Every fall, one event manages to fit nearly all of Virginia into 360 acres: the farms, the food, the crafts, the music, the kids showing livestock they raised themselves, and a pumpkin that weighs more than a small car. That’s the State Fair of Virginia, and if you’ve never gone, it’s one of the best ways to spend a day celebrating the Commonwealth.
The fair has been a Virginia tradition since 1854. Today it’s held at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell, in Caroline County, a short drive north of Richmond. It’s owned by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, which is why agriculture, Virginia’s largest industry, sits right alongside the rides and the funnel cakes.
We put together this guide to 10 things worth your time at the fair, plus honest answers to the questions people ask before they go: what it costs, when to visit, and what to know about parking and traffic.
A quick heads-up:
Schedules, prices, performers, and policies change every year, and sometimes during the fair itself. Confirm details on the official State Fair of Virginia website before you head out. Everything below is accurate as of publishing.
A quick note:
Our Renewal by Andersen of Central Virginia team has a booth at the State Fair, where homeowners can stop by, see our replacement windows and doors up close, and schedule a free consultation. Since you’ll likely walk past us, we wanted to mention that upfront. This blog isn’t a sales pitch. The rest of this guide is an honest rundown of why the fair is worth a day of your fall.
This Year’s Fair: 2026 at a Glance
Dates: September 25 – October 4, 2026
Hours: Gates open 10am daily; rides open at 11am. No gate tickets sold after 8pm. Buildings close at 9pm.
Where: The Meadow Event Park, 13191 Dawn Blvd., Doswell, VA 23047
Tickets: Adult tickets start at $15 online ($32 with a ride wristband). Gate admission is $16.50, with $3 off for military members and veterans at the gate. Buy tickets
Parking: General parking is free. Premium parking is available for purchase up to 5pm the day before.
New this year: A deep-fried pickle corn dog (at Twisted Pickles), Korean-style corn dogs, smashburgers, fire-wok noodles, handcrafted donuts, a $15 Fast Lane ride add-on, and new shows including Flippenout (acrobatic trampoline), Xtreme Strongman, and the Rubber Chicken Show.
Find our booth: We’re located at booth 122 inside the Farm Bureau Center and also outside in the Kidway near the turkey legs!
When our team is there: Our staff is onsite from 9am to 9pm everyday.
At our booth: See product displays, ask questions, and schedule your free in-home consultation.
10 Things to Do at the State Fair of Virginia
1. Meet the Animals at Young MacDonald’s Farm and the Livestock Barns
Where: Young MacDonald’s Farm is in the Harvest Landing area; youth and open livestock competitions are held in the Livestock Loop
Cost: Included with admission
What you’ll see: Sliding ducks, hatching chicks, pigs, goats, sheep, cattle, alpacas, poultry, pigeons, and doves
This is the heart of the fair. Young MacDonald’s Farm is built for families, and the baby duck slide is exactly as charming as it sounds. Head over to the livestock barns and you’ll see 4-H and FFA students from across Virginia showing cows, goats, sheep, and swine they’ve raised themselves. In 2024, youth and adult exhibitors showed nearly 3,000 animals over the fair’s 10-day run.
For kids who’ve never been on a farm, it’s a hands-on look at where food comes from. For everyone else, it’s a reminder of how much Virginia’s farm families put into this event.
Good to know: Livestock competitions rotate throughout the fair, so the animals in the barns change depending on the day. If you want to see a specific breed or show, check the competition schedule first.
2. Cheer On the Racing Pigs
Cost: Free with admission
When: Multiple races daily (four times a day in 2026)
Pig racing is a State Fair classic, and it draws some of the loudest crowds on the grounds. It’s short, silly, and a guaranteed hit with kids.
Good to know: The races are brief, so check race times on the daily schedule and plan the rest of your walk around them.
