Savor the summer with Champaign-Urbana area fairs and festivals
Whether you love the food, the carnival rides or the music and entertainment, nothing beats a summer fair or festival in the Champaign-Urbana area. And there are so many to choose from!
Fair season is coming and we have made sure you know where all the fairs are happening this summer. Within about a 90-minute drive, there are dozens of summer fairs and outdoor festivals happening and we are going to list them all for you, all season long. Be sure to bookmark this and check back often.
Chambanamoms thanks Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch for presenting this comprehensive list.
Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch ranks among the top agritourism destinations in Illinois, offering entertainment, shopping and learning experiences for all ages, with a Wizard of Oz themed twist.
Converted from a traditional Illinois grain and livestock farm in the late 1970s, Curtis Orchard boasts over 13,000 apple trees, 16 acres of pumpkins, a 6,000 sq. ft. gift shop, donut and pie bakery, 100 seat café with additional outdoor seating and seven acres of outdoor activities. Guests can pick apples and pumpkins seasonally or purchase produce from the store while shopping the hundreds of food and gift items in the store, including cider, preserves, melons, sweetcorn, and a wide variety of food and gift items.
Lunch in the Flying Monkey Café and treats from the bakery are always popular, and 2025 has seen the biggest expansion to the newly rebranded Land of Oz Activity Area in over a decade. New offerings include a completely redesigned Ruby Slipper Maze, the new Glinda’s Zinnia Maze & Pick-Your-Own Bouquet, a new slide for kids, a grain wagon basketball shootout, and
renovation of all existing activities. The giant Wizard of Oz barn mural is also completely new for the best photo opportunities ever!
For more information: Website, Facebook or Instagram
We’ve included Champaign-Urbana area fairs happening now through Labor Day. We will keep adding details and events as they become available. One exception: find everything related to Champaign-Urbana area Fourth of July happenings here.
From county fairs, to special event festivals that feature music, art, food, and more — we’ve got it covered. So break out your calendar and be sure to load up your schedule.
If you’re looking for Fairs and Festivals outside of Champaign-Urbana, we have a list of seven great Central Illinois Summer Festivals. Want detailed info on the Champaign County Fair? We will have an article on that, too.
Want to get info about featuring your fair or festival in this post? Email us now.
Click on the individual date of the fair or festival to find more detailed info.
Want a quicker view of what’s planned? Check out this list.
FARMER CITY HERITAGE DAYS
Thursday, May 29 – Saturday, May 31
Great music and activities all weekend long. Admission to the music festival and Main Street Fair is free. There is a free Kids Zone on Saturday.
05/29/2025 details here —> Farmer City Heritage Days
05/30/2025 details here —> Farmer City Heritage Days
05/31/2025 details here —> Farmer City Heritage Days
CATLIN STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
Saturday, June 7
Old fashioned family friendly fun with games, contests, and food. Pack swimsuits to play in the splash pad. Cost: Admission is free (food available by donation).
06/07/2025 details here —> Catlin Strawberry Festival
MAHOMET SODA FEST
Saturday, June 14
Make your way to historic downtown Mahomet to enjoy soda from classic, family-owned bottlers from all over the country, along with family friendly games, local food and live music.
06/14/2025 details here —> Mahomet Soda Fest
PIATT COUNTY FAIR
Thursday, June 12 – Sunday, June 15
Tractor pulls, bands and more are going to be at this year’s fair, along with vendors offering favorite fair foods. Fireworks on Friday, too!
06/12/2025 details here —> Piatt County Fair
06/13/2025 details here —> Piatt County Fair
06/14/2025 details here —> Piatt County Fair
06/15/2025 details here —> Piatt County Fair
PIATT COUNTY TRAIL BLAZERS RODEO
Thursday, June 19 – Saturday, June 21
Gates open at 5 p.m. and rodeo begins at 7 p.m. each night. Get a pass for one night or the whole weekend.
06/19/2025 details here —> Piatt County Trail Blazers 70th Annual Rodeo | Tickets Required
06/20/2025 details here —> Piatt County Trail Blazers 70th Annual Rodeo | Tickets Required
06/21/2025 details here —> Piatt County Trail Blazers 70th Annual Rodeo | Tickets Required
FORD COUNTY FAIR
Sunday, June 22 – Saturday, June 28
Highlights include a petting zoo and of course, carnival rides and favorite fair foods.
06/22/2025 details here —> Ford County Fair
06/23/2025 details here —> Ford County Fair
06/24/2025 details here —> Ford County Fair
06/25/2025 details here —> Ford County Fair
06/26/2025 details here —> Ford County Fair
06/27/2025 details here —> Ford County Fair
06/28/2025 details here —> Ford County Fair
VERMILION COUNTY FAIR
Wednesday, June 25 – Saturday, June 29
$9 gate admission that includes unlimited carnival rides. Also a queen pageant, demo derby, rodeo, and more. Family four-pack bundle of tickets available.
06/25/2025 details here —> Vermillion County Fair
06/26/2025 details here —> Vermilion County Fair
06/27/2025 details here —> Vermillion County Fair
06/28/2025 details here —> Vermillion County Fair
06/29/2025 details here —> Vermillion County Fair
RIGGS-FEST
Thursday, June 26 – Sunday, June 29
Food trucks, music and more.
