Carbondale Reporter

State Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud) recently took to Facebook to provide valuable details on acquiring tickets for the highly anticipated Illinois State Fair.

"The Illinois State Fair Box Office is opening for in-person grandstand ticket purchases Thursday, June 1," he said in the post.

The post also shared a link to a WGEM report that highlighted the opening day of the box office. Attendees can now secure tickets for a wide array of events including concerts, shows and attractions such as the ISF Bares, Broncs and Bulls rodeo; the ISF Championship Demolition Derby; and the ITPA Truck & Tractor Pulls presented by the Illinois Soybean Association.

The upcoming 2023 Illinois State Fair is scheduled to run from Aug.10 to Aug. 20. Throughout the event, the fairgrounds will welcome spectators and exhibitors from 7 a.m. to midnight, providing ample time to experience all the festivities. Admission prices vary depending on the day and age group. Children under 12 can enter for free, while adults will pay $10 on Friday and Saturday. From Monday to Thursday, adults can expect to pay $5, and seniors will be charged $3. For detailed information on admission rates, discounts, special days and parking rates, visit statefair.illinois.gov/info.html.

The State Fair will kick off on Aug. 10 with County Fair and Horse Racing Day, according to website's Daily Schedule page. Each day of the fair will feature its own unique theme catering to diverse interests. Some of the noteworthy themes include Veteran and Gold Star Families Day, Kids' Day, Governor's Day (when Gov. JB Pritzker may host special guests including former governors), Republican Day on Aug. 17, and Family Day on Aug.20.

Friess has deep roots in Illinois, having been born and raised in the state, his General Assembly biography said. Currently representing the 115th House District, he was elected in 2020 and has since been an active member of various committees, including the Adoption & Child Welfare; Cybersecurity, Data Analytics & IT; Higher Education; Judiciary - Civil; Judiciary - Criminal; Revenue & Finance; Civil Procedure & Tort Liability; Family Law & Probate; Sentencing, Penalties and Criminal; Sex Offenses and Sex Offender Reg; and Higher Ed-Special Topics committees; along with the Property Tax- and Investigations and Reporting subcommittees.