Du Quoin State Fair Unveils Free Beer Tent Entertainment Lineup (Du Quoin, IL) – The Du Quoin State Fair is bringing more than just big-name acts to its Grandstand this summer. Fair organizers have announced the full lineup of free live music set for the popular Beer Tent stage, offering fairgoers an array of afternoon, evening, and late-night entertainment from Aug. 22 through Sept. 1.
The series kicks off on opening night, Friday, Aug. 22, with Dirtwater Fox at 5 p.m. followed by national alternative rock favorites Sister Hazel at 9 p.m. Other highlights include Murphy 500 on Saturday, Aug. 23, Backline5 on Sunday, Aug. 24, and Lone Howl on Thursday, Aug. 28. Local and regional favorites such as the Craig Gerdes Band, The Hoot N Holler Band, and Well Hungarians will also take the stage throughout the fair.
Each day features a special theme — from Family Day to Veterans Day to Labor Day — with entertainment scheduled to match. Weekend afternoons will showcase bands like Kyle Woodside, Darla’s Crush, Whiskey and Rust, and Dirtwater Fox, while evenings will spotlight crowd-pleasing rock, country, and blues acts.
All performances in the Beer Tent are free to attend. For those seeking bigger ticket shows, Grandstand concerts — featuring major country and rock performers — remain available for purchase at the Du Quoin Grandstand box office or online through Ticketmaster.
The 2025 Du Quoin State Fair runs from Aug. 22 to Sept. 1. Admission to the fair is free, with complimentary parking on opening day. Parking for the remainder of the fair is $15 at Gate 1 and $10 at all other gates. Seasonal and handicap parking information can be found at dsf.illinois.gov.
Du Quoin State Fair Unveils Free Beer Tent Entertainment Lineup
