Fairgrounds - Knox County Scenic Drive

The Scenic Drive Side of the Fairgrounds

1900 Fair Poster
The Knox County Fairgrounds has a history almost as old as the county. For the Scenic Drive, the 60-acre fairground provides ample free parking with handicap accesibility. Buildings are filled from end to end with displays, demonstrations and assorted vendors. A history booth will be set up containing county fair memorabilia from the past 150 years.

Native American by Margaret Cozadd

You will be excited to find antiques, barnboard collectibles, crafts of every kind, furniture, pottery and flea market items. The Spoon River Antique Tractor Association will display antique farm machinery and hold field demonstrations that will bring back many memories. Kiddie train rides will be available for the little ones. A county-wide information booth will be at it's new location at the front entrance of the fairgrounds to help guide you through the many stops.

Train Ride Old Car Wooden Products by Georgia Woods Old Car Crafts

Don't forget to bring your appetite. An assortment of food vendors will serve breakfast, butterfly pork chips, rib-eye steak sandwiches, funnel cakes, onion rings, elephant ears, corn dogs, lemon shakeups, and other goodies along the pathway with plenty of picnic tables for dining. A farmer's market will be filled with fresh fall produce, including apples, pumpkins and gourds grown locally, and a variety of jellies and jams.

A Century and a Half of History

The Knox County Fair is the oldest existing fair chartered by the Department of Agriculture in the State of Illinois. A fair has been held here every year since 1851 except for two.

The grounds were the site of troop training during the Civil War. In 1862, the 102nd Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Army trained here and caused so much damage to the grounds that the fair was canceled that year. A stipend was collected from the state for damages, improvements were made and more land was purchased. In 1943, the fair was closed because of World War II, but it reopened the following year.

1906 Harness Race The first grandstand events were harness racing, which is still held each year during the fair. The bell used to start the races can be seen now hanging under the old water tower once used to provide water for steam engines. An 1890's horse barn and a barracks moved to the grounds from W.W.II Camp Ellis still stand along with two older buildings believed to date back to the fair's beginnings. All four buildings are slated for renovation starting next year.

For more information about the Fairgrounds stop of the Scenic Drive, please contact:

Knox County Fairgrounds
Thomas Collopy
1636 Knox Road 1550N
Dahinda, IL 61428
(309) 639-2302
knoxcofair@hotmail.com Knox County Fairgrounds
Main Office
1392 Knox Highway 9
Knoxville, IL 61448
(309) 289-2714

If you are interested in more information about Knox County Fair, please visit this website:

Knox County Fair
(http://www.knoxfair.com)

scenicdrive@gallatinriver.net