Jersey County Approves Tourism Funds for 2026 Events

Grants will support a Chris Cagle concert at the county fair and other local attractions.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 4:21pm

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A sweeping, geometric illustration in the Art Deco style, featuring towering, streamlined forms and bold gradients, conceptually representing the grand scale and excitement of a major county fair concert event.The annual Jersey County Fair concert, featuring country star Chris Cagle, is set to be a major draw for visitors to the region in 2026.Jerseyville Today

The Jersey County Board has approved tourism grant funding for several events in 2026, including a Chris Cagle concert at the Jersey County Fair, a fishing fair, and local markets. The board also approved a $50,000 donation to the City of Grafton to support the National Memorial of Military Ascent.

Why it matters

These tourism grants help drive economic activity and attract visitors to Jersey County, supporting the local economy. The Chris Cagle concert in particular is expected to be a major draw for the county fair, building on its success as an annual event.

The details

The Jersey County Board approved tourism grant requests from multiple organizations for events in 2026, including $25,000 for a Chris Cagle concert at the Jersey County Fair, $10,000 for a fishing fair, and $5,000 each for local markets in Jerseyville and Grafton. The board also approved a $50,000 donation to the City of Grafton to support the National Memorial of Military Ascent.

  • The Jersey County Board approved the tourism grants on April 16, 2026.
  • The Chris Cagle concert at the Jersey County Fair will take place in 2026.

The players

Jersey County Board

The governing body of Jersey County, Illinois that approved the tourism grants.

Chris Cagle

A country music singer who will headline the concert at the Jersey County Fair in 2026.

City of Grafton

The recipient of a $50,000 donation from Jersey County to support the National Memorial of Military Ascent.

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What they’re saying

“Each of these grants are the same as the amounts approved last year, aside from the Fair Concert grant, as there was no concert at last year's fair. He said the Fair Board is hoping to make the concert an ongoing annual event at the fair, and that this year's concert will feature Chris Cagle.”

— Gary Krueger, Jersey County Board Chairman

What’s next

The Chris Cagle concert and other approved events are expected to take place in Jersey County throughout 2026.

The takeaway

The tourism grants approved by the Jersey County Board demonstrate the county's commitment to supporting local events and attractions that drive economic activity and bring visitors to the area. The addition of the Chris Cagle concert at the county fair is a particularly exciting development that is likely to be a major draw for the community.