It’s summertime and that can only mean one thing — county fair season.
The county fair is a chance for local 4-H youth to exhibit the projects they’ve been working on all year, be that raising a cow, a rabbit or a chicken or building a model car or growing the perfect tomato.
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At a county fair, you can see demolition derbies, eat funnel cakes, ride Ferris wheels, listen to that radical ’80s cover band and come together as a community.
Here is a roundup of county fairs in the suburbs and Northwest Indiana.
La Porte County, Indiana, Fair July 6-13
The La Porte County Fair is from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily July 6-13 at the La Porte County Fairgrounds, 2581 W. State Road 2, La Porte, Indiana. Tickets are $6-$10; kids 9 and under free. Free admission for seniors 62 and over July 8 and for veterans and active military July 11. 219-362-2647; lpfair.com.
Country singers Priscilla Block performs at 8 p.m. July 9 (tickets $15-$30) and Chris Young performs at 7:30 p.m. July 10 (tickets $35-$60).
A new free show this year is a live shark encounter. Other entertainment includes a live stingray show, Abraham Lincoln: Hoosier Hero show, Oakley the Treeman roaming entertainment, Brunon Blaszak’s Royal Bengal Tiger Show, Bear Hollow Wood Carvers, Silly Safari Show and Gizmo D. Robot roaming entertainment.
The fan-favorite demolition derby is at 7 p.m. July 7 and a figure-8 demolition derby is at 7 p.m. July 8. Tickets are $12. The TK Pro Rodeo is July 11. Another demolition derby is at 7 p.m. July 12. Tickets are $16; $13 for kids 12 and under.
Live music is in the free entertainment tent at 5 p.m. and there are 4-H exhibits and judging throughout the fair.
Kane County, Illinois, Fair July 17-21
The 155th Kane County Fair is from 3-11 p.m. July 17-18, noon to midnight July 19-20 and 12-10 p.m. July 21 at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Tickets are $5-$10; grandstand entertainment is $10-$20. 630-584-6926; kanecountyfair.com.
Grandstand entertainment includes PCB Bull Riders and Cowgirls at 7:30 p.m. July 19 and at 2 and 7 p.m. July 20 and a demolition derby at 2 and 5 p.m. July 21.
The Miller Lite Sound Stage has free entertainment daily and includes Eric Chesser at 7 p.m. July 18, Pino Farina at 7:30 p.m. July 19, Mark Atkins at 5 p.m. and Hillbilly Rockstarz at 8:30 p.m. July 20 and Orquesta Iluziones salsa band at 3 p.m. and Hi Infidelity at 8 p.m. on July 21.
Midway entertainment includes a carnival, a petting zoo, Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, Kiddy Land, the Rhinestone Roper and Chad Kilpatrick, chainsaw carver. There’s also a classic car show July 20-21.
Porter County, Indiana, Fair July 18-27
The Porter County Fair is from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, closing at midnight on the weekends, at the Porter County Fair Fairgrounds, 217 E. Division Road, Valparaiso, Indiana. Tickets are $10; kids under 10 free. Free entry before 12 p.m. daily. Free parking, shuttles available. Grandstand entertainment costs extra. 219-462-0321; portercountyfair.com.
The carnival opens at 1 p.m. and the commercial expo building is open from 12-9 p.m. daily.
Grandstand entertainment is at 7:30 p.m. and include Sawyer Brown July 18 ($25-$40), Riley Green July 19 ($40-$65), Jeremy Camp July 20 ($20-$40), Old Dominion July 21 ($60-$85) and Nelly July 22 ($35-$55).
Other grandstand events are at 7 p.m. and include ABR Rodeo and Bull Riding July 23 ($10-$15), Super Show Promotions Truck and Tractor Pull July 24 ($10-$15), Night of Destruction Demolition July 26 ($10-$15) and Sandberg’s Towing School Bus Figure 8 Derby at 5 p.m. July 27 ($10-$18).
4-H events, animal shows, exhibits and competitions are earmarks of the Porter County Fair. Other activities include food eating competitions (candy apple, doughnut), the Read Go Dog Show, The Stone Age dinosaur and acrobatic show, Gizmo D. Robot, Roberto the Magnificent and his comedy stunt show, the Great American Duck Race and the Circle City Sidewalk Stompers Clown Band. The Park Place Pavilion will have free live music daily.
Lake County, Illinois, Fair July 24-28
The Lake County Fair is from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 24-25, 10 a.m. to midnight July 26-27 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 28 at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Tickets are $15; $5 for children ages 6-12 and seniors 65 and older. Free for children 5 and under. 847-680-7200; lcfair.com.
Parking in the grass lot is free; preferred parking on a paved lot near the East Main Gate is $10.
Celebrating its 95th year, the Lake County Fair returns with an Olympic theme. Grandstand and arena entertainment includes a demolition derby at 6 p.m. July 24, motocross at 7 p.m. July 24-25, Operation Glow — a Taylor Swift Dance Party at 8 p.m. July 24, a monster truck throwdown at 7 p.m. July 25-26, the new 406FMX High Air freestyle motocross at 7 p.m. July 27 and Pro Bull Riding and Barrel Racing at 5 p.m. July 28. All grandstand and arena events are free with admission.
