Chilton County Alabama Fairgrounds Events

If you’re searching for the Chilton County fairgrounds, the answer is more complicated than a street address. Chilton County does not currently have a standing fairgrounds with livestock barns, a grandstand, and exhibit halls. The annual Chilton County Fair is held at Clanton City Park, and the Clanton Kiwanis Club runs it. The 2024 fair was a five-day event at Clanton City Park, organized by the Kiwanis Club. This guide covers where the fair happens now, when to expect it, what it costs, how to get there, and where the long-promised new fairground stands. cofairs

Chilton County Fairgrounds: Where Things Stand

Where the fair is held now

The fair is held in Clanton, the county seat, at Clanton City Park. Listings give two addresses for the same area. One gives 510 Park Drive. Another calls the site Goosepond Park at 906 7th Street North. The Alabama fair association’s directory also lists 906 Seventh Street North for the Chilton County Fair. Both addresses are in the city park complex. Use the fair’s Facebook page or the fair email for the current entrance and parking instructions before you go. Chilton County Fair (September 2024), Clanton, AL +2

What happened to the old fairgrounds

For years the fair had a real fairgrounds on Airport Road. In 2010 the fair ran from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2 on the Chilton County Fairgrounds on Airport Road. The grounds sat beside the airport and disappeared when the airport expanded. A long building there had held all the exhibits.

The move hurt. By the fair’s second year at the city park (2015), the Advertiser reported the event had been forced off the old grounds. A Kiwanis organizer said attendance had dropped dramatically without the fairgrounds. The city park version dropped several favorites: the demolition derby, livestock demonstrations, and exhibits.

The planned new fairground

Two plans have surfaced since. In 2015 organizers said the fair was moving toward a permanent home off Lake Mitchell Road, but the timing was uncertain. That move never happened. clantonadvertiser

A bigger project followed. The Alabama Rural Economic Center, a $100 million-plus plan for agricultural shows and festivals, was canceled after delays from the pandemic and supply shortages. The county and city own more than 500 acres, and the county chairman said officials were brainstorming uses for it.

A smaller fairground plan came next. On Aug. 26, 2023, city and county crews and commissioners held a work day on the site of the next fairground in Clanton. The county chairman said access would come off Highway 145 or County Road 28. I could not find confirmation of construction progress or an opening date. Treat the new fairground as planned, not built, until the county commission says otherwise. The commission is at 53 Robert Threlkeld Parkway in Clanton, (205) 755-1551. clantonadvertiserclantonadvertiser

The Chilton County Fair

When it’s held

The fair runs Tuesday through Saturday in late September. Recent dates:

• 2021: Sept. 21–25 clantonadvertiser
• 2024: Sept. 24–28 cofairs
• 2025: Sept. 23–27 clantonadvertiser
• 2026: listed as Sept. 22–26 statefairtimes

If the pattern holds, the 2027 Chilton County Fair would fall around Sept. 21–25. That is a projection from past years, not an announcement. The Kiwanis Club sets the dates, so confirm them on the fair’s Facebook page, which the Kiwanis Club operates.

Admission, parking, and hours

Admission has changed over the years:

• 2010: $4, with children 3 and under free clantonadvertiser
• 2015: $2 clantonadvertiser
• 2021: free admission, with free parking clantonadvertiser
• 2025: promoted as free admission and free parking, opening at 6 p.m. nightly birminghammomcollective

In short, recent years have been free to walk in, and you pay for rides. Don’t assume that holds every year. The fair’s Facebook page will post the current policy.

Discovering local fairs and community gatherings is a wonderful way to enjoy Alabama’s culture, seasonal celebrations, and family-friendly entertainment. Chilton County Alabama Fairgrounds Events provide visitors with opportunities to explore local festivals, community activities, and regional attractions, while Cherokee County Alabama Fairgrounds Events offer another way to discover fairs and celebrations across the state. Exploring events in both counties can help families and visitors find enjoyable activities, experience local traditions, and plan memorable outings throughout Alabama.

