What the Du Quoin State Fair Is
The Du Quoin State Fair is southern Illinois' state fair, an 11-day run. The 2027 fair is set for August 27 through September 6, with the fairgrounds open from 8 a.m. to midnight. It pairs grandstand entertainment, harness racing, motor sports and a twilight parade with open and junior livestock shows, including beef, dairy, swine, sheep, goats and draft horses, ponies and mules. The Fair Administration Office, inside the Grandstand, is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the fair.
Livestock Shows and Who Can Enter
The fair runs a Junior Livestock Division and an Open Division. Junior exhibitors must be at least 8 and under 21, and proof of age may be required. Open exhibitors have no age limit. Ownership must be effective at least 30 days before the fair opens. Junior animals must be registered to the exhibitor or immediate family, and partnerships are not allowed in the junior division; open animals may be registered to the exhibitor or a partnership the exhibitor belongs to.
Fair employees and their immediate family cannot exhibit in any event they judge or superintend. An animal double-registered may show in only one breed show.
Entry Fees (2026 livestock book)
| Show | Fee per head |
|---|---|
| Open Beef Cattle | $15 |
| Junior Beef Cattle | $10 |
| Open Dairy Cattle | $15 |
| Junior Dairy Cattle | $10 |
| Draft Horse, Draft Pony and Mule | $15 |
| Open Dairy Goat | $10 |
| Junior Swine, Junior Sheep, Junior Dairy Goat, Junior Meat Goat | $5 |
Open beef also carries a $20 bedding fee per animal. Junior beef pays a single $20 bedding fee per exhibitor. Every livestock exhibitor must buy a $30 exhibitor's pass, and helpers, fitters and groomers need their own $30 passes. No fees are refunded. Beef entries are made through the online fair entry system and paid by credit card, and help is available from the Competitive Events Office, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How It Works: The 2026 Timeline
The 2026 fair ran August 28 to September 7. Use it as a guide to how the livestock schedule is laid out.
- August 3Entries closed.
- August 8Written substitutions within the same class were allowed until 4 p.m. Late entries were accepted until 11:59 p.m. for a $50 per-head late fee, and none after.
- August 29 and 30Junior dairy cattle showed August 29 at 9 a.m. and open dairy August 30. Junior swine and meat goats also showed August 29.
- September 4Beef stalls opened at 8 a.m. and all beef had to be stalled by noon. Heifers checked in by breed from 12:30 to 5 p.m. and steers from 3 to 5 p.m.
- September 5 and 6Junior beef showmanship started at 8 a.m. on September 5, followed by junior breeding beef and steers. The open breeding beef show was September 6 at 9:30 a.m.
Beef Rules and Awards
- Each junior may show up to four steers. Steers must weigh at least 900 pounds at check-in and need a current CVI.
- Purebred animals need official registration papers; copies and breed association certificates are not accepted.
- No dyeing beyond the hock, no powders, no added hair, no tail ties and no aerosols in the make-up area.
- Beef premiums totaled $18,000 for the open show and $11,550 for the junior show, prorated by participation and paid to five places.
- The Grand Champion Female wins an extra $1,000 and the Reserve $500. The Grand Champion Steer wins an extra $1,000, and the Supreme Showmanship Champion wins $500.
Health and Arrival
Out-of-state animals need an entry permit, and certificates of veterinary inspection are checked and stamped on the grounds. Out-of-state CVIs expire 30 days after issue and Illinois CVIs after 90 days. Livestock must enter through Gate 3, which has no turnaround.
Where, Admission and Parking
The fairgrounds are at 655 Executive Drive, Du Quoin, Illinois 62832. Fair admission is free for adults and children. Parking is cash only: $10 at the South Gate off Route 14 and at Gate 4, $15 at Gate 1, and a $30 seasonal pass covers Gates 1, 4 and 5. Camping is inside Gate 3. The main office phone is 618-542-1515.
Questions
How old do junior exhibitors have to be?
At least 8 and under 21.
Can I enter late?
In 2026 late entries were taken with a $50 per-head fee until the cut-off, with none after.
Do helpers need passes?
Yes, helpers, fitters and groomers each need a $30 pass.
Official Links
- 2026 Du Quoin State Fair Livestock Book: rules, fees, schedule
- Du Quoin State Fair information: 2027 dates, hours, parking, camping
Illinois County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
AgriNews lists 105 Illinois fairs for 2026, including the Illinois State Fair (August 13 to 23, Springfield) and the Du Quoin State Fair (August 28 to September 7), per its county fair lineup.
Ownership and tags
State Fair market steers must be owned since February 1, 2026, and cattle and swine need a USDA 840 ear tag, per the junior show requirements.
Training
YQCA is required for dairy, beef, swine, sheep and goat exhibitors, and Lake County sets a June 1 completion deadline, per Lake County 4-H.
Drug rules
At Du Quoin a positive test means disqualification, with a three-year ban for a first offense, per the livestock book.
Dates
Many counties fall between mid-July and early August, such as Knox (July 6 to 11), Champaign (July 25 to August 1) and Lake (July 29 to August 2).
Next steps
Get your county's fair book, mark the enrollment and entry dates, and ask your Extension office about weigh-ins.
Dates and rules change, so confirm with the fair.
Read the full guide: Illinois County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Illinois High School Rodeo at Du Quoin
A full-day Illinois high school rodeo in the Horse Arena at the Du Quoin fairgrounds, running 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Held each year; most recent date April 19, 2026.
655 Executive Drive, Du Quoin, IL 62832 Official event details - Perry County Fair
Perry County Fair in Pinckneyville is a summer county fair with 4-H and junior exhibits at 711 Fairground Road. Held each year; the most recent dates were June 13 to June 20, 2026.
711 Fairground Road, Pinckneyville, IL | Organizer: Perry County Fair Official event details - Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
The 2026 IFB Annual Meeting is scheduled for December 12-15 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Illinois Farm Bureau delegates gather each December to set policy and elect leadership.
- Illinois Farm Bureau Newer Presidents Seminar
A one-day January 2027 seminar for newer county Farm Bureau presidents, held at the IAA Building on Towanda Avenue in Bloomington.
1701 Towanda Ave, Bloomington, IL | Organizer: Illinois Farm Bureau Official event details - From Food to Flowers: Everything Local Conference
The 2027 From Food to Flowers: Everything Local Conference runs January 27-29 at the Bank of Springfield Center, serving Illinois specialty growers and local-food producers.
Springfield, IL | Organizer: Illinois Farm Bureau Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.