8 Great Summer Festivals in Central Illinois

Central Illinois loves its festivals and festivals; right here’s 8 to go to downstate

From Springfield to Mattoon, from Bloomington-Regular to Decatur, we’ve put collectively our record of the highest eight summer time festivals in Central Illinois, most of them out of our speedy protection space. We think about summer time to be between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

(Don’t fear, we now have a listing of Champaign-Urbana space festivals, too.)

Chambanamoms.com thanks the Champaign County Truthful for presenting this information.

The Champaign County Truthful has been a convention for the reason that early 1850’s. On the honest you may see 4-H, Open, and Junior Open livestock and non-livestock reveals, academic shows revolving round conservation and agriculture, numerous distributors from completely different companies and organizations throughout the county, a carnival, and a wide range of floor and grandstand leisure. It’s an occasion for households to return to create summertime recollections that final a lifetime!

For extra data: web site or Fb

Eight Nice Summer season Festivals in Central Illinois

What: Nationwide Tom Sawyer Days
When: Thursday, June 30 via Monday, July 4
The place: Hannibal, Missouri (proper on the Illinois border, so we’re bending the definition of  “Central Illinois” for this one)
How a lot: coming quickly
Highlights: Positioned proper alongside the Mississippi River, this space is filled with historical past all yr lengthy. The competition features a frog-jump contest, fence portray, mud volleyball match, carnival rides, dwell music and fireworks over the river on the 4th. Discover information on Fb, too.

What: Balloons Over Vermilion
When: Friday, July 8 and Saturday, July 9
The place: Vermilion Regional Airport
How a lot: $5; youngsters underneath 10 free. Parking $5. Money solely.
Highlights: In years previous, there have been tethered scorching air balloon rides, nightly balloon glows, carnival, youngsters video games, touch-a-truck, meals distributors and extra, all occurring with the panorama of attractive scorching air balloons surrounding the realm. Discover it on Fb.

What: Mattoon Bagelfest
When: Tuesday, July 19 via Saturday, July 23
The place: Peterson Park at 500 Broadway Ave., Mattoon
How a lot: Most occasions free; mainstage occasions ticketed
Highlights: Free bagel breakfast 8-10 a.m. and Bagelfest Parade Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m.; Run for the Bagel 5K; carnival rides; mainstage acts. Discover it on Fb.

What: Lincoln’s Pageant on Route 66 in Bloomington
When: 2022 dates TBA
The place: Bloomington and surrounding places
How a lot: Most occasions free
Highlights: Consideration historical past buffs. Lincoln in Bloomington? Positive, why not! Kids’s actions and free admission into the McLean County Museum of Historical past, crafts and an 1858 model baseball sport with the Prairie Rooster Base Ball staff of McLean County. Get extra information on its Fb web page as we await the announcement of the 2022 dates.

What: EffingHAM-JAM BBQ Cookoff
When: Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23
The place: downtown Effingham
How a lot: Free to attend; free dwell music; different leisure could also be ticketed. Meals on the market.
Highlights: OK, we love the play on phrases right here for this competition. There’s tons of BBQ — so come hungry. There are children actions, however examine the web site or Fb web page for up to date information when it will get nearer. You can even try record of enjoyable issues to do with youngsters in Effingham or go eat at Pinky’s on Lake Sara or Firefly Grill in case you don’t get your fill of BBQ whereas on the fest.

What: Illinois State Truthful
When: Thursday, Aug. 11 via Sunday, Aug. 21
The place: State fairgrounds, Springfield (instructions right here)
How a lot: Adults (13-59) — $10 Friday/Saturday, $5 different days; kids (12 and underneath) — free; senior residents (60 and older) — $3; car parking (single day) — $5. Grandstand tickets range.
Highlights: Examine again later within the season for our Insider’s Information to the 2022 State Truthful. Huge names like Demi Lovato and Brooks & Dunn are within the grandstand lineup, however it’s the entire free leisure that attracts households to the honest yr after yr. Free kids’s entertainers, free face portray, every kind of ag schooling and issues like pig racing and water circus are all assured to thrill.

What: Peoria’s Erin Feis 
When: Friday, Aug. 26 via Sunday, Aug. 28
The place: Peoria riverfront
How a lot: Free admission between 4 and 5 p.m Friday. In any other case, adults $9 bought on-line prematurely; weekend occasion cross $25; Kids underneath 12 are free however have to be accompanied by an grownup. Free admission on Sunday (at Mass) with a canned good donation from 9:30 – 11 a.m or in case you put on a kilt on Sunday.
Highlights: It’s St. Patrick’s Day in August. You don’t should be Irish to take pleasure in this three-day competition which incorporates a wide range of actions together with typical honest fare like meals and music; however there’s additionally cultural actions and an space for “wee of us” (open noon-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday). Don’t miss the Highland Video games (Saturday and Sunday) whilst you’re there.

What: Balloons Over 66 Pageant
When: Friday, Aug. 26 via Sunday, Aug. 28
The place: Varied places all through Lincoln
How a lot: Free admission, some actions have a value
Highlights: This competition options balloons which are launched from throughout Lincoln (even some from backyards). Saturday night’s Balloon Glow is a particular spotlight. Music, meals and extra.

Prepare for summer time in Champaign-Urbana: