2012 Champaign-Urbana Area Festivals and Fairs

You’ve asked for it and we’ve delivered. Fair season is heating up! Here’s our guide to summer festivals and fairs in and around Champaign-Urbana, through Labor Day. (We will list Fourth of July info separately). What is your favorite?

What: Piatt County Fair
When: June 18-24
Where: Cerro Gordo
How much: Admission is free (fees may apply to special events)
Highlights: Inflatables nightly June 20-23; Demolition Derby on Saturday night; Tractor pull Friday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m.

Summer is all about fun at festivals and fairs! Take your chances going to one of these options, all over East Central Illinois. (Chambanamoms photo)

What: Vermilion County Fair
When: June 19-23
Where: Vermilion County Fairgrounds, Blount (directions here)
How much: Gate Fee is $3/person; 10 and under are free; Ticket prices vary for Grandstand events Highlights: Tractor Pull Thursday night; Boxing Friday night; Demolition Derby Saturday night; lots more!

What: Gifford Community Celebration
When: June 23 all day
Where: Werner Roessler Park, Gifford; Main Street (parade); Behind the Gifford State Bank
How much: Free
Highlights: Parade at 11 a.m.; Fireworks at dusk; Kiddie tractor pull; strong man show; watermelon eating contest; cricket spitting contest. Music, inflatables, petting zoo, games.  They know how to party in this northern Champaign County community!

What: Arcola Pop The Top Festival
When: June 20-24 all day
Where: Downtown Arcola
How much: Free entertainment; food for sale
Highlights: This festival is celebrating the painting of murals all over Arcola by the famous Walldogs. A wide array of activities for kids including a puppy dog picnic (for real or stuffed dogs; balloon artist; giant sand pile; water play; face painting; make and take crafts; magic show, story telling, and more. Lawn Rangers parade 4 p.m. Friday, June 22. Fireworks Sunday, June 24 at dusk. Click the link for the schedule for specific events.

What: 2012 Taste of Champaign-Urbana
Where: Westside Park, Champaign
When:  Friday June 22, 5:00 – 10:00 pm; Saturday, June 23, 11:00 am – 10:00 pm; Sunday, June 24, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
How much: Free admission (free live entertainment); food for sale, inflatables and children’s activities are ticketed
Highlights: Family stage features improv, belly dancers, jugglers, balloon artists, and more! Sample some food from around the area.

What: Ford County Fair
When: June 26-30, 2012
Where: Melvin
How much: Season Ticket $15; Daily entry from 3 – 9 p.m. $5 (6 and under free); $2 per ride
Highlights:  Armband night – $14 armbands on Friday night. Demolition Derby Saturday night. Sally the Clown Magic Show and face painting Friday night; Thursday night is children’s tractor pull.

What: The Blues, Brews, and BBQ Festival
When: June 29, 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.; Saturday, June 30th, Noon – 2 a.m.
Where: Downtown Champaign at the corner of Walnut and Washington
How much: free admission; food for sale
Highlights: Two days of music, family entertainment, food, cooking demos, cold beer and much more.

What: Celebrating 175 Years of Monticello
When: Saturday, June 30, all day
Where: downtown Monticello
How much: free admission; food for sale; some activities may be ticketed
Highlights:  Parade at 1 p.m.; walking tours; antique tractor show; face painting; stagecoach rides 2-3 p.m.; watermelon eating contest; free music; restaurant cookout. Back to the Future shown at 8 p.m. for free.

What: Tolono Fun Day
When: Saturday, June 30, all day
Where: West Side Park, Tolono
How much: free admission; food for sale; some activities may be ticketed
Highlights:  One of the largest parades in Champaign County (11 a.m. start). Food vendors, flea market, pony rides, petting zoo, inflatables open all day. Cow drop contest, Kiddie tractor pull, Live music, 5K. Fireworks at dusk.

What: Farmer City 175th Birthday Celebration
When: Friday, June 29 – Sunday, July 10
Where: Various locations around Farmer City, most events on Main St. and City Square.
How much: free admission; free inflatables; food vendors on site at most events
Highlights: Wow. This is going to the 175th birthday party to end all birthday parties. Parade June 30 at 2 p.m.; Miracle Express Train July 6-7; kiddie parade July 4; Free music, inflatables, much more. Check the full schedule – too many to list!

