State fair season has arrived, and it won't be long before it's in full swing. From the rides to the exhibits and competitions, the insane food to the performances...we're getting hyped.
If you're looking to travel to your own state fair, or cross a few of the larger ones off your bucket list in 2018, it's time to start making those plans. And here's something that we think might help: a list of 10 state fairs with the most epic concert lineups.
Enjoy evenings of music at the fairgrounds — Photo courtesy of E+/South_agency
Wisconsin State Fair | August 2-12
Make your way to the Main Stage (ticketed separately) or Associated Bank Amphitheater (free with fair admission) at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis to enjoy the following performers.
8 p.m. Aug. 3: Alice Cooper
8:30 p.m. Aug. 3-4: Here Come the Mummies
8 p.m. Aug. 4: BoDeans
7 p.m. Aug. 5: Happy Together Tour featuring The Turtles, Chuck Negron, Gary Puckett, Mark Lindsay, The Association and The Cowsills
8 p.m. Aug. 5: Kids from Wisconsin
7:30 p.m. Aug. 6: Casting Crowns
8 p.m. Aug. 6: Goran and Morgan of The Gufs
7 p.m. Aug. 7: Why Don't We
8 p.m. Aug. 7-8: Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone
7:30 p.m. Aug. 8: Cole Swindell
7:30 p.m. Aug. 9: The Temptations and The Four Tops
8 p.m. Aug. 9: Los Amigos Invisibles
7 p.m. Aug. 10: Slaughter w/ Autograph
8 p.m. Aug. 10: TLC
8 p.m. Aug. 11: Foreigner
8:30 p.m. Aug. 11: Hanson
6 p.m. Aug. 12: Reba McEntire
More info on the Wisconsin State Fair »
Indiana State Fair | August 3-19
At the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, all concerts (listed below) at the Chevrolet Free Stage are included with admission.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 3: Rick Springfield
7:30 p.m. Aug. 4: Natalie Stovall
7 p.m. Aug. 5: Why Don't We
7:30 p.m. Aug. 6: Anthony Hamilton
7:30 p.m. Aug. 7: Tyler Childers
6:30 p.m. Aug. 8: Randy Houser w/ Nora Collins
7:30 p.m. Aug. 9: Kool & The Gang
7:30 p.m. Aug. 10: Hanson
6 p.m. Aug. 11: FireHouse
7:30 p.m. Aug. 11: Warrant
7:30 p.m. Aug. 12: For King & Country
7:30 p.m. Aug. 13: Happy Together Tour featuring The Turtles, Chuck Negron, Gary Puckett, Mark Lindsay, The Association and The Cowsills
7:30 p.m. Aug. 14: Dirty Deeds USA: Xtreme AC/DC
7:30 p.m. Aug. 15: Grand Funk Railroad
7:30 p.m. Aug. 16: Hunter Hayes
7:30 p.m. Aug. 17: Here Come the Mummies
7:30 p.m. Aug. 18: Robby Krieger (of The Doors)
7:30 p.m. Aug. 19: Kirk Franklin
More info on the Indiana State Fair »
Illinois State Fair | August 9-19
You'll need to purchase a separate ticket to enjoy any of these Grandstand shows at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
8 p.m. Aug. 10: Boy George and Culture Club w/ Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey
7:30 p.m. Aug. 11: Halestorm and Mastodon w/ New Year's Day
8 p.m. Aug. 12: Foreigner w/ Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
8 p.m. Aug. 14: Luke Combs w/ Ashley McBryde
7 p.m. Aug. 15: 311 and The Offspring w/ Gym Class Heroes
8 p.m. Aug. 16: Thomas Rhett w/ Danielle Bradbery
8 p.m. Aug. 17: Brett Eldredge w/ Devin Dawson
8 p.m. Aug. 18: Flo Rida & Ludacris w/ Childish Major
8 p.m. Aug. 19: Brantley Gilbert w/ Muscadine Bloodline
Iowa State Fair | August 9-19
Grandstand tickets are sold separately for concerts at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. There are three stages and one amphitheater, however, which offer loads of free concerts.
