SPRINGFIELD, IL — The 1970s glam rockers Sweet plays a free show at the Grand Central Stage at the Reisch Pavilion (formerly Food-a-Rama) at the 2026 Illinois State Fair Aug. 15.
Contemporary Christian Music star and Dove Award winner Jordan Feliz returns to Springfield to headline the Powerlight Fest at the Lincoln Stage Aug. 23.
Meanwhile, 38 Special and Warrant carry on a tradition of a free Grandstand show on Aug. 17.
Shows do not include regular fair admission. For a full list of free entertainment, visit the Illinois State Fair website.
Here are five free shows at the Illinois State Fair you won’t want to miss.
Sweet, Reisch Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., Aug. 15
Sweet, sometimes called The Sweet, racked up a string of hits in the 1970s, including “Ballroom Blitz,” “Fox on the Run,” “Love Is Like Oxygen,” “Little Willy,” “No You Don’t” and “Action,” among others.
This version of Sweet was formed by original bassist and co-lead vocalist Steve Priest, who recruited drummer Richie Onori and keyboardist Stevie Stewart for the band. Priest died in 2020, leaving the band to carry on. Guitarist Andy Scott, the only surviving original member, tours with his own rendition of Sweet, mainly in Europe.
38 Special/Warrant, Grandstand, 8 p.m., Aug. 17
The lineage of 38 Special goes back to Donnie Van Zant, the younger brother of Ronnie, the original lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, who died in a 1977 plane crash, and the older brother of Johnny, who has been the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd for nearly 40 years. Donnie stepped away from 38 Special in 2013.
Its string of hits includes “Caught Up in You,” “Fantasy Girl,” “Rockin’ Into the Night,” and “Hold On Loosely,” among others.
Glam rockers Warrant (“Heaven,” “Down Boys” “Cherry Pie”) have been out with Firehouse, Dokken and Lita Ford earlier this year.
Sinead Angele, Apex Stage, noon, Aug. 19 and 6 p.m., Aug. 22
Sinead Angele is a St. Louis–based folk-pop singer-songwriter known for her raw, autobiographical storytelling. Her songs explore mental health, self-reflection and the path toward growth.
Especially listen for “Just Happened to Be There,” “Life Is A Lesson” and “Finally (I Feel It Kicking In).”
The Apex Stage is at the corner of Grandstand and Illinois Avenue.
Vertical Horizon, Reisch Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., Aug. 22
The band formed at Georgetown University by undergraduate students Matt Scannell (guitarist and lead vocalist and the original member) and Keith Kane went on to have its biggest hit with “Everything You Want.” “You’re A God” and “Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)” were minor hits. The band put out new music earlier in 2026.
Vertical Horizon guitarist John Wesley formerly played with the prog rock band Porcupine Tree.
Jordan Feliz, Lincoln Stage, 8 p.m., Aug. 23
The 34th edition of the Powerlight Fest, put on by Greg and Sue Cooper and an army of volunteers, brings back Jordan Feliz (“The River,” “Witness” and “Jesus Is Coming Back,” with Jonathan Traylor and Mandisa), who was on the stage 10 years ago with for KING & COUNTRY.
The festival gets started at 2 p.m. and includes Ignescent and Sean Rodriguez.
In past years, it has attracted some of the biggest names in CCM including Switchfoot, Zach Williams, Jars of Clay and Petra.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Five free shows you’ll want to catch at the Illinois State Fair
Reporting by Steven Spearie, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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By Steven Spearie, Springfield State Journal-Register | USA TODAY Network
