DuQuoin State Fairgrounds — Local services in Du Quoin

As a young person who values animals in their natural habitat--not beheaded on a wall, like Cecil the lion, or dragged across the country, like Nosey the elephant--I was shocked to learn that the DuQuoin State Fair is hosting Nosey (aka "Tiny"), who has been abused and neglected by exhibitor Hugo Liebel for decades.

Nosey has been showing signs of painful arthritis for nearly a year, and she has no business being hauled around in a cramped trailer and forced to perform tricks. Liebel's animal-welfare violations span decades. He has been cited with nearly 200 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), and in 2013, he was ordered to pay a penalty following nearly three dozen charges for AWA violations, including for chaining Nosey so tightly that she could barely move, denying her adequate veterinary care, and endangering the public. And according to a board-certified veterinarian with decades of experience working with elephants, Nosey has "undergone long term suffering and abuse."

Surely, cruelty to animals, public endangerment, and violators of federal law have no place at your family-friendly event. Please make the compassionate and prudent decision to join the growing number of venues that canceled plans to exhibit Nosey after learning about Liebel's...

I visited the fairgrounds to attend the EnVogue and the Ludacris Concerts! Let me tell you, they did their thang. The DuQuoin State Fair Grounds were well maintained! Plenty of parking, reasonable parking fees, friendly attendents, security on point (IL State Police: So. IL Region), clean grounds, all venders were well spaced out, food venders had excellent food that was reasonable in prices, plenty of varieties to choose from, bath room facilities kept clean (I was very happy about that; they upped their standards), had maps of the fair grounds, a listing online of all the events to take place, cooling centers, the rides were spacious apart from each other and there were many, games and prizes, plenty of people from all over the U.S. and followed State Covid protocols to the T! They've done a great job in upping their facilities & grounds to make sure we all could have a very joyful experience!...

I grew up in the area have I attended the state fair there many times over the past 45 years as well as other events at the fair grounds. The up kept on the property is great even when not being used. I just wish the state of Illinois would give the Du Quion State fair the same amount of money for entertainment that Springfield gets. This year Springfield received over $5,000,000 and Du Quion received way less than a $1,000,000. I believe that us locals in Southern Illinois deserve to get the same quality entertainment that Springfield gets. I work in Southern Illinois pay taxes here but we get shorted???? Little upset that the state short changes us. But it is a great fair still all in all. Lots of memories here. And yes I will be going back for the second time this year tonight. It was a blessing to take my grandkids over last Friday night. Hopefully they have made some memories that they can share with their...