3. See Giant Pumpkins and Virginia-Grown Produce
What you’ll see: Giant pumpkins, watermelons, and gourds, plus competition crops, flowers, honey, and preserved foods
Virginia growers bring their biggest and best to the horticulture and field crops competitions. The headliner is the Giant Vegetable Weigh-Off. In 2025, the winning pumpkin weighed 1,983 pounds.
Good to know: The weigh-off itself is a single event held early in the fair’s run. If you want to watch the scale in action rather than just see the winners, check the schedule before you pick your date.
4. Browse the Culinary and Creative Arts Competitions
What you’ll see: Blue-ribbon pies, cakes, and yeast breads; quilts, photography, painting, needlework, jewelry, and STEM projects
This is where you see what Virginians make in their kitchens and workshops. The quilt displays are a highlight, and in 2026 some entries were made to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary. Don’t skip the Virginia Lumber Cup, where middle and high school students turn locally sourced lumber into cutting boards, trays, planter boxes, and more.
Good to know: Think you could take home a ribbon? Registration for these competitions closes before the fair opens (September 11 in 2026), so plan next year’s entry ahead.
5. Catch the Free Shows
Cost: Free with admission
What you’ll see: Chainsaw carving, draft horses, strongman and acrobatic acts, juggling, magic, and historical impersonators like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln
The free entertainment lineup changes each year, but it’s one of the best values at the fair. Chainsaw artists are a longtime favorite: they carve full sculptures in front of you, and the pieces are later sold in the fair’s Chainsaw Auction.
Good to know: Some shows only run on certain days or opening weekend. Check the Daily Thrill Guide if there’s a specific act you don’t want to miss.
[IMAGE: Chainsaw carving or free show photo]
6. Watch the Horses on Secretariat’s Home Turf
What you’ll see: Open horse shows, miniature horses, mounted shooting, and rodeo events (on select nights)
Here’s a piece of Virginia history most fairgoers don’t know: The Meadow Event Park sits on the site of Meadow Farm, the thoroughbred farm where Triple Crown winner Secretariat and his stablemate Riva Ridge were bred. Watching horses compete on those grounds hits a little different.
The equine competitions run throughout the fair, and rodeo nights bring roughstock riding to the grounds.
Good to know: Rodeo events are scheduled on specific nights only, not every day. Confirm the schedule before you plan your visit around them.
7. Explore Virginia Agriculture in the Meadow Pavilion and Farm Bureau Center
What you’ll see: Virginia commodity exhibits (peanuts, tobacco, soybeans), a Farm Tour tractor cab simulator, a Farm Product Kiosk, and the Natural Resources Area
If you want to understand Virginia agriculture in an hour, start in the Meadow Pavilion. Interactive exhibits show how Virginia crops go from field to table. The Natural Resources Area, now inside the Farm Bureau Center, connects you with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, plus live displays like horseshoe crabs.
The Farm Bureau Center is also home to shopping vendors, so it’s an easy place to combine learning, browsing, and a break from the sun or rain.
Good to know: Indoor buildings close at 9pm, earlier than the gates and the midway. Save the exhibits for daytime.
8. Eat Your Way Across the Fairgrounds
What you’ll find: Classic fair food (funnel cakes, candy apples, kettle corn, blooming onions) plus Greek, Jamaican, chicken and waffles, apple dumplings, homemade ice cream, and a rotating list of new deep-fried creations
Every year brings a new headline-grabbing fair food, but the classics are why people come back. Check the fair’s Food & Drinks page for the current vendor list and food map.
Good to know: Cash is accepted at all food locations, but the main gate ticket plaza and alcohol sales are card-only. If you only brought cash, the fair offers reverse ATMs that convert cash to a card.
9. End the Night at a Free Main Stage Concert
Cost: Included with admission
When: Nightly (7:30pm in 2026)
Main Stage concerts are free with your fair ticket, and the lineup usually mixes country headliners with other genres. It’s one of the best reasons to make a full day of it.
