SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Don't feel like waiting in line at the DMV? Well, if you're going to the Illinois State Fair you can knock out your driving related errands.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced his office has a tent where visitors can apply for a REAL ID, renew a driver's license or vehicle registration, use free genealogy searches to explore family history, meet award-winning Illinois authors and take part in free kids' activities.
There will be Pop-a-Shot basketball hoops, a color station and Illinois authors reading their books aloud and signing copies during select times. 100 books from each author will be given away during scheduled appearances.
For DMV services available at the fair people can:
- Apply for a REAL ID, driver’s license or state ID card.
- Renew a driver’s license or state ID card.
- Switch from a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License (TVDL) to a standard driver’s license.
- Renew vehicle registrations.
- Apply for a Persons with Disabilities placard.
- Join the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry.
To save time, visitors are encouraged to check www.ilsos.gov before coming to the fair to make sure they have all required documents for their transaction.
Representatives from the Secretary of State’s Archives Department will conduct genealogy searches at no charge. Representatives from the Business Services Department will be on hand to assist those wanting to start a business, file paperwork or look up an existing business.
The Secretary of State’s tent, located on Brian Raney Avenue near the southeast corner of the fairgrounds, will be open daily Aug. 13 to Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The tent will close at 4 p.m. on the final day of the fair.
2026 Illinois Reads Author Schedule
- Aug. 14 | 10 a.m. - Noon: Dana Miroballi, Inventions to Count On
- Aug. 15 | 10 a.m. - Noon: Nicole M. Hewitt, The Song of Orphan’s Garden
- Aug. 15 | 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Darcy Day Zoells, Smithy and Me
- Aug. 16 | 10 a.m. - Noon: Kate Hannigan, Rachel Carson’s Wonder-Filled World
- Aug. 16 | 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Jacob Grant, Turtle Slept In
- Aug. 17 | 10 a.m. - Noon: Jeffrey Brown, Hulk Teach 2
- Aug. 18 | 10 a.m. - Noon: Chelsea Tornetto, Seasons on the Farm
- Aug. 19 | 10 a.m. - Noon: Jessie Ann Foley, Severe and Unusual Weather
- Aug. 20 | 10 a.m. - Noon: Juleesa Espinoza and Veronica Castillo, Emilia’s Corte
- Aug. 21 | 10 a.m. - Noon: Lisa Maggiore, Ava the Monster Slayer
- Aug. 22 | 10 a.m. - Noon: Zach Von Zonk, E-I-UFO
- Aug. 22 | 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Kristin Nilsen, The Scott Fenwick Diaries
- Aug. 23 | 10 a.m. - Noon: Gene Ha, Mae
- Aug. 23 | 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Betsy Bird, POP!
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