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Daily Specials & Activities

Daily Schedule

2026 McLean County Fair

Celebrating 30 Years at the West Side Fairgrounds

Safety & Security

Our McLean County Fair safety & security program will include walk-through metal detectors at all fair entry gates. All bags, purses, strollers, etc. will be subject to search at each of the entry gates. Click here for details on allowed and prohibited items.

Wednesday, July 29

Wednesday Admission & Carnival Specials

  • Gate open 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, no entry after gates close at 9:00 pm
  • Carnival Hours: 1:00 – 11:00 pm
  • Admission Special: Pay One Price
    • 5 & younger: $18 Fair Admission and Wednesday only Unlimited Rides wristband
    • CHILD (ages 6-12): $22 Fair Admission and Wednesday only Unlimited Rides wristband
    • ADULT (ages 13 & older): $25 Fair Admission and Wednesday only Unlimited Rides wristband
    • Unlimited Ride Wristband sales end promptly at 9:15 pm

Wednesday 4-H & Livestock Activities

  • 7:00 am General Project Check-in
  • 8:00 am 4-H Exhibit judging starts
  • 8:00 am Horse Show
  • 8:00 am Llama Show
  • 9:00 am Rabbit Show
  • 12:00 pm Meat Goat Show
  • 12:30 pm STEAM Clothing, Non-Sewn, & Interior Design Judging
  • 1:00 pm Master Shephard Interviews
  • 6:00 pm Sheep Shearing and Trimming Contest
  • 7:00 pm Royalty Reception & Awards Program in the Cloverleaf Auditorium
  • 8:00 pm 4-H After Dark

Wednesday Entertainment

  • 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm Beer Tent Open
  • 4:30 pm Pedal Pulls (registration opens at 4:00 pm) on the road between the Antique Tractors and Food Court
  • 5:00 pm Grandstand Opens
  • 6:00 pm Tobin’s Pizza Big Smokers Tractor Pulls & Local Truck Pulls at the Grandstand

Thursday, July 30

Thursday Admission & Carnival Specials

  • Young at Heart & Military Veterans Day
    • Free general admission all day for seniors (60 and up), veterans, and active military
  • Gates open 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, no entry after gates close at 9:00 pm
  • Carnival Hours: 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm
  • Carnival Specials
    • $30 Unlimited Ride Wristband – Wristband will stop being sold at 9:15 pm
    • Senior Special: ONE Senior rides FREE with ONE paid child until 5:00 pm
  • Pack the Bus – admission is only $2.00 with a qualifying donation; the list can be found here.

Thursday 4-H & Livestock Activities

  • 8:00 am Horse Show
  • 8:00 am Swine Show
  • 8:00 am Poultry Judging
  • 9:00 am – 11:30 am Young at Heart Day – Senior activities & entertainment in Cloverleaf Auditorium
  • 9:00 am Beef Cattle Show
  • 10:00 am Sheep Show
  • 12:00 pm Cloverbud Show & Tell
  • 1:00 pm Master Goat Herdsman Contest
  • 1:25 pm Cloverbud relay
  • 2:25 pm 4-H Relay
  • 4:00 pm Goat Peewee Showmanship
  • 5:30 pm Beef/Dairy/Sheep/Goat Costume Show
  • 5:30 pm Sheep Leadline Contest
  • 6:45 pm 4-H Share the Fun

Thursday Entertainment

  • 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm Beer Tent open
  • 5:00 pm Grandstand Opens
  • 6:30 pm Bull Riding, Barrell Racing, Mutton Busting
  • 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm The Bull livestream from the Beer Tent

Friday, July 31

Friday Admission & Carnival Specials

  • Merchant’s Day!
    • Kids 6-12 can get into the Fair FREE until 5:00 pm when you pick up a coupon from one of our Merchant Day sponsors!
  • Gates open 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, no entry after gates close at 9:00 pm
  • Carnival hours: 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm
  • 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Unlimited Ride Wristband for $30, pick up a $5 off Ride Coupon from one of our Merchant Day Sponsors, and only pay $25
  • 6:00 pm – Close, Unlimited Ride Wristband $35. Wristbands will stop being sold promptly at 9:15 pm

Friday 4-H & Livestock Activities & Events

  • 8:00 am Horse Shows
  • 9:00 am Dairy Goat Show
  • 9:00 am Cat Show
  • 3:00 pm Horse Show Costume Contest
  • 3:00 pm Showmanship Classic
  • 5:00 pm Horse Speed Games
  • 5:00 pm My Ag Main Event
  • 8:00 pm Livestock Release

Friday Entertainment

  • 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm Beer Tent Open.
  • 5:00 pm Grandstand Opens
  • 6:30 pm Taylor Brunings & The Bandits
  • 8:00 pm Feudin’ Hillbillys
  • 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm The Bull Livestream from the Beer Tent

Saturday, August 1

Saturday Admission & Carnival Specials

  • Gates open 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, no entry after gates close at 9:00 pm
  • Carnival Hours: Noon – 11:00 pm
  • Carnival specials
    • 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Unlimited Ride Wristbands for $30. Wristbands will stop being sold promptly at 3:30 pm and will no longer be valid after 5:00 pm.
    • 6:00 pm – Close, Unlimited Ride Wristbands for $35. Wristband sales will stop being sold promptly at 9:15 PM.

Saturday 4-H & Livestock Activities

  • 8:00 am PLC Shows (Beef Cattle, Swine, Rabbits, Horses, Boer Goats)
  • 10:00 am Bicycle Safety Rodeo
  • 1:00 pm Junior & Senior Style Revue
  • 1:00 pm Rocket Launch
  • 2:00 pm 4-H STEAM day at the Fair

Saturday Entertainment

  • 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm Beer Tent open
  • 5:00 pm Grandstand Opens
  • 6:00 pm Don Owen Demolition Derby

Sunday, August 2

Sunday Admission & Carnival Specials

  • Gates open 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm, no entry after gates close at 7:00 pm
  • Fair Admission specials:
    • Adult (13 and up) $5
    • Child (6-12) $3
    • 5 and under Free
  • Carnival Hours: Noon – 8:00 pm
    • 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Unlimited Ride Wristband for $30. Wristbands will stop being sold Promptly at 3:30 pm. Wristband is Not valid after 5:00 pm.
    • 5:00 pm – Close: Unlimited Ride Wristband for $25. Wristband Sales Stop Promptly at 7:00 pm. Fair and Carnival Rides close at 8:00 pm.

Sunday 4-H & Livestock Activities

  • 8:00 am PLC Shows (Horse Judging Contest, Poultry, Sheep, Dairy Cattle, Dairy Goats, Pygmy Goats)
  • 11:00 am State Fair Question & Answer Session
  • 11:30 am Flag Lowering Ceremony
  • 11:45 am – 3:00 pm 4-H General Project Check-out

Thanks to our Sponsors

Merchant Day Sponsors

Visit these participating local businesses for children’s free admission & carnival coupons! Coupons can be used on Merchant Day, Friday, July 25th!

July 29 – August 2, 2026

QuickLinks

McLean County Fair

4-H

Fair Forms & Applications

Get in Touch

(309) 663–6497

[email protected]

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