Make the most of your State Fair of Virginia experience in 2026 with this detailed guide.
The State Fair of Virginia is once again returning to Doswell’s The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County from Sept. 25 to Oct. 4.
One of Virginia’s largest annual events, the fair offers a smorgasbord of dazzling entertainment, impressive competitions, engaging educational expos, and mouthwatering food options. The state fair is so impressive, it draws between 240,000 and 250,000 attendees each year.
Here’s your guide to making the most out of your 2026 State Fair of Virginia experience.
Entertainment
Enjoy a wide range of entertainment options at the fair, ranging from classic amusement rides to concerts by current chart-topping artists.
Main Stage Concerts
All Main Stage concerts are free to attend. Concerts are held every day at 7:30 p.m.
Headliners will include Sammy Kershaw on Sept. 25, Lakeview on Sept. 26, The Jack Wharf Band on Sept. 27, George Birge on Sept. 28, Brencore on Sept. 29, Colt Ford on Sept. 30, Leanna Crawford on Oct. 1, Red Camel Collective and The Amanda Cook Band on Oct. 2, O-Town & LFO on Oct. 3, and Parmalee on Oct. 4.
You should definitely plan to attend the Parmalee concert. The band will put on quite a show given it has six No. 1 country hits. Make sure you listen for “Cowgirl,” the band’s longest-running No. 1 single.
Free entertainment
A variety of free entertainment acts will be available for viewing at the fair, including pig racing, a chainsaw artist, one-man circus, draft horses, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln impersonators, rubber chicken show, magician, strong man show, and trampoline, acrobatic, and juggling performers.
Select shows will only take place on certain nights, including Dueling Pianos on Sept. 25 and 26, The Dennis Lee Show from Sept. 24 through Oct. 4 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Revenge Roughstock Rodeo on Sept. 28 and 29, and SVTPA Tractor Pulls on Oct. 3 and 4.
Amusement rides
The fair partners with Deggeller Attractions for its amusement rides. The Midway Madness for adults and The Kidway for children are the two biggest draws. Other rides include Dragon Coaster, Tea Cups, and Vertigo.
Reloadable cards can be purchased to add credits for rides, with $10 equaling 100 credits, $20 equaling 200 credits, and $50 equaling 550.
Meadow Pavilion
Learn about Virginia’s agricultural commodities, including Virginia peanuts, tobacco, and soybeans, by visiting the Meadow Pavilion.
The Virginia Farm Bureau will offer multi-part interactive educational simulation displays, like the Farm Tour Tractor Cab, chop corn, and chicken house. You can also check out the Farm Product Kiosk to see how your food travels from the farm to your table.
Natural Resource Area
If you’ve checked out the Natural Resource Area in the past, you’ll be surprised to find the reimagined area now that it’s in the Farm Bureau Center.
Your passion for the outdoors will be satisfied as you connect with state agencies, like the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, marvel at a giant turtle, and check out horseshoe crabs.
Competitions
The fair offers Virginians the opportunity to appreciate the outputs from some of the commonwealth’s most dedicated cooks, crafters, and farmers.
Culinary & Creative Arts Competitions
Go through and marvel at some of the culinary and creative arts creations people have entered into the competition. Categories include youth and adult culinary arts, youth and adult creative arts, and adult quilting.
The culinary arts competitions include such categories as yeast breads, cakes, and pies.
The creative arts competitions include an extensive range of categories, including photography, painting and drawing, crafts, jewelry, needlework, fabric arts, and STEM.
Be sure to check out some of the unique quilts that have been entered into the competition, including those created specifically to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary.
If you’re so inclined, you can register your own creations into the competition by Sept. 11.
Horticulture & Field Crops Competitions
Marvel at some of the best products produced by Virginia farmers by checking out the horticulture and field crops competitions. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see some vegetables that are as big, if not bigger, as you.
The horticulture competition categories include open crops and vegetables, plants and cut flowers, youth plants and cut flowers, honey, preserved foods, and giant pumpkins and vegetables.
Those interested in registering as an exhibitor should do so by Sept. 11.
Livestock Competitions
Some of the cutest livestock from throughout Virginia will be on display during the livestock competitions.
Alpacas, sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, doves, and pigeons will be present.
4-H and FFA Competitions
Various competitions will allow 4-H and FFA students from across Virginia to display their skills.
For example, there will be agriscience demonstrations, crop competitions, tire art competitions, forestry competitions, and dairy competitions.
Equine Competitions
Some of Virginia’s best equestrians will be competing in the open horse, miniature horse, mounted shooting, pro rodeo, and high school rodeo competitions.
The pro rodeo is scheduled for 7 p.m. each night. Arrive at 5 p.m. to meet the cowboys and cowgirls who will be competing.
Virginia Lumber Cup
Watch as middle and high school students compete against each other during the Virginia Lumber Cup Woodworking Challenge. Competitors will turn locally sourced lumber into pieces that display their creativity and craftsmanship, while honoring the commonwealth’s hardwood heritage.
Pieces will range from cutting boards and serving trays to planter boxes and desk organizers.
Education
The fair offers Virginia’s largest outdoor classroom, so come with a curious mind.
Educational expos
The educational expos are aimed at increasing interest and awareness of Virginia’s agricultural and natural resources.
Kids will surely enjoy making their way through the more than a dozen expos, including the Virginia 4-H Life Science Mobile Learning Lab that offers hands-on health and life science-based learning experiences and Young McDonald’s Farm, which highlights the most commonly found farm animals. Keep an eye out for the baby ducks on the duck slide.
Use this guide to navigate the educational expo area.
Vendors
Sample some classic fair food as well as some unique concoctions while perusing wares made by local artisans.
Food & drink
A wide variety of food and drink vendors will be on-site. Some of the available options include Greek food, donuts, chicken and waffles, cinnamon rolls, Jamaican food, pizza, blooming onions, apple dumplings, sausage, lemonade, smoothies, kettle corn, and homemade ice cream.
Check out the food map so you know where to look.
Shopping
Shop from vendors at the Artisan Market, in the Farm Bureau Center, or outdoors. The Artisan Market will feature soap, quilt, jewelry, pottery, and photography vendors among others.
The Farm Bureau Center vendors will be selling items ranging from perfumes and jerky to wood and leather goods.
The outdoor markets will feature items like clothing, novelties, rocks, fossils, minerals, plants, and caricatures.
Tickets
The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with no gate tickets being sold after 8 p.m. The amusement rides open at 11 a.m. Tickets are $16.50. Discounts of $3 are offered for those with military ID.
An admission ticket will grant you access to most parts of the fair, including all concerts, attractions, and exhibits. However, rides are not included in the cost of admission, with ride wristbands being available for purchase at the Ride Ticket Booths in the Midway and Kidway areas.
Those looking to avoid crowds should consider attending in the mornings or weekdays before 5 p.m. Parking is free, with premium parking also available for purchase. Use this address for the fair: 13191 Dawn Blvd., Doswell.
