{"id":37340,"date":"2026-05-06T11:27:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T16:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/?p=37340"},"modified":"2026-05-06T11:27:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T16:27:48","slug":"38-special-to-perform-free-show-at-state-fair-august-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/local-news\/37340-38-special-to-perform-free-show-at-state-fair-august-17\/","title":{"rendered":"38 Special to Perform Free Show at State Fair August 17"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pdfprnt-buttons pdfprnt-buttons-post pdfprnt-top-right\"><a href=\"javascript: window.print()\" class=\"pdfprnt-button pdfprnt-button-print\" target=\"_self\" ><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdf-print\/images\/print.png\" alt=\"image_print\" title=\"Print Content\" \/><span class=\"pdfprnt-button-title pdfprnt-button-print-title\">Print<\/span><\/a><\/div><div>Fairgoers are in for a rockin\u2019 good time at the 2026 Illinois State Fair as legendary southern rock band\u00a0<strong>38 Special<\/strong>\u00a0takes the Grandstand stage for a FREE concert\u00a0on Monday, August 17.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>For more than five decades, 38 Special has brought their signature blast of guitar-driven southern rock to audiences around the world. Known for their infectious blend of muscle and melody, filled with the arena-rock pop hooks, the band has produced a long list of hits that have stood the test of time, including \u201cHold On Loosely,\u201d \u201cCaught Up in You,\u201d \u201cRockin\u2019 Into the Night,\u201d \u201cIf I\u2019d Been the One,\u201d and \u201cSecond Chance.\u201d With over 20 million albums sold, 38 Special continues to tour nationwide, delivering high-energy performances that showcase their timeless sound and unmistakable style. Their music remains a staple on classic rock radio, and their live shows continue to draw fans of all generations.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cWe\u2019re always looking for ways to enhance the value of a day at the Fair,\u201d\u00a0said Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II. \u201cBringing in a band with the legacy and energy of 38 Special for a free show is a great way to make the Grandstand accessible and memorable for everyone.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The FREE 38 Special concert takes place Monday, August 17 at the Illinois State Fair Grandstand. Gates open at 7 p.m. and\u00a0no ticket is required, but attendees must go through security screening prior to entering the Grandstand.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Mark your calendars for the 2026\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/statefair.illinois.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/statefair.illinois.gov\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1778163646988000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2jqrPmeT21CPl1GNhzNP3J\">Illinois State Fair<\/a>, August 13 through August 23 in Springfield.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fairgoers are in for a rockin\u2019 good time at the 2026 Illinois State Fair as legendary southern rock band\u00a038 Special\u00a0takes the Grandstand stage for a FREE concert\u00a0on Monday, August 17. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":30865,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>38 Special to Perform Free Show at State Fair August 17 - Effingham&#039;s News and Sports Leader, 979XFM and KJ Country 102.3<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Effingham&#039;s News and Sports Leader\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/local-news\/37340-38-special-to-perform-free-show-at-state-fair-august-17\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"38 Special to Perform Free Show at State Fair August 17 - 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