
June 3, 2025 – The 169th Annual Macon County Fair is June 4 – 8th at the Macon County Fairgrounds which are located at 3700 North Westlawn Avenue in Decatur.
The fair will open with carnival rides for all ages, games, food vendors, commercial vendors, livestock shows, harness racing, grandstand events and more.
Admission to the fair is $5.00 per person and children under 4 are free. Fairgoers can park on the fairgrounds. Gate admission is $10.00 per vehicle and will be collected at the gates.
New this year is the opportunity for the public to show off skills in potted house plants, cut flowers, corn, soybeans, oats seeds, as well as culinary items such as breads, rolls, muffins, pies, cakes, brownies, canned vegetables, jams, marmalades and more. For more information visit the website and download the forms to enter. www.maconcountyfair.com
The fair opens with Downstate Classic Harness Racing at 4:30 pm in the grandstand. Tickets are $10 adults to 12, $6 children 11-5, under 4 are free. Ladies can wear a derby hat and have a chance to win 2- $50 gift certificates plus 40 ladies will all receive a goody bag compliments from Shop On Main.
The Macon County Queen Pageant will be held at 6:00 pm Thursday night, June 5th at the grandstand. New this year is the Little Miss and Junior Miss pageants including our Queen pageant. Twenty-six girls will compete for their respective crown. Admission is $7.00 adults to 5 years and children 4 and under are free.
Also on Thursday, the Pride of the Prairie Peewee and Junior Goat Shows start at 6:00 pm. Ranch Horse Sorting begins at 6:00 pm in the Horse arena.
Friday, June 6th, the Agricultural Public Speaking Exposition for 4-H and FFA members to compete in starts at 1:00 pm. Next is the Rodeo starting at 7:00 pm in the grandstand. Following the rodeo is the “After Rodeo After Party” with Pizzaz performing from 9:30 – 11:30 pm on the free music stage.
Saturday starts off with the rabbit show, and the Decatur Trail Riders Horse Memorial Jackpot Speed Show at the East Arena at 11:00 am. Beer & Bags Tournament powered by Soy City Baggers. Teams start playing at noon.
More events continue Saturday. The Illinois Standardbred Association (ISA) Harness Racing starts at 10:30 am in the grandstand with $5.00 admission per person. 2-and 3-year-old filly’s and colts race to the finish line. New this year is the Community Science Fair from 11:00-2:00 pm. Kids will get hands on experiences with games. The Ag Education Activities and Exhibits will be available during the entire fair week. The big ITPA Truck & Tractor Pull starts at 7:00 pm in the grandstand. Tickets are $15 per person adult to 12, $6 children 5 to 11 and children 4 and under are free. Pits are $25 per person and Infield Track Truck parking is $50 per vehicle. The “Tractor Pull After Party” features Absent Ground from Greenup, Illinois and will play from 9:30 – 11:30 pm on the free music stage.
Sunday, June 9th is filled with fun and activity too. The Jr. Jackpot Swine show starts at 9:00 am and the Don Dipper Memorial Junior Jackpot Steer & Heifer Show is at 10:30 am in the livestock barn. Another event is Church in the Barn with outstanding music by Avenue at 10:00 am in the Dunn Company Community Building. Free admission and is open to everyone.
The 2nd Annual Sale of Champions is 4:30 pm in the Dipper Barn. Those exhibitors that won a grand champion or reserve champion ribbon are invited to showcase their animals in this special auction. The animal is not auctioned off. It is the amount of money an individual or business would like to bid on that exhibitor. The winning bid go toward the exhibitor to be used for their future college/education.
And to wind up the 169th fair is the popular Demolition Derby starting at 5:00 pm with Kid’s Power Wheels and the Demolition starts at 6:00 pm in the grandstand. Tickets are $15 per adult to 12 years of age, $6 per child from 11 to 5 and children 4 and under are free.
Other new events at this years’ fair includes the Andy Rotz Wild West Show, The Bertrand’s Petting Zoo, the Millikin University Football Experience, and AG Education Activities.
There will also be carnival rides, the antique tractor display, tasty fair food vendors and our commercial products for sale in the Maltas Building.
“We continue to improve and bring new events to the Macon County Fair each year so that everyone can enjoy it and all the while becoming more familiar with agriculture and the vital role it plays in everyone’s lives. Come out and enjoy 5 full days of fun, said Fair President Evan Hall.”
For carnival hours, specials, the latest schedule of events, the ability to download forms, and purchase tickets for all grandstand events please visit www.maconcountyfair.com. For immediate daily announcements check out the Macon County Fairgrounds Facebook page.