Kane County Fair returns with live music, rodeos and demolition derby
The 156th Kane County Fair is a big funfair with a small town feel, filled with grandstand events, popular live bands like the Hillbilly Rockstarz, unlimited carnival rides, 4-H contests, outdoor kids events, and the popular Classic Car Show.
It kicks off early with the carnival rides on Wednesday, July 16, and then opening on Thursday with live music, grandstand events like bull riding and demolition derby, and 4-H animals and competitions.
There’s always something new at the Kane County Fair. The cute racing pigs are back. Watch the Balsters Game Show. Get up close with 4-H animals or check out the petting zoo. See the classic cars on display on Saturday and Sunday.
Midway hours are: 3 to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to midnight Friday and Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday at the fairgrounds, located at Randall Road and Oak Street in St. Charles. Parking is free. The 4-H exhibit halls close two hours before the fair each day.
Main stage
Take in the sights and sounds of the Kane County Fair while listening to live music on the Miller Lite Sound Stage. It’s free with paid admission to the fair.
Eric Chesser, a country artist from Nashville, returns to the fairgrounds with a show at 7 p.m. Thursday. Trippin Billies, a national touring tribute to the Dave Matthews Band, will take the stage at 8 p.m. Friday and Mark Atkins at 5 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, How Rude! will play all the best 1990s hits from pop to grunge from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by the headliners Hillbilly Rockstarz at 8:30 p.m.
Action-packed thrills return to the grandstand starting on Thursday with the women barrel racing at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Professional Championship Bullriders and Cowgirls at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Grandstand tickets are $22.24 or $11.75 for age 10 and under; there’s a $40 Family Four Pack for the matinee. Purchase tickets for Friday and Saturday shows via rodeoticket.com. It is held rain or shine; no refunds. The Gold Buckle seats at the evening shows are already sold out.
The Demolition Derby will be running at 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday for $10 grandstand admission.
4-H shows and exhibits
The 4-H judging begins on Thursday with the categories of horse and pony, dairy, poultry and rabbit. The 4-H General Projects will be on exhibit every day in Robinson Hall. The horse and pony judging continues on Friday, as well as the shows for swine, sheep and goats, ending with the “Barnyard Games” in the show ring.
On Saturday, it’s the popular Horse & Pony Dressage Show, the Showmanship Classes, and the Milking Derby, as well as the beef judging show. The day ends with the 4-H awards ceremony.
On Sunday, you can support the Kane County 4-H youth by bidding on livestock in the Blue Ribbon Auction at 1 p.m. in the Livestock Arena.
Carnival rides
The Fantasy Amusements carnival will be opening on Wednesday. There will be unlimited rides for $32 on Wednesday and Thursday from 3 p.m. to close. It will also be $32 from noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. On Sunday, there’s the “Last Blast” discount with $27 unlimited rides from 5 p.m. to close. Individual tickets will also be available for purchase
Admission
You can get a season pass for $25. Daily admission is $5 on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday to Sunday, it is $10 or $5 for kids, age 3-12.
There is free daily admission for children under 3, and it’s free for seniors over age 62 and veterans with military ID before 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Tickets to the fair can be purchased upon entry with cash only or in advance by clicking on the “Buy Tickets” in the upper right corner of kanecountyfair.com/Fair-Information. There is a 4% surcharge for credit card purchases.
The Kane County Fair is one of the oldest and long-standing fairs in the country, sponsored in part by Prime Saint Joseph Elgin, Prime Mercy Aurora, and Miller Lite/Euclid Beverage.