2018 Illinois State Fair highlights range from food to entertainment

Posted on August 2, 2018
Illinois State Fair Manager Luke Sailer says this year’s entertainment will feature many artists and bands who are making their mark on the music world. (Dave Dahl)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – For some, the Illinois State Fair is all about food.

“We are featuring some of Illinois products, so every night at 5:30, we are going to give out 200 samples to represent the Bicentennial,” said Erin Cleary, marketing bureau chief for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “Think Twinkies, Darcy’s Pint horseshoes, and Homestead Bakery’s Amish pumpkin spice cookies.”

Darcy’s Pint is one of many Springfield restaurants featuring the horseshoe, an open-faced sandwich with meat on top of Texas toast, and cheese sauce and French fries atop the whole thing.

While the Grandstand stage features acts ranging from Joan Jett to Thomas Rhett, the Rising Star stage returns – free – to feature the stars of the future.

“We have people like Ivory Layne, who has done work with Justin Timberlake,” said Luke Sailer, the first-year manager of the fair. “We have up-and-coming artists like Broseph, Brandon Lay, the Howlin’ Brothers. Last year we had Ashley McBryde on the Rising Star stage, and now she is opening for Luke Combs on the Grandstand stage.”

The fair’s “preview day” was Thursday. The fair in Springfield runs Aug. 9-19.

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