8 p.m. Aug. 9: Casting Crowns
8 p.m. Aug. 10: Reba McEntire w/ Chase Bryant
8 p.m. Aug. 11: Daughtry w/ Ben Rector
8 p.m. Aug. 12: Old Dominion w/ High Valley
8 p.m. Aug. 13: Papa Roach and Chevelle w/ Bad Authority
8 p.m. Aug. 15: Thomas Rhett w/ Danielle Bradbery
8 p.m. Aug. 16: Earth, Wind & Fire w/ Sinbad
8 p.m. Aug. 17: Sugarland w/ Frankie Ballard and Lindsay Ell
8 p.m. Aug. 18: Peter Cetera w/ Blood, Sweat & Tears
8 p.m. Aug. 19: Florida Georgia Line w/ Jillian Jacqueline
More info on the Iowa State Fair »
The Great New York State Fair | August 22 - September 3
At the fairgrounds in Syracuse, you'll find two venues hosting the free-with-admission concerts listed below: Chevy Court and Experience Stage.
4 p.m. Aug. 22: Mir Fontane
7 p.m. Aug. 22: Eddie Money
8 p.m. Aug. 22: Blondie
2 p.m. Aug. 23: Dave Mason and Steve Cropper
8 p.m. Aug. 23: Tedeschi Trucks Band
8 p.m. Aug. 23: All Time Low
2 p.m. Aug. 24: Ravyn Lenae
8 p.m. Aug. 24: Ludacris
2 p.m. Aug. 25: +LIVE+
8 p.m. Aug. 25: Counting Crows
2 p.m. Aug. 26: Jackyl
8 p.m. Aug. 26: Hunter Hayes
2 p.m. Aug. 27: Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone
8 p.m. Aug. 27: Smokey Robinson
8 p.m. Aug. 27: John Kay & Steppenwolf
2 p.m. Aug. 28: The Temptations
8 p.m. Aug. 28: Dickey Betts
2 p.m. Aug. 29: Moriah Formica
8 p.m. Aug. 29: Lil Yachty
2 p.m. Aug. 30: Jukin' Bone
8 p.m. Aug. 30: Hanson
8 p.m. Aug. 30: Foghat
2 p.m. Aug. 31: The Spirit of Johnny Cash featuring Harold Ford
8 p.m. Aug. 31: Big & Rich
2 p.m. Sep. 1: Collective Soul
8 p.m. Sep. 1: ZZ Top
2 p.m. Sep. 2: The Brownskin Band + Joe Driscoll
8 p.m. Sep. 2: A Boogie wit da Hoodie
1 p.m. Sep. 3: Maren Morris
6 p.m. Sep. 3: Niall Horan
Minnesota State Fair | August 23 - September 3
In addition to the ticketed Grandstand shows we list here, attendees at the fairgrounds in St. Paul can also enjoy 900 other shows, free with admission.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 23: Niall Horan w/ Maren Morris
7:30 p.m. Aug. 24: Sugarland w/ Frankie Ballard and Lindsay Ell
6:30 p.m. Aug. 25: Trampled by Turtles w/ Lord Huron and Lissie
7:30 p.m. Aug. 26: Earth, Wind & Fire w/ Sinbad
8 p.m. Aug. 27: The Beach Boys w/ The Righteous Brothers
7:30 p.m. Aug. 28: Jason Mraz and Brett Dennen
7 p.m. Aug. 29: Old Dominion w/ Neal McCoy and Morgan Evans
7 p.m. Aug. 31: 311 and The Offspring w/ Gym Class Heroes
7:30 p.m. Sep. 1: Hairball w/ Kat Perkins
6:30 p.m. Sep. 3: Boy George and Culture Club w/ Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey
More info on the Minnesota State Fair »
Nebraska State Fair | August 24 - September 3
Enjoy an alfresco performance at Grand Island's Fonner Park Track Infield or an indoor show at its Heartland Events Center. Tickets for these events are sold separately.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 24: Kelly Clarkson
7:30 p.m. Aug. 25: Sugarland w/ Frankie Ballard
