The State Fair of Virginia returns this year, Sept. 27-Oct. 6 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.
Military Appreciation Day—Wed., Oct. 2
Military personnel with a current military ID receive free admission on this day; others in party pay normal prices.
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)
- $12 Tuesday – $12 Unlimited Ride Wristband (available anytime on Tuesday only)
- Dollar Day Thursday – all rides $1 each (on Thursday, Oct. 3, only)
WHEN
Friday, September 27: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 28: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 29: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday, September 30: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday, October 1: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Wednesday, October 2: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday, October 3: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, October 4: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, October 5: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, October 6: 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 phoneor 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 chocolate-covered bacon and Krispy Kreme Sloppy Joe sandwiches. There will be plenty of traditional favorites, like funnel cake, fried Oreos, fried candy bars, cotton candy, turkey legs and barbecue.
Buffalo Wild Wings and beer trucks will be near the Triple Crown Amphitheater.
Craft-brewed beers will be available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Taste the Local beer truck and include Legend Brewing Co.’s Brown Ale; Center of the Universe Brewing Co.’s Ray Ray’s Pale Ale and Main Street Virginia Ale; Starr Hill Brewery’s Starr Pils and Boxcarr (pumpkin porter); Strangeways Brewing’s Albino Monkey White Ale; and Bold Rock Hard Cider.
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. 28. 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.
New vendor California Cheesin’ will be serving up fried cheese goodies, including Cheddar nuggets and mozzarella sticks, along with grilled cheese, tomato soup and fried mushrooms.
Mexican Grill will have tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, fajitas and salads.
Sweet Frog Premium Frozen Yogurt will have a mobile unit on site so fairgoers can enjoy their favorite chilly treats.
Complete list of food vendors.
RUN, RUN…RUN FOR THE ROSES
Runner registrations are being accepted for the State Fair Stampede 5K and 10K races, which will be held Oct. 5, at 7:30 a.m. Runners do not get entry into the fair as part of the race. However, they do get to run on the fabled grounds that Secretariat called home. Click here to find out more about entry.