06/26/2025 details here —> Riggs-Fest
06/27/2025 details here —> Riggs-Fest
06/28/2025 details here —> Riggs-Fest
06/29/2025 details here —> Riggs-Fest
TOLONO FUN DAYS
Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28
Events in years past have included a lighted golf cart parade and outdoor family movie night.
Looking for 4th of July events and activities? View the list here soon.
GEORGETOWN FAIR
Saturday, July 5 – Saturday, July 12
Horse show, queen pageant, talent contest, tractor pulls, rodeo and demo derby — plus the carnival will be there all week long.
07/05/2025 details here —> Georgetown Fair
07/06/2025 details here —> Georgetown Fair
07/07/2025 details here —> Georgetown Fair
07/08/2025 details here —> Georgetown Fair
07/09/2025 details here —> Georgetown Fair
07/10/2025 details here —> Georgetown Fair
07/11/2025 details here —> Georgetown Fair
07/12/2025 details here —> Georgetown Fair
FISHER FAIR
Sunday, July 6 – Saturday, July 12
Queen pageant, carnival, pedal tractor pull, ax throwing, rodeo, demo derby and more, along with food vendors including Kona Ice.
07/06/2025 details here —> Fisher Fair
07/07/2025 details here —> Fisher Fair
07/08/2025 details here —> Fisher Fair
07/09/2025 details here —> Fisher Fair
07/10/2025 details here —> Fisher Fair
07/11/2025 details here —> Fisher Fair
07/12/2025 details here —> Fisher Fair
HISTORIC FARM DAYS (PENFIELD)
Thursday, July 10 – Sunday, July 13
Annual activities include blacksmith shop, corn crib filling and shelling, potato digging, tractor parades, a tractor pull and an extensive tractor/truck display.
07/10/2025 details here —> Historic Farm Days in Penfield
07/11/2025 details here —> Historic Farm Days in Penfield
07/12/2025 details here —> Historic Farm Days in Penfield
07/13/2025 details here —> Historic Farm Days in Penfield
BALLOONS OVER VERMILION
Friday, July 11 – Saturday, July 12
Balloons Over Vermilion will feature hot air balloons launching and tethering, as well as mass ascents, fly ins and balloon glows at the Vermilion County Regional Airport.
07/11/2025 details here —> Balloons Over Vermilion
07/12/2025 details here —> Balloons Over Vermilion
FARMER CITY & DEWITT COUNTY FAIR
Dates coming soon
Evening entertainment, Queen and Little Miss pageants and talent show, harness racing, livestock judging and floriculture displays.
MATTOON BAGELFEST
Wednesday, July 16 – Saturday, July 19
Queen pageant, carnival, pedal tractor pull, ax throwing, rodeo, demo derby and more, along with food vendors.
07/16/2025 details here —> Mattoon Bagelfest
07/17/2025 details here —> Mattoon Bagelfest
07/18/2025 details here —> Mattoon Bagelfest
07/19/2025 details here —> Mattoon Bagelfest
PHILO SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Thursday, July 17 – Sunday, July 20
Philo celebrates 150 years! Join in the celebration with a talent show, inflatables, tractor display, 5K, “touch a helicopter”, fireworks and more.
07/17/2025 details here —> Philo Sesquicentennial Celebration
07/18/2025 details here —> Philo Sesquicentennial Celebration
07/19/2025 details here —> Philo Sesquicentennial Celebration
07/20/2025 details here —> Philo Sesquicentennial Celebration
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY FAIR
Friday, July 18 – Sunday, July 26
Carnival rides, games, food and more at our community’s very own county fair.
07/18/2025 details here —> Champaign County Fair
07/19/2025 details here —> Champaign County Fair
07/20/2025 details here —> Champaign County Fair
07/21/2025 details here —> Champaign County Fair
07/22/2025 details here —> Champaign County Fair
07/23/2025 details here —> Champaign County Fair
07/24/2025 details here —> Champaign County Fair
07/25/2025 details here —> Champaign County Fair
07/26/2025 details here —> Champaign County Fair
GIFFORD SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Friday, July 18 – Sunday, July 20
Plans still to come for this sesquicentennial event!
07/18/2025 details here —> Gifford Sesquicentennial Celebration DAY 1
07/19/2025 details here —> Gifford Sesquicentennial Celebration Day 2
MCLEAN COUNTY FAIR
Wednesday, July 23 – Sunday, July 27
Visit the Food and Farm Fun Zone with free activities daily, carnival, demo derby, tractor pull and more.
07/23/2025 details here —> McLean County Fair
07/24/2025 details here —> McLean County Fair
07/25/2025 details here —> McLean County Fair
07/26/2025 details here —> McLean County Fair
07/27/2025 details here —> McLean County Fair
MOULTRIE-DOUGLAS COUNTY FAIR
Thursday, July 24 – Saturday, Aug. 2
Special performances along with all kinds of usual fair food and fun make this two-county fair a special event.
