County fairs a mix of farm animals, fun and food
Summer is festival season, and there are few outdoor bashes bigger than county fairs.
Whether you want to teach your family more about agriculture, listen to some live music, get some thrills at a carnival or just eat lots of great food, you can find what you're looking for at these annual summer events.
• DuPage County Fair, 2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton, (630) 668-6636, dupagecountyfair.org
Admission: $10; $3 for kids ages 3-12
Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, July 22-26
Along with the traditional livestock exhibits, the fair offers carnival rides, food vendors, a talent show, dance performances and live music. Concerts are free with admission and include Los Lobos on Wednesday, July 22; The Wailers, Thursday, July 23; and The Academy Is on Friday, July 24.
Kids can find plenty of entertainment with magic shows, a petting zoo, duck and pig racing and clown acts. For an additional $7, you can also catch a tractor pull at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 25, and a demolition derby at 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, July 26.
• Kane County Fair, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, (630) 584-6926, kanecountyfair.com
Admission: $5; free for kids younger than 5
Hours: Noon to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 15-16; noon to midnight Friday and Saturday, July 17-18; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 19
A serious spectacle, the Kane County Fair features performances of elephant tricks, pig swimming races, comedy shows, a petting zoo, a game show, magic acts and plenty of live music ranging from rock to country to polka.
If your kids enjoy carnivals, you can pick up an unlimited-ride wristband for $15. Other big attractions are available for an extra fee, including a rodeo, demolition derby, truck pull and championship bull riding.
This year the event moved to an all new fairgrounds with air-conditioned exhibition halls and more room for food vendors to dish out brats, barbecue, fresh-picked roasted corn, ice cream and more.
When you're not watching a performance, check out prized rabbits, cows, chickens and horses on display from throughout the county.
• McHenry County Fair, 1051 Country Club Road, Woodstock, (815) 338-5315, mchenrycountyfair.com
Admission: $7; $3 for kids ages 8 to 12; free for kids younger than 8
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, Aug. 5-8; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9
This year's McHenry County Fair aims to teach the community a little more about agriculture with a building displaying antique tractors and historic farm equipment. Landscapers show off fountains and different gardening techniques, and plots demonstrate how food grows on a farm.
Plenty of animals will be on display along with information on different products that come from livestock. Kids can ride horses and watch wool-spinning demonstrations.
The event also features professional bull riding, a demolition derby, a 21-tractor salute to veterans, tractor pulls and a daily carnival. While you enjoy the sites, snack on corn dogs, funnel cake and other traditional fair food.
• Lake County Fair, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake, (847) 680-7200, lakecountyfairassoc.com
Admission: $10; $5 for seniors and kids ages 5-12; free for kids younger than 5
Hours: 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, July 28 to Aug. 1; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2
The 81st annual Lake County Fair is packed with entertainment, such as live music, an agriculture-themed comedy show, juggling acts, a battle of the bands, talent shows, truck and tractor pulls and motocross racing.
Kids can enjoy carnival rides and a petting zoo where they can learn about animals from around the world, while adults can cool off with a drink from the beer garden.