Illinois State Fair To Require Masks Indoors And At Grandstands

We are in the midst of the fair season. After an incredible 6 days at the Great One, the 2021 Mississippi Valley Fair which had zero mask requirements, other fairs close to the Quad Cities are starting to implement COVID-19 mitigations which include mask mandates and other requirements. The Illinois State Fair has announced that they will be requiring masks at indoor areas and the grandstands, along with proof of a Vaccine Card, Vaccine Record, or Negative COVID-19 test in other areas of the fair.

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The 2021 Illinois State Fair is still a go. The fair begins Thursday, August 12, 2021, and ends Sunday, August 22, 2021. As the 2021 Illinois State Fair approaches, officials announced updates in their COVID-19 mitigation plans for fair-goers, staff, and vendors.

According to the Illinois State Fair's website, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced mitigations to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant during this year's Illinois State Fair.

Officials say that the Illinois State Fairgrounds is located in Sangamon County which is currently experiencing high transmission rates of the virus.

In accordance with the CDC and IDPH guidance, fair officials say that all fair attendees, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear masks in public indoor settings. Additionally, all those who plan to attend this year's concerts at the Grandstands must wear masks to all performances. This year's grandstand acts include:

• Kane Brown with Restless Road
• Gabriel Iglesias
• Toby Keith with Craig Morgan
• The Traveling Salvation Show
• Chris Young with Ingrid Andress and Payton Smith
• I Love the 90's Tour
• Badflower with Dorothy and Dead Poet Society
• Brett Young with Russell Dickerson
• Bret Michaels
• George Thorogood

Ticketholders in the grandstand track area (also known as Standing Room Only) will be required to provide a print or digital copy of a personal Vaccine Card, Vaccine Record, or Negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before the concert.

Masks will be provided at the grandstand upon entrance as well as in other locations throughout the fairgrounds and must be worn over the nose and mouth indoors and for the duration of all grandstand performances.

Additional mitigations for the 2021 Illinois State Fair include:

• Fairgoers who are unvaccinated are encouraged to wear masks at all times while attending the Fair.
• Masks are required for all (including vaccinated individuals) in public indoor settings on the fairgrounds.
• Masks are required for Grandstand ticket holders. Track ticket holders must provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
• Masks are encouraged for participants and attendees of the Twilight Parade.

Anyone who is sick or showing COVID-19 symptoms should not attend the Illinois State Fair.

Illinois Department of Public Health will also have six vaccinations sites located throughout the fairgrounds.

Other mitigation efforts include:

• Carnival workers, vendors, and concessionaires are required to wear masks and are responsible for assisting in the cleaning of adjacent sitting and picnic table areas.
• Carnival will use fogger machines with a 72-hour disinfectant on all rides.
• Fogger machines will be used to clean the Grandstand, Coliseum, and Multi-Purpose Arena between each event.
• No tram service will be offered.
• Dedicated crews to clean high-touch areas, including restrooms, barns, and common eating areas.
• Hand-washing stations and mounted and portable hand sanitizers throughout the grounds.

All fairgoers are encouraged to receive a vaccination in advance of the fair.

More details can be found on the Illinois State Fair's website.