07/25/2025 details here —> Moultrie-Douglas County Fair
07/26/2025 details here —> Moultrie-Douglas County Fair
07/27/2025 details here —> Moultrie-Douglas County Fair
07/28/2025 details here —> Moultrie-Douglas County Fair
07/29/2025 details here —> Moultrie-Douglas County Fair
07/31/2025 details here —> Moultrie-Douglas County Fair
08/01/2025 details here —> Moultrie-Douglas County Fair
08/02/2025 details here —> Moultrie-Douglas County Fair
SIDNEY FUN DAZE
Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26
Sidney Fun Daze features a kiddie tractor pull, inflatables, a parade and live music.
RC FEST
Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27
Final RC fest – grand finale! Tickets include eight events including the bash, crawler and boating events.
07/26/2025 details here —> RC Fest | The Grand Finale
07/27/2025 details here —> RC Fest | The Grand Finale
COLES COUNTY FAIR
Dates coming soon
Activities in years past have included bull riding, demo derby, dirt drag racing, harness racing, K-9 demo, queen pageants, tractor pull, carnival, music and more.
07/27/2025 details here —> Coles County Fair
07/28/2025 details here —> Coles County Fair
07/29/2025 details here —> Coles County Fair
07/30/2025 details here —> Coles County Fair
07/31/2025 details here —> Coles County Fair
08/01/2025 details here —> Coles County Fair
08/02/2025 details here —> Coles County Fair
08/03/2025 details here —> Coles County Fair
ROYAL DAYS
Friday, Aug. 1 – Sunday, Aug. 3
Activities in years past have included music, food trucks, kiddie tractor pull, golf cart parade and Kids Zone.
ST. JOSEPH COMMUNITY FESTIVAL
Thursday, Aug. 7 – Saturday, Aug. 9
Fun small-town festival including a daily fish fry, carnival, and kids’ games.
08/07/2025 details here —> St. Joseph Community Festival
08/08/2025 details here —> St. Joseph Community Festival
08/09/2025 details here —> St. Joseph Community Festival
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA DAYS
Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9
This two-day event offers an amazing variety of activities, such as live music, local cuisine and a marketplace. Kids can have a blast with inflatables, face painting, caricatures, balloon animals, and a variety of other exciting activities all day long.
VILLA GROVE AG DAYS
Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9
Fun for kids of all ages, including vendors, local merchant giveaways and sidewalk sales, a parade and display of modern and vintage farm and garden tractors, garden tractor pulling and racing, corn hole tourney, 5K race, corn-eating contest, demo derby, live music, and more.
MANSFIELD HOMECOMING
Friday, Aug. 15 – Sunday, Aug. 17
Carnival, kids games, tractor pull, car/motorcycle show and more. Free entertainment!
08/15/2025 details here —> Mansfield Homecoming
08/16/2025 details here —> Mansfield Homecoming
08/17/2025 details here —> Mansfield Homecoming
LEROY FALL FESTIVAL
Tuesday, Aug. 19 – Saturday, Aug. 23
Food, carnival and games-live entertainment nightly.
08/19/2025 details here —> Le Roy Fall Festival
08/20/2025 details here —> Le Roy Fall Festival
08/21/2025 details here —> Le Roy Fall Festival
08/22/2025 details here —> Le Roy Fall Festival
08/23/2025 details here —> Le Roy Fall Festival
MAHOMET MUSIC FESTIVAL
Friday, Aug. 22 and Saturday, Aug. 23
Enjoy free admission, free live music, parade, carnival rides (for a cost), street vendors, bags tournament, and more up and down Main Street.
OGDEN STREET FEST
Date coming soon
Fun for all ages including a car show, rock climbing wall, laser tag, face painting, food vendors and more.
HOOPESTON NATIONAL SWEETCORN FESTIVAL
Thursday, Aug. 28 – Monday, Sept. 1
Besides the normal carnival, demolition derby, Grand Parade and other events, the festival cooks approximately 50 tons of sweetcorn with an antique steam engine and distributes the corn free.
08/28/2025 details here —> Hoopeston National Sweet Corn Festival
08/29/2025 details here —> Hoopeston National Sweet Corn Festival
08/30/2025 details here —> Hoopeston National Sweet Corn Festival
08/31/2025 details here —> Hoopeston National Sweet Corn Festival
09/01/2025 details here —> Hoopeston National Sweet Corn Festival
ARTHUR AMISH COUNTRY CHEESE FESTIVAL
Saturday, Aug. 30 – Monday, Sept. 1
This festival is full of family fun with a parade, tractor pull, music, inflatables, pony rides, face-painting and more.
08/30/2025 details here —> Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival
08/31/2025 details here —> Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival
09/01/2025 details here —> Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival
ARCOLA BROOMCORN FESTIVAL
Friday, Sept. 5 – Sunday, Sept. 7
This unique festival has three days of fun, including the “National Broom Sweeping Contest” and a huge parade!
09/05/2025 details here —> Arcola Broomcorn Festival
09/06/2025 details here —> Arcola Broomcorn Festival
09/07/2025 details here —> Arcola Broomcorn Festival
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