Fair will run from Aug. 13-23 in Springfield

 SPRINGFIELD — The 2026 butter cow invites Illinois State Fairgoers to “Take a Spin on Route 66” in honor of the Mother Road’s centennial.

The grand marshal for the fair’s Twilight Parade this year is Route 66, and the fair’s theme is “Miles of Smiles” as a send-up to the Mother Road. This year’s cow is accompanied by a girl eating ice cream. A companion sculpture shows a dog and a scooter “heading out on a Route 66 adventure,” per Gov. JB Pritzker.  

“It recognizes the 100th anniversary of that historic road that started right here in Illinois,” Pritzker said. 

94.1 WGFA