2026 Illinois State Fair Butter Cow Unveiled as 'Miles of Smiles' Theme Celebrates Route 66

2026 butter cow: ‘Miles of Smiles’ is State Fair’s theme in celebration of Route 66 - IPM Newsroom

Illinois Newsroom - The Illinois State Fair will run from Aug. 13-23 in Springfield. The post 2026 butter cow: ‘Miles of Smiles’ is State Fair’s theme in celebration of Route 66 appeared first on IPM Newsroom.

2026 Illinois State Fair butter cow unveiled as 'Miles of Smiles' theme celebrates Route 66

The 2026 butter cow invites Illinois State Fairgoers to "Take a Spin on Route 66" in honor of the Mother Road's centennial.

2026 butter cow: ‘Miles of Smiles’ is State Fair’s theme in celebration of Route 66

The 2026 Illinois State Fair will feature a butter cow themed around the centennial of Route 66 and host several musical performances starting August 14.

See photos of the 2026 Butter Cow at the Illinois State Fair

Gov. JB Pritzker and his wife, MK Pritzker, unveiled the Route 66-themed Illinois State Fair Butter Cow Aug. 12, 2026.

Capitol News Illinois | 2026 butter cow: ‘Miles of Smiles’ is state fair’s theme in celebration of Route 66

The cow sculpture is made of 800 pounds of unsalted butter spread across a wire frame. Much of the butter is “recycled,” meaning it is reused each year, rather than discarded. It was sculpted once again by Iowan Sarah Pratt.

2026 Illinois State Fair Butter Cow Unveiled

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Fair officials unveiled the 2026 Butter Cow in the Dairy Building yesterday. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66, this year’s butter sculpture invites fairgoers to “Take a Spin on Route 66,” highlighting the historic Mother Road. While the iconic Butter Cow remains the centerpiece of the display, this year’s companion sculpture features a woman and her dog heading out on a Rou…