CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – With the 2025 Illinois State Fair just weeks away, fair organizers are extending ticket office hours to make it easier for families to save big on rides, concerts, and admission. The Grandstand Box Office and Mega Pass Office will be open on select evenings and weekends to accommodate early buyers, helping avoid long lines and rising prices.

The Grandstand Box Office will offer extended hours for in-person and phone sales on:

• Thursday, July 24 from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

• Saturday, August 2 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Regular weekday hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will extend to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. once the fair begins on August 7.

Alongside concert tickets, attendees can purchase passes for high-octane arena events including:

• Monsters of Destruction (Aug. 7)

• Wooten Rodeo (Aug. 9)

• Truck & Tractor Pulls (Aug. 11–13)

• Demolition Derby (Aug. 16)

• USAC Bettenhausen 100 and Menards Series Springfield 100 auto races (Aug. 16–17)

Meanwhile, the countdown is on for one of the best deals of the summer—the Illinois State Fair Mega Pass, which offers unlimited carnival rides for all 11 days of the fair. Currently on sale for $80, the price jumps after August 1.

To help families cash in on the savings, the Mega Pass Office is also offering extended hours:

• Thursday, July 24 from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

• Saturday, July 26 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Saturday, August 2 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• August 4–6 from 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

“Families planning to attend more than once can really stretch their dollars with the Mega Pass,” said Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark. “It’s one of the best ways to save—and time is running out.”

Already bought your Mega or Jumbo Pass? Avoid delays by picking it up during extended hours. While there, consider grabbing a Discount Admission Book for $45, good for 11 any-day fair entries. Or, add a Seasonal Infield Parking Pass for $40.

2025 Grandstand Concert Series Lineup:

• Aug. 8: Jake Owen with Jo Dee Messina

• Aug. 9: The Black Crowes with Southall

• Aug. 10: Megan Moroney with Kameron Marlowe – Sold Out!

• Aug. 12: Sheryl Crow

• Aug. 13: Snoop Dogg with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

• Aug. 14: Brad Paisley with Tucker Wetmore

• Aug. 15: The Chainsmokers

• Aug. 16: Def Leppard

• Aug. 17: Turnpike Troubadours with Whitey Morgan

All paid concerts offer a $30 Pre-Show Party ticket upgrade, and flexible payment plans may be available via Klarna through Ticketmaster. The 2025 Illinois State Fair runs August 7–17 in Springfield. For tickets and updates, visit StateFair.Illinois.gov or follow the fair on Facebook and Instagram.