SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — With ongoing concerns over COVID-19, Gov. J.B. Pritzker was expected Friday to sign an executive order that will cancel the 2020 Illinois State Fair.
The State of Illinois said the fair, which was slated to begin Aug. 13, is expected to return in 2021.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture said it will host a Junior Livestock Expo sometime in September so exhibitors ages 8-21 can still showcase their animals.
Details such as date and time were forthcoming at the time of the announcement.
Also affected by the executive order will be the DuQuoin State Fair.
This is the first time the DuQuoin State Fair has been canceled in the 124 years the State has overseen the fairgrounds.
The Illinois State Fair did not take place from 1942-1945 because of World War II. It also was canceled in 1862 with the ongoing Civil War.
Organizers of the Illinois State Fair said they expected attendance to match or even surpass 2019’s numbers, which saw a record number of grandstand attendees and a near-record of general fair attendees.
The 2021 Illinois State Fair has been scheduled for Aug. 12-22. The DuQuoin State Fair was marked for Aug. 27-Sept. 6.
