AGR-DQSF-Exempt Procurement Report-Fair 2025

The Illinois Department of Agriculture has posted an Exempt Procurement Report for the 2025 Du Quoin State Fair, detailing 27 contracts exempted from standard procurement code requirements, with a report submission deadline of October 22, 2026.

All contracts are exempted under 20 ILCS 210/7.1 (State Fair Performances), which authorizes the Department to procure artistic, musical, entertainment, and ancillary services — including entertainment, advertising, concessions, space rentals, and sponsorships — without competitive bidding. Contracts exceeding $100,000 in annual value must be published in the Illinois Procurement Bulletin within 30 calendar days of execution; the Department must also provide monthly reports to the Chief Procurement Officer.

The scope spans grandstand entertainment, audio and sound equipment, theatrical lighting and staging, security coordination, catering, and vendor and operational support services. Named headlining acts include David Lee Roth ($200,000), Tesla ($100,000), Tucker Wetmore ($100,000), and Jake Owen ($90,000). Supporting services include audio and sound equipment totaling $267,000 combined and theatrical lighting and staging at $130,300 combined. Individual contract values range from $1,575 for ice vending to $200,000 for headlining entertainment.

Contract periods span single-day performance agreements through multi-year arrangements, with performance dates concentrated during the fair's operational window in August and September 2025; some infrastructure contracts extend through 2026. Total identifiable contract value exceeds $1.3 million for the 2025 fair season.

The statute authorizing these exemptions is scheduled to expire on July 1, 2028.