Prairie State Wire

The 2023 Illinois State Fair has set a new attendance record, drawing over 700,000 visitors during its 11-day run. This marks the highest attendance since industry standards were implemented. Governor JB Pritzker attributed this success to various factors including favorable weather, new promotions, and infrastructure improvements.

"Once again, the hard work of the Department of Agriculture and hundreds of dedicated fair staff have resulted in shattered attendance records," said Governor JB Pritzker. He highlighted attractions such as the new Multi-Purpose Arena and popular concerts that attracted visitors from across Illinois and beyond.

IDOA Director Jerry Costello II noted that "the 2023 Fair benefited from a return of programming at the newly renovated Multi-Purpose Arena (MPA)," which was part of a $58.1 million investment by Governor Pritzker to address deferred maintenance on state fairgrounds. Costello also mentioned that new promotions and big attractions played a role in boosting mid-week attendance.

The fair introduced theme and discount days to enhance visitor experience. On August 10, County Fairs and Horse Racing Day kicked off the event, while August 15 featured discounted admission under the TWOsday promotion, resulting in an additional 27,000 attendees.

State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark emphasized the importance of enhancing visitor experience: "Providing additional entertainment on Opening Day...and offering more ways for families to affordably enjoy the Illinois State Fair are priorities."

The event saw significant increases in ticket sales and revenue compared to previous years. The Grandstand tickets sold were among the highest in five years with an 86% increase from 2021 for MPA events. Carnival revenue reached $1.58 million due to strong sales of Mega & Jumbo passes.

Governor Pritzker has committed over $80 million for further infrastructure investments at the fairgrounds. Upcoming projects include road construction, roof replacements on several buildings, HVAC system upgrades, and other structural improvements.

Planning is underway for next year's Illinois State Fair scheduled for August 8-18, 2024.