Originally Posted by
CousinNick
Illinois actually has two "state fairs," too. The DuQuoin State Fair in southern Illinois is in September. That's definitely a rural part of the state.
I've always wondered why Illinois needs more than one state fair, but southern Illinois is very different geographically and culturally from the rest of the state.
You could also argue that Chicago is its own state too, but not one that would have a fair.