The State Fair of Virginia returns this year, Sept. 26-Oct. 5 and includes all-time favorites as well as new attractions, shows and extreme fair food (scroll down). Get ready for a rollicking good time.
GET YOUR TICKETS
Tickets are available online. They also can be purchased at BB&T locations in the bank’s Central Virginia region, which includes Richmond, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg and Petersburg; at most Martin’s Food Markets stores in the Richmond, Ashland, Tri-Cities and Williamsburg areas; and at the Caroline County Visitor Center in Ruther Glen (cash only). For complete ticket information, click here.
COST
- Adults (one-day tickets) – $15
- Youth 5-12 (one-day tickets) – $10
- Seniors 60+ (one-day tickets) – $10
- Children 4 and younger admitted FREE with paid adult admission
- Adults (one-day tickets) – $12
- Youth 5-12 (one-day tickets) – $8
- Seniors 60+ (one-day tickets) – $8
- Children 4 and younger admitted FREE with paid adult admission
Season Pass costs $30 at the gate. Season Pass is non-transferable. Be prepared to show photo ID.
Parking at The Meadow Event Park is free.
RIDES
- Unlimited Ride Wristband—$21 (every day except Tuesday, Oct. 1)
- Ride tickets – $1 each (every day)
- Ride ticket sheet of 25 tickets – $20 (every day)
- Dollar Day Thursday – all rides $1 each (on Thursday, Oct. 3, only)
WHEN
Friday, September 26: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 27: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 28: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday, September 29: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday, September 30: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Wednesday, October 1: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday, October 2: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, October 3: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, October 4: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, October 5: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
ACTION
You can plan on all types of activities.
The State Fair of Virginia’s website is set up so that you can log-in and sync your favorites to your phone or calendar.
Activities are color-coded and can easily be sorted.
This is a good thing because, for instance, you can click on the color-coded contests icon and it will sort things for all days. That way you know exactly when the Pretty Cow Contest or Brunswick Stew Contest is going to be held and schedule your visit around that.
Click each one to see the schedule as sorted by topic.
- Attractions
- Contests
- Demonstrations
- Horse Show
- Learning
- Livestock Show
- Music: For a complete music guide, click here.
- Popular
FAIR FOOD AND LOCAL BREWS
New this year will be the State Fair Piggyback Burger, for people who can’t decide between burger and barbecue. And don’t forget about the Krispy Kreme Sloppy Joe sandwiches.
Most food vendors will be located along the fair’s Festival Loop area, just outside the Farm Bureau Center exhibition hall.
There will be a signature beer at this year, as a collaboration with Midnight Brewery. The beer, named Virginia Midway,is an unfiltered wheat beer that contains malted wheat, local honey and Cascade hops.
Plenty of other craft-brewed beers from Virginia will be available all ten days this year, having expanded from last year.
The Virginia Tech Block & Bridle Club, will be serving up its famous barbecue, rib-eye sandwiches and roast beef near the Equine & Livestock Complex and the Ticket Plaza.
Virginia State University will be serving fried catfish and fried chicken in the Harvest Landing area, near the Meadow Pavilion and Meadow Hall. Also available in the Harvest Landing area will be roasted corn and boiled and roasted peanuts from Country Folks Concessions.
Brunswick Stew lovers will have an opportunity to taste award-winning stew on Saturday, Sept. 27. Stew from the fair’s annual Brunswick Stew Competition will go on sale at 11 a.m., and winners will be announced at 1 p.m.
For fairgoers with a sweet tooth, there is chocolate-covered cheesecake on a stick, deep-fried Twinkies and Ho Hos, Dippin’ Dots ice cream, frozen bananas dipped in chocolate and rolled in Reese’s pieces, chocolate-covered strawberries, elephant ears, kettle corn and more.
Complete list of food vendors.
BLUE RIBBONS
Nothing compares to the pride of winning a blue ribbon at the State Fair of Virginia. From animals, agriculture and equestrian sports, to crops, baked goods and crafts, there will be plenty of competitions.
- Demolition Derby
- Equine Competitions
- Fiddle & Banjo Contests
- General/Youth Competitions
- Livestock Competitions
- Miss State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Program
- Sheepdog Trials
- Marching Band Championship Cup
- Wine Competition
