over the last three days

The United States Auto Club Silver Crown and Automobile Racing Club of America Car Series races highlight the Labor Day weekend track events.

Illinois has two state fairs. That's right, two....the main one in Springfield, followed a week later by the second state fair in DuQuoin in Southern Illinois.

It's a great annual event for visitors of all ages with many of the events featured at the Springfield fair and a major regional draw. Naturally, there is the grandstand entertainment, as well as a demolition derby, bull riding, a petting zoo, food booths, and the rides on the Carnival Midway. There's the air-conditioned senior center and Conservation World featuring displays that include a model of a working underground coal mine, a display on tree rings, and a display on the state's oil well industry.

For the many farmers of rural Southern Illinois, there are daily livestock shows and Ag Expo, featuring millions of dollars in farm equipment on display to showcase the latest in farm technology.

In the past, I've had fun with many of the exhibits, especially enjoying animal shows ranging from performing lions to a show with trained performing pigs. I've gotten pictures of my girlfriend and myself struggling with a feisty baby tiger, of me holding a small gator, and another with a huge boa wrapped around my neck.