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UID:5744@dev.dscc.uic.edu
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250807T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250810T190000
DTSTAMP:20250724T202322Z
URL:https://dev.dscc.uic.edu/events/sensory-friendly-hours-and-activities-
 at-the-2025-illinois-state-fair-in-springfield/
SUMMARY:Sensory-Friendly Hours and Activities at the 2025 Illinois State Fa
 ir in Springfield
DESCRIPTION:The 2025 Illinois State Fair will offer free entertainment\, ac
 tivities and a dedicated quiet zone for individuals with sensory-processin
 g needs\n\nThe 2025 Illinois State Fair is happening in Springfield from A
 ug. 7-17.\n\nWe are excited to once again help support the Illinois State 
 Fair’s sensory-friendly efforts.\n\nOur Division of Specialized Care for
  Children (DSCC) team members from central Illinois will help staff the fa
 ir’s Sensory Station. The fair is also offering sensory-friendly Sunflow
 er Hours and other programming to make the fair a more comfortable and enj
 oyable experience for all.\n\nOur DSCC team will be at the fair’s Sensor
 y Station from Thursday\, Aug. 7\, through Sunday\, Aug. 10.\n\nThe Sensor
 y Station is inside the Emmerson Building\, just off Main Street and Brian
  Raney Avenue in the center of the fairgrounds. It will be open from 10 a.
 m. to 7 p.m. daily.\n\nIt is an air-conditioned\, dedicated quiet zone wit
 h activities and resources to help visitors regroup and refocus.\n\nThe Se
 nsory Station will feature:\n\n 	Noise-canceling headphones\n 	Calming pod
 s\n 	A foam block pit\n 	A stuffed animal “petting zoo”\n 	A coloring 
 station and other sensory-friendly activities\n\nThese tools and activitie
 s are for children and adults who need help processing the sights\, smells
 \, noises and crowds at the fair.\n\nOur DSCC team will also have a tent a
 nd table outside the Sensory Station on these four days. We will have colo
 ring activities and information about our programs and services for famili
 es.\n\nThe fair is also hosting Sunflower Hours on Saturday\, Aug. 9\, fro
 m 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. During this time\, the fair will adjust certain progra
 ms and activities to create a softer\, more calming environment for childr
 en and adults with sensory processing sensitivities.\n\nThe fair has Sunfl
 ower Hours stickers available for families to use during this timeframe. T
 his sticker allows fair visitors with sensory sensitivities to enjoy selec
 t amusement rides for free during the Sunflower Hours. Riders must have th
 e Sunflower Hours sticker and an adult and/or caregiver accompanying them.
 \n\nDSCC has a limited number of stickers available for our program partic
 ipants. If you are a DSCC participant family and would like us to send you
  a Sunflower Hours sticker\, please email dscc@uic.edu with your name an
 d your participant’s name. To allow enough time to mail stickers\, pleas
 e make your request by Aug. 1. We will send stickers on a first-come\, fi
 rst-served basis.\n\nAll families may visit the Sensory Station during the
  Sunflower Hours event to get more stickers. The stickers will be availabl
 e while supplies last.\n\nConservation World\, located at the fair’s Eig
 ht Street entrance\, will also host Sunflower Hours on  Aug. 9 and Aug. 1
 2 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Fairgoers can explore the great outdoors in a more 
 peaceful and sensory-friendly setting during these times.\n\nThe Illinois 
 State Fair has a social story to help you plan your visit to this year
 ’s event. It is a step-by-step guide to help parents and caregivers expl
 ain what to expect during a visit to the Illinois State Fair.\n\nYou can f
 ind the social story and more details about the Sensory Station\, Sunflowe
 r Hours\, the entertainment schedule and more in the Sensory Friendly Fair
  section of the Illinois State Fair website.
CATEGORIES:Special Event
LOCATION:Illinois State Fairgrounds\, 801 E. Sangamon Ave.\, Springfield\, 
 Illinois\, 62702\, United States
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 ngfield\, Illinois\, 62702\, United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Illi
 nois State Fairgrounds:geo:0,0
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