2 p.m. Aug. 29: The Righteous Brothers
7:30 p.m. Aug. 30: Francesca Battistelli
7:30 p.m. Aug. 31: Old Dominion
7:30 p.m. Sep 2: Night Ranger
Washington State Fair | August 31 - September 23
The concert series at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup is quite the lineup with nearly 20 nights of music. You'll have to buy tickets for each individual as they aren't included with regular fair admission.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 31: Chicago
7:30 p.m. Sep. 1: Khalid w/ Taylor Bennett
7:30 p.m. Sep. 2: Florida Georgia Line w/ Morgan Wallen
9 p.m. Sep. 7: Scotty McCreery
9 p.m. Sep. 8: Jamey Johnson
7:30 p.m. Sep. 10: Rain: A Tribute to The Beatles
7:30 p.m. Sep. 12: Seal
7:30 p.m. Sep. 13: Boy George and Culture Club w/ Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey
7:30 p.m. Sep. 15: Toby Keith w/ Ned LeDoux
7:30 p.m. Sep. 17: Lauren Daigle w/ Zach Williams
7:30 p.m. Sep. 19: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Cheap Trick
7:30 p.m. Sep. 20: Brett Eldgredge w/ Runaway June and Devin Dawson
7:30 p.m. Sep. 21: Macklemore
7:30 p.m. Sep. 23: Rascal Flatts w/ Trent Harmon
The Big E | September 14-30
The Big E held in West Springfield, Mass. offers two venues for shows. Buy separate tickets for big-name performers headlining at the outdoor Xfinity Arena, or enjoy equally enticing events at the Court of Honor Stage, free with admission.
3 p.m. Sep. 14-16: Blessid Union of Souls
7:30 p.m. Sep. 14: The Marshall Tucker Band
7:30 p.m. Sep. 15: Old Dominion
8 p.m. Sep. 15: Reel Big Fish
7:30 p.m. Sep. 16: Casting Crowns
8 p.m. Sep. 16: Morris Day & The Time
3 & 8 p.m. Sep. 17-18: Tony Orlando
7:30 p.m. Sep. 21: B.B. King's Blues Band featuring Tito Jackson
8 p.m. Sep. 21: Max Creek
7:30 p.m. Sep. 22: Ice-T
8 p.m. Sep. 22: Grandmaster Flash
8 p.m. Sep. 23: NRBQ
3 & 8 p.m. Sep. 24-25: The Drifters and The Platters
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. Sep. 26-30: The Official Blues Brothers Revue
7:30 p.m. Sep. 28: Jacob Sartorious
3 p.m. Sep. 28-30 Jefferson Starship
6 p.m. Sep. 29: The Sisterhood Band
6:45 p.m. Sep. 29: Trent Harmon
7:45 p.m. Sep. 29: RaeLynn
8:45 p.m. Sep. 29: Chase Bryant
5:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. Sep. 29: Tom Dobson
8 p.m. Sep. 29 Noah Cyrus
Arizona State Fair | October 5 - 28
The concert series annually held at the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix tends to draw big names. Tickets for these shows are sold separately, and there will be more lineup announcements to come as the fair dates get closer.
7 p.m. Oct. 5: Gary Allan
7 p.m. Oct. 6: The Flaming Lips
7 p.m. Oct. 10: .38 Special
7 p.m. Oct. 11: The Wallflowers
7 p.m. Oct. 12: MC Magic, Baby Bash, Lil Rob and Brown
7 p.m. Oct. 20: Big & Rich
7 p.m. Oct. 24: Casting Crowns
7 p.m. Oct. 25: Nate Rateliff & the Night Sweats
