Date/Time
Date(s) - 08/01/2026
All Day
Location
McLean County Fairgrounds
Categories
The 2026 McLean County Fair will be held July 29 – August 2, 2026
There’s something for everyone at the McLean County Fair! They have the world’s largest county 4-H Show located in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. Plus free family entertainment, exciting shows nightly at the Grandstands, a fantastic carnival, and delicious fair food! Don’t miss out on the FUN!
2026 Carnival Details:
Ride Info – Safety & Height Requirements
- Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday: 1 – 11 PM
- Saturday: Noon – 11 PM
- Sunday: Noon – 8 PM
Wednesday, July 29, 1-11 PM
Wednesday Admission & Carnival Specials
Gate open 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, no entry after gates close at 9:00 pm
Carnival Hours: 1:00 – 11:00 pm
Admission Special: Pay One Price
5 & younger: $18 Fair Admission and Wednesday only Unlimited Rides wristband
CHILD (ages 6-12): $22 Fair Admission and Wednesday only Unlimited Rides wristband
ADULT (ages 13 & older): $25 Fair Admission and Wednesday only Unlimited Rides wristband
Unlimited Ride Wristband sales end promptly at 9:15 pm
Wednesday 4-H & Livestock Activities
7:00 am General Project Check-in
8:00 am 4-H Exhibit judging starts
8:00 am Horse Show
8:00 am Llama Show
9:00 am Rabbit Show
12:00 pm Meat Goat Show
12:30 pm STEAM Clothing, Non-Sewn, & Interior Design Judging
1:00 pm Master Shephard Interviews
6:00 pm Sheep Shearing and Trimming Contest
7:00 pm Royalty Reception & Awards Program in the Cloverleaf Auditorium
8:00 pm 4-H After Dark
Wednesday Entertainment
4:00 pm – 11:00 pm Beer Tent Open
4:30 pm Pedal Pulls (registration opens at 4:00 pm) on the road between the Antique Tractors and Food Court
5:00 pm Grandstand Opens
6:00 pm Tobin’s Pizza Big Smokers Tractor Pulls & Local Truck Pulls at the Grandstand
Thursday, July 30, 1-11 PM
Thursday Admission & Carnival Specials
Young at Heart & Military Veterans Day
Free general admission all day for seniors (60 and up), veterans, and active military
Gates open 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, no entry after gates close at 9:00 pm
Carnival Hours: 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Carnival Specials
$30 Unlimited Ride Wristband – Wristband will stop being sold at 9:15 pm
Senior Special: ONE Senior rides FREE with ONE paid child until 5:00 pm
Pack the Bus – admission is only $2.00 with a qualifying donation; the list can be found here.
Thursday 4-H & Livestock Activities
8:00 am Horse Show
8:00 am Swine Show
8:00 am Poultry Judging
9:00 am – 11:30 am Young at Heart Day – Senior activities & entertainment in Cloverleaf Auditorium
9:00 am Beef Cattle Show
10:00 am Sheep Show
12:00 pm Cloverbud Show & Tell
1:00 pm Master Goat Herdsman Contest
1:25 pm Cloverbud relay
2:25 pm 4-H Relay
4:00 pm Goat Peewee Showmanship
5:30 pm Beef/Dairy/Sheep/Goat Costume Show
5:30 pm Sheep Leadline Contest
6:45 pm 4-H Share the Fun
Thursday Entertainment
4:00 pm – 11:00 pm Beer Tent open
5:00 pm Grandstand Opens
6:30 pm Bull Riding, Barrell Racing, Mutton Busting
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm The Bull livestream from the Beer Tent
Friday, July 31, 1-11 PM
Friday Admission & Carnival Specials
Merchant’s Day!
Kids 6-12 can get into the Fair FREE until 5:00 pm when you pick up a coupon from one of our Merchant Day sponsors!
Gates open 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, no entry after gates close at 9:00 pm
Carnival hours: 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm
1:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Unlimited Ride Wristband for $30, pick up a $5 off Ride Coupon from one of our Merchant Day Sponsors, and only pay $25
6:00 pm – Close, Unlimited Ride Wristband $35. Wristbands will stop being sold promptly at 9:15 pm
Friday 4-H & Livestock Activities & Events
8:00 am Horse Shows
9:00 am Dairy Goat Show
9:00 am Cat Show
3:00 pm Horse Show Costume Contest
3:00 pm Showmanship Classic
5:00 pm Horse Speed Games
5:00 pm My Ag Main Event
8:00 pm Livestock Release
Friday Entertainment
4:00 pm – 11:00 pm Beer Tent Open.
5:00 pm Grandstand Opens
6:30 pm Taylor Brunings & The Bandits
8:00 pm Feudin’ Hillbillys
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm The Bull Livestream from the Beer Tent
Saturday, August 1, Noon-11 PM
Saturday Admission & Carnival Specials
Gates open 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, no entry after gates close at 9:00 pm
Carnival Hours: Noon – 11:00 pm
Carnival specials
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Unlimited Ride Wristbands for $30. Wristbands will stop being sold promptly at 3:30 pm and will no longer be valid after 5:00 pm.
6:00 pm – Close, Unlimited Ride Wristbands for $35. Wristband sales will stop being sold promptly at 9:15 PM.
Saturday 4-H & Livestock Activities
8:00 am PLC Shows (Beef Cattle, Swine, Rabbits, Horses, Boer Goats)
10:00 am Bicycle Safety Rodeo
1:00 pm Junior & Senior Style Revue
1:00 pm Rocket Launch
2:00 pm 4-H STEAM day at the Fair
Saturday Entertainment
4:00 pm – 11:00 pm Beer Tent open
5:00 pm Grandstand Opens
6:00 pm Don Owen Demolition Derby
Sunday, August 2, Noon-8 PM
Sunday Admission & Carnival Specials
Gates open 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm, no entry after gates close at 7:00 pm
Fair Admission specials:
Adult (13 and up) $5
Child (6-12) $3
5 and under Free
Carnival Hours: Noon – 8:00 pm
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Unlimited Ride Wristband for $30. Wristbands will stop being sold Promptly at 3:30 pm. Wristband is Not valid after 5:00 pm.
5:00 pm – Close: Unlimited Ride Wristband for $25. Wristband Sales Stop Promptly at 7:00 pm. Fair and Carnival Rides close at 8:00 pm.
Sunday 4-H & Livestock Activities
8:00 am PLC Shows (Horse Judging Contest, Poultry, Sheep, Dairy Cattle, Dairy Goats, Pygmy Goats)
11:00 am State Fair Question & Answer Session
11:30 am Flag Lowering Ceremony
11:45 am – 3:00 pm 4-H General Project Check-out
Safety & Security
The McLean County Fair safety & security program will include walk-through metal detectors at all fair entry gates. All bags, purses, strollers, etc will be subject to search at each of the entry gates. Click here for details on allowed and prohibited items.
Fair Hours
Wednesday-Saturday
OPEN: 7 am – 11 pm (GATES CLOSE: 9 pm)
Sunday
12pm-8pm
Admission Info
Purchase tickets here ahead of time.
Single Day Fair Admission Ticket (Wednesday – Saturday)
- Children 5 and under … Free
- Children, 6-12 … $6.29
- Adults, 13+… $10.43
Single Day Fair Admission Ticket (Sunday)
- Children 5 and under … Free
- Children, 6-12 … $3.19
- Adults, 13+… $5.26
For all fair events and complete schedule/info, please visit the fair website here.
Please remember that events may be canceled or rescheduled last minute due to unpredictable weather or other factors. We encourage you to reach out to event organizers before heading out to an event to verify it is still happening.
