This year’s State Fair of Virginia will celebrate “Virginia’s Best of Show,” highlighting the traditions, talent, entertainment and competitions that embody blue-ribbon excellence across the commonwealth.
The State Fair of Virginia runs from September 25 through October 4 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, where visitors can explore everything that makes the fair special.
“From family fun to celebrating our community, we’re committed to delivering a ‘Best of Show’ experience that brings people together and showcases all that Virginia has to offer,” said Marlene Jolliffe, the fair’s executive director.
New Shows and Experiences
New attractions this year include Flippenout, a high-energy acrobatic trampoline performance featuring Olympic-style routines and stunts, and the Xtreme Strongman Show, demonstrating jaw-dropping feats of strength, skill and daring. The Rubber Chicken Show is bound to crack up audiences with poultry-themed humor and tricks with a dozen rubber chickens, while the Dueling Pianos will dazzle visitors on Sept. 25 and 26.
Throughout the fair, guests may encounter a strolling George Washington and Abraham Lincoln impersonator, as well as the Fritzy Brothers One Man Circus, delighting audiences with juggling and interactive entertainment.
The fair also will introduce the Equestrian Roundup, funded in part by a Virginia Horse Industry Board grant. It will feature premier equine events including an open horse show, the World Blacksmith Championship and the Greenlee Draft Horse Hitch. The roundup will allow visitors to experience hands-on learning through blacksmith competitions and draft horse demonstrations.
Returning fan favorites include Triple Crown Circus’ incredible performances; the popular racing pigs of Rosaire’s Royal Racers; impressive sculptures by chainsaw artist Chad Gainey; and high-octane tractor pulls on Oct. 3 and 4. Also returning are two exciting evenings of Revenge Roughstock Rodeo Co. on Sept. 28 and 29 at 6 p.m.
Live Music All Fair Long
The Farm Bureau Live Main Stage Concert Series will host an array of daytime performances throughout the fair’s run, including Dennis Lee’s variety show at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Music fans can enjoy evening performances, kicking off with multi-platinum-selling country singer Sammy Kershaw on Sept. 25. On Sept. 26, country rock duo Lakeview takes the stage, followed by Richmond-based The Jack Wharff Band, known for their unique blend of bluegrass, country and rock on Sept. 27. On Sept. 28, Nashville country artist and songwriter George Birge performs; Brencore tribute to Earth, Wind and Fire on Sept. 29; and genre-blending country rap musician Colt Ford on Sept. 30.
On Oct. 1, contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter Leanna Crawford takes the stage followed by eclectic bluegrass band Red Camel Collective and The Amanda Cook Band on Oct. 2. Rounding out the concert series is multi-platinum pop boy band O-Town with LFO on Oct. 3, and chart-topping country band Parmalee on Oct. 4.
Full details for the Main Stage Concert series can be found at StateFairVa.org. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and are included in the cost of fair admission. The stage is under a tent providing 9,500 square feet of covered space, and fairgoers may bring their own lawn chairs for the concerts.
Rides, Games and Blue-Ribbon Creations
Thrill seekers will find over 45 adrenaline-fueling rides, and for guests who want to skip the lines, the fair is offering a $15 Fast Lane lanyard and wristband, and a four-pack wristband purchase option. Valid for one day, the wristband lets fairgoers move to the front at designated yellow and black checkerboard spaces, where a percentage of Fast Lane riders will board before general admission.
After taking a spin on rides, fairgoers can browse curated creations of Virginia’s skilled bakers, creators and makers. Winning entries will be displayed for countless arts, crafts and culinary categories in the Farm Bureau Center.
This year’s fair also features themed America 250 contests in the art and horticulture categories, including an America 250 division in adult creative arts, an America 250 quilt competition, and themed container planting and floral design in both youth and open horticulture categories.
Fair Food and Virginia Agriculture
For many, food is a traditional part of the fair experience with classics including funnel cakes, elephant ears and turkey legs. Fairgoers also can sample new twists like Korean-style corn dogs, smashburgers, fire wok noodles, handcrafted doughnuts and a variety of deep-fried pickle corn dogs.
And it wouldn’t be tradition without highlighting Virginia’s largest industry. Visitors can learn all about the commonwealth’s diverse agriculture industry through milking demonstrations, the Young MacDonald’s Farm exhibit, and equine and livestock exhibits.
The fair’s horticulture tent will showcase Virginia-grown crops, and visitors can discover if any carefully cultivated gigantic produce will break records during the Giant Veggie Weigh-Off at noon on Saturday, Sept. 26.
A Classroom for All Ages
Virginia’s largest classroom continues to evolve with innovative learning opportunities. New this year, the Virginia 250 “Give Me Liberty” history exhibit, will be offered daily in Meadow Hall, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence signing. A Freedom 250 truck also will be on-site from Sept. 30 through Oct. 4, serving as a mobile museum and giving visitors opportunities explore the American story and nation’s founding.
Plan Your Visit
The fair is offering a variety of ticket promotions and discounts, including a Family Four Pack for advanced sale Sept. 1-25; an all-week Fair Fan Pass; and discounts for children, seniors, active-duty service members and veterans, and Farm Bureau members. Online ticket sales begin Sept. 1.
Mark your calendar, and make it a fair to remember! For ticket and entertainment information, visit StateFairVa.org. Additional live updates can be found by following the fair on Facebook at Facebook.com/StateFairVa and Instagram @statefairva.
Visitors who purchase a ticket and wish to leave and re-enter the fair on the same day must get a hand stamp from a gate attendant before exiting. No re-entry is permitted after 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and after 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
The State Fair is held each fall at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County and attracts over 200,000 fairgoers. The event celebrates the best of Virginia’s past, present and future through scholarship initiatives, creative programming and a focus on the commonwealth’s agriculture and natural resources industries.