What: Moultrie – Douglas County Fair
When: July 8-14, 2012,
Where: Located at Jurgens Park in Arthur behind Arthur High School.
How much: Most nights it is $2 gate admission per person, kids 5 and under free; grandstand shows vary
Highlights: A full week of activities such as livestock shows, tractor pulls, demolition derby, horse and pony shows, live entertainment, carnival rides for all ages, exhibits for the whole family

What: Fisher Community Fair and Horse Show
When: July 10-14, 2012
Where: Fisher Fairgrounds
How much: Tuesday: Adults $5 Children $3; Wednesday through Friday; Adults $8 Children 6-13 $3; Saturday: Adults $10 Children $3; Season tickets available
Highlights: Be sure to check out the Ping Pong Drop for Kids on Wednesday. It’s a unique and fun activity with great prizes! Also, the Demolition Derby, All American Mutt Show, Bingo, Amvets Fish Fry, the 5K run/walk, Car Show, live music, Queen Pageant and more!

What: Mattoon Bagelfest
When: July 19-21, 2012
Where: Peterson Park at 500 Broadway Avenue in Mattoon (map)
How much: Most events free; mainstage events ticketed
Highlights: Free bagel breakfast 8-10 a.m. and Bagelfest Parade 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 21; 5K; carnival rides; mainstage acts.

What: 160th Champaign County Fair
When: July 20-28, 2012
Where: Champaign County Fairgrounds, Urbana (behind Carle Hospital)
How much: Adults (13 and Over) — $5; Season Ticket, 9 days (13 & over) includes car — $20.00; Children 12 and under (with 18 or older adult) — Free; Family Day – Sunday only until 4:00 p.m. (car load price) — $10.00; Free parking. Grandstand Tickets: Event tickets range from Free to $9 Highlights: (We’ll have a lot more on the Fair as it gets closer). County music shows, Demolition Derby, Motorcycle Rodeo, 20th Annual Classic & Custom Car & Truck Show, Prairieland Monster Truck Nationals, Talent show and “BIG” giveaway, Harness Racing, Tractor and Truck pull…plus all of your fair food favorites and carnival rides!

What: Coles County Fair
When: July 29-Aug 5, 2012
Where: Coles County Fairgrounds, Charleston (map)
How much: Children under 16 years of age are admitted free into the grounds; adult admission after 4 p.m. $2; parking $2. Grandstand tickets vary per show
Highlights: Pro Bull Riding, Demolition Derby, Harness Racing, and Truck and Tractor pull. Illinois’ Oldest Continuous County Fair, since 1854. Carnival rides, a Western Horse Show, the Art Hall and more.

What: Decatur Celebration
When: August 3-5, 2012
Where: Downtown Decatur
How much: FREE
Highlights: Dubbed the “most exciting family street festival in the Midwest,” this is five festivals in one – Music, Food, Arts & Crafts, Carnival, and Film. Ten Show Stages featuring national and emerging music artists; over 70 unique food items hand-selected for quality and inspected for safety; three blocks of Arts & Crafters; carnival rides for all ages; Razzle Dazzle Goodtimes Parade (10 a.m Saturday, August 4); and a Kids Block featuring children’s games, shows and prizes.

What: Georgetown Fair
When: August 4-11, 2012
Where: 413 N. Seminary, Georgetown (directions here)
How much:  Adult admission $3; Children 5-11, $1; Under 5 free gate at all times; Gate Season Tickets are $12.00. Grandstand tickets vary. 
Highlights: Barnyard Tractor & Truck Pull, special “Armband Nights” for the Carnival, Talent Contest, Big Band Dance, Ping Pong Ball Prize Drop, Pretty Baby Contest, Motocross and live music.