Daily activities include 4-H exhibits, carnival, Kidz Science Safari, Kidbucks Game Show, the Trivia Tractor, Show Me Swine pig races, Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show, Timberworks lumber jack show, John Measner Magic Show, face painting, K9 demonstration by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and beer tent. There will be live music on the Festival Square Stage and bingo and live music on the Grandstand Beer Garden stage.
DuPage County, Illinois, Fair July 25-28
The DuPage County Fair is from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 25, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 26, 12 to 11 p.m. July 27 and 12 to 8 p.m. July 28 at the DuPage Event Center and Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Tickets are $12; $8 for seniors ages 62 and up and children ages 6-12; free for children 5 and under. 630-668-6636; dupagecountyfair.org/dupage-county-fair.
This year, the fair celebrates its 70th anniversary by adding a drone light show July 25-27. It will honor the county’s agriculture heritage. The inaugural Cookout Grass Volleyball Tournament will be held July 27-28 with prizes awarded for men’s and women’s, co-ed and youth boys divisions.
The midway includes a large carnival, 4-H and open class exhibits, commercial vendors, vintage vendors, roving entertainers, live music and food.
Kendall County, Illinois, Fair Aug. 1-4
The Kendall County Fair is from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 1, 8:30 a.m. to midnight Aug. 2-3 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Kendall County Fairgrounds, 10826 Illinois Route 71, Yorkville. Tickets are free until 3 p.m.; after 3 p.m. $5. Free on Aug. 4. 630-553-2860; kendallcountyfair.org.
The Kendall County Fair will have 4-H exhibits, a 4-H livestock auction, food vendors, a beer garden and a carnival. Entertainment includes a Western speed show at noon Aug. 1 and truck and tractor pulls from the Illini State Pullers at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 2-3. The Wheels at the Fair — Auto Show and Craft Market is from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 4. A new “Chuck-a-Pig” event will be at noon Aug. 2.
There will be live music from Diamondback at 7 p.m. Aug. 1, Michael Mahler at 4 p.m. and Coverlicious at 9 p.m. Aug. 2 and Ashley Victoria Band at 9 p.m. Aug. 3.
The 4-H Parade of Champions is at 2 p.m. Aug. 3.
Lake County, Indiana, Fair Aug. 2-11
The 171st Lake County Fair is from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily Aug. 2-11 at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 889 S. Court St., Crown Point. Tickets are $8 cash only; children 10 and under are free. Admission is free before 3 p.m. Aug. 5-8. 219-663-3617; lake-county-fair.com.
There is free parking and shuttle bus service from Crown Point High School, 1500 S. Main St.
Grandstand entertainment begins with the All-Star Monster Truck Show featuring Terminal Velocity, Uproar, Frostbite, USA-1, Carolina Crusher and others at 7 p.m. Aug. 2-3 and 3 p.m. Aug. 4; $15. There will be a driver meet-and-greet for all ticketholders before each show. The D&D Pro Rodeo Company presents a show with eight events at 7 p.m. Aug. 5; $15. Micro Wrestling is 7-9 p.m. Aug. 7 with a post-show wrestler meet-and-greet; $15. The South Country Mud Runners mud drags are at 7 p.m. Aug. 9; $12.
The International Demolition Derby closes the fair’s grandstand entertainment at 5 p.m. Aug. 10-11 with full-size cars, vans, trucks and riding lawn mowers; $15.
At press time, grandstand entertainment for Aug. 6 and Aug. 8 had not been announced.
There will be animals, agriculture and livestock at the fair; as well as baby pigs, a chick hatchery, fishing pond, livestock nursery, racing pigs and Silly Safaris live animal show.
The carnival will run throughout the fair; see the website for times, costs and wristband specials.
Will County, Illinois, Fair Aug. 21-25
The Will County Fair is from 8 a.m. to midnight Aug. 21 to 25 at the Will County Fairgrounds, 710 West St., Peotone. Tickets are $6; children 9 and under free. $1 on Aug. 21. Seniors and veterans, $3 on Aug. 22. Grandstand tickets are $15-$20. 708-258-9359; willcountyfair.org.
Now in its 121st year, the Will County Fair is agriculture based and has a strong 4-H presence. There will be exhibits in livestock, horticulture, textiles, foods, arts and more. There is also free daily entertainment.
The touch-a-truck event and free ping pong ball drop for kids ages 3-11 is at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at the track.
Grandstand entertainment consists of the Illinois Tractor Pulling Association’s truck and tractor pull at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22, monster truck show at 7 p.m. Aug. 23, Will County Fair Scramble and Scramble Derby at noon and a demolition derby at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 24 and the IPRA World Championship Rodeo is at 2 p.m. Aug. 25.
Beer garden entertainment includes 4Cast at 8 p.m. Aug. 22, Nashville Electric at 8 p.m. Aug. 23, Any Given Weekend at 8 p.m. Aug. 24 and Mid Life Crisis at 6 p.m. Aug. 25.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.
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