The Illinois State Fair, known for its giant Abraham Lincoln statue, thrilling carnival rides, and grandstand concerts, is adding a competitive eating contest to its diverse lineup of events.
This year’s Illinois State Fair will partner with the Springfield State Journal Register to host a daily Competitive Eating Contest throughout the fair’s duration. Three contestants will face off to see who can eat the most in five minutes. All foods featured in the eating contest are fair favorites, including the winning dish from the annual Golden Abe Fair Food Competition.
“Food is a big part of the Illinois State Fair and the State Journal-Register is excited to be involved in this competition,” said Bryan Groves, vice president of consumer sales and marketing. “This will be a unique way to highlight traditional fair foods and help people learn about all the great food options at the Illinois State Fair.”
If you think you have what it takes to consume all this delicious food and massive amounts of calories, visit the Fair’s website to sign up for the contest of your choice. The contests will take place at 3:00 p.m. daily on the new Rising Star Stage, located next to The Shed and across from the Lincoln Stage.
The contest schedule and featured foods are listed below:
Friday, August 11 – 3:00 p.m. – Watermelon
Saturday, August 12 – 3:00 p.m. – Corn Dogs
Sunday, August 13 – 3:00 p.m. – Cantaloupe
Monday, August 14 – 3:00 p.m. – Mini Donuts
Tuesday, August 15 – 3:00 p.m. – Sweet Corn – provided by the Illinois Specialty Growers Association
Wednesday, August 16 – 3:00 p.m. – Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches
Thursday, August 17 – 3:00 p.m. – French Fries
Friday, August 18 – 3:00 p.m. – Ribeye Sandwiches
Saturday, August 19 – 3:00 p.m. – Golden Abe winning food item
Sunday, August 20 – 3:00 p.m. – Funnel Cakes
As you stroll the fairgrounds this year, keep an eye out for the Golden Abe award winners. They’ll have signage at their booths showcasing their Illinois State Fair achievement! As you enjoy the sweet, savory, inventive and delicious food, be sure to cast your vote via our text messaging campaign for who you think is most deserving of the “People’s Choice” award.
The Illinois State Fair runs from August 10-20 in Springfield. Start planning your visit today! Information and updates are posted daily on the website and the Illinois State Fair mobile app.
