Sangamon County Fair Set for June 10-14

The Sangamon County Fair returns next week, bringing five days of pageants, exhibits, grandstand entertainment and country music to the Sangamon County Fairgrounds.

The 2026 fair is scheduled for June 10 through June 14. Gate admission is $5, with children 4 and under admitted free each day. Grandstand tickets are also on sale, and concert ticket prices increase the day of the event.

The fair opens Wednesday, June 10, with the 2026 Sangamon County Fair Queen Pageant at 7 p.m. in the Warren-Boynton State Bank Pavilion. Young women ages 16 to 21 who live in Sangamon County are eligible for the pageant. The winner will serve as the official hostess of the fair and receive a $2,000 scholarship, a $1,000 wardrobe allowance and expenses paid to attend the Miss Illinois County Fair Pageant in January 2027.

One of the biggest draws of the week will be the Friday, June 12 concert featuring Scotty McCreery and Josh Turner. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the concert scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. New this year, the fair is offering Party Pit tickets, a standing-room-only area near the front of the stage.

Turner is known for songs including “Long Black Train,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and “Your Man.” According to the fair, he has earned five No. 1 singles and more than 6 billion career global streams.

McCreery rose to national attention after winning Season 10 of American Idol and has since built a country music career that includes six No. 1 hits, including “Five More Minutes,” “This Is It,” “You Time,” “Damn Strait” and “Cab in a Solo.”

The fair will also include exhibits for children and adults. Categories include livestock, agricultural products, floriculture, textiles, fine arts, culinary entries, hobbies and handicrafts. The fair says exhibits give participants a chance to show off skills ranging from cooking and textiles to hobbies and livestock projects.

Youth performers will take the stage Saturday, June 13, during the fair’s talent show at noon in the Senior Exhibit Building. The competition is open to talented individuals 21 and under who live in Sangamon County or an adjoining county, or who attend school in Sangamon County.

Saturday evening will feature the Sangamon County Fair Rodeo at 7 p.m. Mutton Busting will be held before the rodeo at 5:30 p.m., with confirmed participants checking in at 5 p.m. The fair describes the rodeo as family entertainment featuring bucking stock, timed event cattle, cowboys, cowgirls and specialty acts.

The final day of the fair, Sunday, June 14, includes the second annual Father’s Day car show beginning at 8 a.m. Registration runs from 8 to 10 a.m., judging is scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and awards will be presented at noon.

The Little Miss Pageant will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Senior Exhibit Building. The non-judged pageant is open to girls ages 5 to 9 and is designed as a confidence-building experience.

The annual demolition derby is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, closing out the fair’s grandstand entertainment.

More information and tickets are available at sangcofair.com.