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Sensory-Friendly Fun and Support at the 2026 Illinois State Fair in Springfield

July 13th, 2026

A young Division of Specialized Care for Children participant with a limb difference smiles as he plays in the foam block pit of the Sensory Station at the Illinois State Fair

Come visit DSCC at the fair’s Sensory Station on Aug. 13-17 and enjoy special sensory-friendly Sunflower Hours on Aug. 15

We are excited to once again partner with the Illinois State Fair to provide inclusive, accessible fun for families!

The 2026 Illinois State Fair is happening from Aug. 13-23 at the fairgrounds, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., in Springfield.

Our Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) team will be there to welcome you to the fair’s Sensory Station from Aug. 13-17. The fair is also offering sensory-friendly Sunflower Hours and other programming to make the event a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for all.

DSCC at the Sensory Station

  • Thursday, Aug. 13, to Monday, Aug. 17
  • 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Our DSCC team will be at the fair’s Sensory Station from Thursday, Aug. 13, through Monday, Aug. 17.

The Sensory Station is inside the Emmerson Building, just off Main Street and Brian Raney Avenue in the center of the fairgrounds. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. It is an air-conditioned, dedicated quiet zone with activities and resources to help visitors regroup and refocus.

The Sensory Station’s features and activities include:

  • Calming pods
  • A foam block pit
  • A stuffed animal “petting zoo”
  • A twinkle tunnel, coloring station and other sensory-processing activities

Families can also check out sensory bags to use while exploring the fairgrounds. The bags include noise-canceling headphones, fidgets and sunglasses. There is also stroller parking, a diaper changing station and a nursing area at the Sensory Station’s entrance.

Check out our “DSCC Outreach at the 2026 Illinois State Fair” video to learn more about the Sensory Station and its impact on families.

Nearby, the fair has a First Aid Station with rooms families can use for adult changing stations, tube feedings and other needs. This station is in the Emmerson Building Annex, across from the Dairy Building on Central Avenue. It is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Our DSCC team will also host a tent outside the Sensory Station from Aug. 13 to 17. During these five days, we will have rock-painting and coloring activities, along with information about our programs and services for families statewide.

Sunflower Hours on Aug. 15

  • Saturday, Aug. 15, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Carnival hours from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Enjoy a quieter fair experience during Sunflower Hours on Aug. 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. During this time, the fair will adjust certain programs and activities to create a more calming environment for individuals with sensory processing sensitivities.

The fair has Sunflower Hours stickers available for families to use during this timeframe. This sticker allows fair visitors with sensory sensitivities to enjoy select amusement rides for free from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Youth must have an adult and/or caregiver accompany them on rides. All riders must have the Sunflower Hours sticker to ride for free.

DSCC has a limited number of stickers available for our program participants. To request a Sunflower Hours sticker, please email dscc@uic.edu with your name and your participant’s name by Aug. 6.

We will send stickers on a first-come, first-served basis.

All families may visit the Sensory Station during the Sunflower Hours event to get more stickers. The stickers will be available while supplies last.

Conservation World, located at the fair’s Eighth Street entrance, will also host Sunflower Hours on Saturday, Aug. 15, and Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Fairgoers can explore the great outdoors in a more peaceful and sensory-friendly setting during these times.

Social Story and other resources to Plan Your Visit

The Illinois State Fair has a social story to help you plan your visit to this year’s event. It is a step-by-step guide to help parents and caregivers explain what to expect during a visit to the Illinois State Fair.

You can find the social story and more details about the Sensory Station, Sunflower Hours, the entertainment schedule and more in the Sensory-Friendly Fair section of the Illinois State Fair website.

To find more sensory-friendly activities and events for children and families throughout Illinois, visit our Events page and follow our Facebook page and Instagram page.