What: Illinois State Fair
When: August 9-19
Where: state fairgrounds, Springfield (directions here)
How much: Adults (13 – 59) — $7; Children (5-12) — $3; Children (under 5) — FREE; Senior Citizens (60 and older) — $3; Vehicle Parking (Single day) — $7. Head over on Aug. 19 for family day, $3 admission for everyone over 5. Grandstand tickets vary.
Highlights: Here’s our state fair preview in 2011; not much (but the dates) has changed! This year’s main grandstand acts include include Eric Church with Aaron Lewis, Demi Lovato with Hot Chelle Rae, Toby Mac, Million Dollar Quartet and New Odyssey, Brantley Gilbert with Charlie Daniels Band, Train with Matt Kearney and Andy Grammer, Creed with Theory of a Deadman, Cheap Trick with Night Ranger, Blue Oyster Cult and Georgia Satellites, and Miranda Lamber with Pistol Annies.

What: Downtown Streetfest
When: Saturday, August 11, 7 p.m. to midnight
Where: Downtown Champaign
How much: Free
Highlights: Enjoy a fun atmosphere of music and in downtown Champaign. Two bands will play, from 7 – 9 p.m. Threebird-Eclectic (Cover Band) and 10-midnight Ryan Ideus & Feudin’ Hillbillys (Country).

What: St. Joseph Community Festival 
When: August 9-11
Where: Kolb Park, located at 205 W. Sherman St.
How much: Free
Highlights: TBA; last year’s event featured a parade, fireworks at dusk, carnival rides, talent show, pancake breakfast, walk/run, mutt show, streetdances, bingo and a whole lot more.

What: CU Days
When: Saturday, Aug. 11 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 12 4- 8p.m.
Where: Douglass Park, 512 E. Grove St., Champaign
How much: Free admission; food and merchandise will be for sale
Why you should go: A festival that is all about community building – we can go for that! Live entertainment, food, talent show, and more.

What: Mansfield Homecoming
When: August 17-19
Where: Downtown Mansfield
How much: Free
Highlights: TBA; in the past there has been free music, games, a carnival, kiddie tractor pull, antique car and tractor show, and a parade on Saturday.

What:Downtown Festival of the Arts
When: August 18, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Downtown Champaign
How much: Free
Highlights: Looking to add some art to your home or jewelry collection? This Art Festival is a great place to view and buy all kinds of art – from local artists. Best of all, there’s a “Little Artist Alley” so the kids can join the art-making fun. There will be a family stage with all kinds of live family entertainment.

What: 2012 Sweetcorn Festival
When: August 24-25, 2012
Where: Downtown Urbana
How much: Free admission; music, children’s activities may have extra fees.
Highlights: Live music, food and local art vendors, a rock climbing wall, indoor laser tag, pony rides, and a petting zoo, and lots of buttery sweetcorn. This year’s headliners are Firehouse and Warrant.

What: Sangamon River Music Festival
When: August 24-25, 2012
Where: Main Street, Mahomet
How much: Free
Highlights: Parade Saturday at 10 a.m. Enjoy carnival rides, The Ronald McDonald Magic Show, car show, the Raminator ride, bingo, and more. Live music from Ryan Ideus and Feudin Hillbillys on Friday and The Blooze Brothers on Saturday.

What: 2012 Hoopeston National Sweet Corn Festival
When: September 1-5, 2012
Where: Hoopeston, Illinois
How much: Thursday – Monday $2; 7 and under, Free; Free Admission for Active Duty Military and Retired Military with ID
Highlights: The Sweet Corn Festival Parade begins Downtown Main Street on Saturday at 10:30 am. Petting Zoo, Pony & Camel Rides; Children’s Fishing Derby; Free Sweetcorn; magic show; flea market, baby contest, carnival rides, Demolition Derby, National Sweetcorn Pageant and a whole lot more.

What: The 40th Annual Amish Country Cheese Festival
When: September 1-3, 2012
Where:  Arthur, Illinois
How much: Free admission; food, crafts for sale; free cheese!
Highlights: Free cheese! Tractor pull, live music, the National Cheese Eating Championships, International Cheese Curling Championships (family and kids divisions in each event), parade.

Did we miss a fair or festival? Let us know!