Founded in 1928, the Lake County Fair Association is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that manages year-round operations of the Lake County Fairgrounds & Event Center.
The Lake County Fair Association (LCFA) is self-supporting and is not financially dependent on any municipal, county or state government. LCFA is comprised of dues-paying members, led by an elected Board of Directors. Revenues generated by the Fair, membership dues, facilities rental and other activities are re-invested into the annual Lake County Fair and the maintenance and development of the Fairgrounds & Event Center.
Our Mission
The mission of the Lake County Fair Association shall be the preservation of the past, promotion of the future, and education on the future of agriculture, horticulture, mechanical arts, rural and domestic economy of the Lake County Community.
The Lake County Fair Association will hold and promote a county fair each year to serve as its primary means to achieve its mission. The focus of the county fair is to showcase the talents of the youth in the community by providing means to educate, exhibit and compete in various livestock and other projects in which youth are involved. The Association will also use the county fair to highlight the heritage of the county, and its ties to agriculture, industry, and business.
The Lake County Fair Association shall also host and promote various events throughout the year that will aid in sustaining the Fair Association. It will use its own Board Members, as well as volunteers from community organizations, and individuals to make up the necessary manpower and expertise that is needed to insure the Fair Association fulfills its mission.
HISTORY
The rich history of the Lake County Fair dates back over 150 years. Its traditions and community involvement have made memories and great moments for visitors, year after year, generation after generation. The first Lake County Fair was hosted by the Lake County Agricultural Society in 1851 in Antioch. In the years since, the Fair has adopted a variety of names and has been hosted in townships throughout Lake County, including Waukegan, Gurnee, Libertyville and Wauconda. In 1954 the Fair settled in Grayslake at the corner of Highways 45 & 120. In 2008, the Lake County Fair Association (LCFA) purchased the new Fairgrounds property in Grayslake and relocated to the corner of Peterson & Midlothian Roads.
In 1928 the official “Lake County Fair Association” was formed and in the following years various livestock shows and exhibits were added to the Fair. The Fair’s original charter, drafted in 1938, declared it an educational organization and in 1940, it was revised and branded it as a “county fair”. It then and still remains an agricultural fair, but over time many new exhibits, attractions and events have been added to educate and enrich the Lake County community. Exhibits that feature livestock, arts & crafts, industrial & agriculture innovation, homemaking, and culinary arts, educate and entertain Fair visitors year after year. In addition, the Miss Lake County Fair Queen pageant, truck & tractor pulls, rodeos, live entertainment, great food, and a fun-filled carnival make for a great family experience. Come make new history and memories with us as our history extends into the 21st Century!
What We've Achieved
2021 International Awards:
The Lake County Fair Association received 4 Hall of Honor Communications Awards, 1 Competitive Exhibit Award, and 2 Non-Fair Facility Usage Awards from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) for its Lake County Micro Fair, held July 30 - August 1, 2021