Good to know: The fair allows lawn chairs for Festival Stage concerts. Also, the end of a big concert is when everyone heads for the parking lots at once, so expect a slow exit (more on that below).
10. Ride the Midway and Kidway
What you’ll find: 45+ rides (in 2026) across the Midway for older kids and adults and the Kidway for younger riders, plus coin-operated rides for the littlest fairgoers
Cost: Not included in admission; ride credits and wristbands sold separately
Rides are provided by Deggeller Attractions. According to the fair, each ride is inspected three times: by Deggeller at setup, by Caroline County before opening day, and daily by an independent state-certified inspector.
Good to know: Height, weight, and adult-accompaniment rules are posted at every ride and at the Midway and Kidway Customer Service booths. Check them before you promise a young rider a specific ride.
So, Is the State Fair of Virginia Worth It?
For most families, yes. Between the animals, free shows, concerts, and exhibits, admission covers a full day, and it’s one of the few places where you’ll see every corner of Virginia represented in one spot.
It’s not for everyone, though. Weekends get crowded, and traffic leaving the fair can be slow, especially at night. One recent visitor reported sitting in the exit line for 45 minutes. If crowds wear you down, a weekday morning visit changes the experience completely.
Tips for Visiting the State Fair of Virginia
Go early or on a weekday. The fair recommends mornings (gates open at 10am) and weekdays before 5pm for lighter crowds.
Plan your exit. If you’re staying for a concert, expect heavy traffic afterward, or leave before the encore.
Bring a card and some cash. Card only at the gate and alcohol stands; cash works at food and ride ticket booths.
Bring water. Water bottles are allowed. Glass containers are not, and outside food is only permitted for special dietary needs.
Leave these at home: Pets (service animals are allowed), weapons of any kind including pocketknives, selfie sticks, and drones.
Get your hand stamped. You can leave and return the same day with a hand stamp.
Use the trams. Parking lot trams run from Lots A and C. Accessible parking is in Lots B and D.
Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll cover a lot of ground across 360 acres.
Check the daily schedule. Races, shows, and competitions run at set times, so a quick look at the Daily Thrill Guide saves a lot of wandering.
Come Say Hello
The State Fair of Virginia celebrates everything grown, made, and raised in the Commonwealth, and we’re proud to be part of it. If you stop by our booth, our Central Virginia team will be there with information on replacement windows and replacement doors, and we’re always happy to set up a free, no-pressure consultation if you have a home project on your mind.
Can’t make it to Doswell? You can see our products year-round at our mini showroom inside the Midlothian Walmart.
And if you like building your weekends around Virginia’s local traditions, check out our guide to 10 farmers markets in Virginia worth building your day around.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the State Fair of Virginia?
The fair runs for 10 days each year in late September and early October. The 2026 fair runs September 25 – October 4, and the fair has announced October 1–10 for 2027.
Where is the State Fair of Virginia?
The Meadow Event Park, 13191 Dawn Blvd., Doswell, VA 23047, in Caroline County. The fair moved there in 2009 after decades at the Richmond Raceway Complex in Henrico County.
How much are State Fair of Virginia tickets?
Prices change each year. In 2026, adult tickets started at $15 online and $16.50 at the gate. Rides cost extra. See the official ticket page for current pricing.
Is parking free at the State Fair of Virginia?
Yes, general parking is free. Premium parking is available for an extra fee.
Are rides included with admission?
No. Admission covers concerts, free shows, and exhibits. Ride credits and wristbands are sold separately.
Does the State Fair of Virginia offer a military discount?
Yes. Active-duty service members, National Guard, Reserve, retirees, and veterans with a valid ID get $3 off gate admission, for themselves plus one guest. The discount is available at the gate only.
What is the best day to go to the State Fair of Virginia?
For smaller crowds, visit on a weekday before 5pm or right when gates open at 10am.
Can I bring food into the State Fair of Virginia?
You can bring water bottles, and outside food is allowed only for special dietary needs. Glass containers aren’t permitted.