Rides and midway

The carnival is the center of the fair now. In 2015, ride tickets were $1 each and a $20 armband allowed unlimited rides. In 2021 unlimited ride tickets were $18 a night. I could not find 2025 or 2026 ride pricing, so check before you budget. clantonadvertiserclantonadvertiser

What the fair does and doesn’t include

At the old fairgrounds, the fair was a full agricultural event. The 2010 schedule included a beef show, a steer show for Chilton County Beef Club members, a goat and lamb show, and a 4-H and Extension farm exhibit for kids. It also had a demolition derby, dance groups, bands, and children’s choirs from local churches. Since the move to the city park, the fair has been a smaller carnival-style event. I found no recent evidence of livestock shows, exhibit halls, or a junior livestock auction at the park. If you want to enter animals or crafts, ask the organizers before you plan around it. clantonadvertiser

Who runs it and where the money goes

The Clanton Kiwanis Club has sponsored the fair since 2003. It’s the club’s main fundraiser. Past recipients include the YMCA of Chilton County, Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center, Care Net of Chilton County, Raleigh’s Place, and the Chilton-Clanton Public Library, plus scholarships. The fair went ahead in 2020 during the pandemic, with organizers following safety guidelines. Chilton County Fair goes on despite pandemic +3

Upcoming Events in Chilton County

The fair is the only event I can tie to the fairgrounds name, but several others fill the county’s calendar.

Peach Jam Jubilee. This free outdoor festival in Clanton was listed for June 26 and 27, 2026. It has live music, a farmers market, food trucks, and crafts, and it celebrates the county’s peach crop. peachjamjubilee

Chilton County Peach Festival. The first one was held in July 1947 at the Thorsby Institute. The county produces more than 80 percent of Alabama’s peaches. hmdbencyclopediaofalabama

4-H Beef Cook-Off. Chilton County 4-H and the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association hold it in winter, and one year it took place at the Jemison Municipal Complex. The Chilton County Extension Office and the Chilton County Farmers Federation have also sponsored it. acesaces

Indoor events. The Clanton Conference and Performance Arts Center Exhibit Hall at 1850 Lay Dam Road has hosted public events such as job fairs. It isn’t a fairground, but it’s the nearest large indoor exhibit space I found. wbrc

If you want a full livestock fair. The Alabama National Fair in Montgomery is listed for Oct. 8–18, 2026. That is the closest option for barns and big exhibits. statefairtimes

I found no verified gun shows, rodeos, motocross events, or swap meets at the city park. Don’t assume they exist.

Facilities and Grounds at Clanton City Park

Clanton City Park is a public park, not a purpose-built fairground. Fair parking has been reached via Fifth Avenue North or Park Drive, which runs alongside Jack Hayes Field. I could not verify the number of permanent buildings, ADA parking, paved pathways, restroom locations, ATMs, or any camping or RV spaces. Plan on temporary carnival setups and parking on park grounds and nearby streets. Ask the organizers about accessibility before you go. clantonadvertiser

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

The fair’s contact email is [email protected] and its phone is (205) 755-3397. That is the best starting point for commercial food or craft booths. I found no published premium book, entry deadlines, or online vendor application. I also found no public facility rental process for outside groups. alabamafairs

Getting to the Fair

Clanton sits on Interstate 65. Exits 205, 208, and 212 all serve the city. From exit 205, US-31 runs north into town, about four miles to the downtown area. Once downtown, follow signs to the park. I found no shuttle or public transit service for fair week, and no rideshare drop-off plan. If you use a ride app, set the pickup point away from the carnival entrance, where traffic backs up. peachjamjubileeaces

4-H and FFA in Chilton County

The Chilton County Extension Office is at 504 First Avenue North in Clanton, phone (205) 280-6268. It coordinates 4-H and runs the youth ag programs that tie into the fair’s history. I could not verify the number of active 4-H clubs, which FFA chapters currently show animals, or whether a junior livestock auction exists. Call the Extension office for those answers. aces

History of the Chilton County Fair

The fair is older than its current home. The Airport Road fairgrounds hosted the full ag-fair format into at least 2010, with livestock shows, a demolition derby, and local performers. The airport’s expansion took the grounds, and since about 2014 the fair has operated at the city park. I could not find the fair’s founding date or any record-year attendance. In 2015, more than 1,300 people attended across the first two nights. clantonadvertiser

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Chilton County Fair in 2026–2027?

The 2026 fair was listed for Sept. 22–26. Past fairs have run Tuesday through Saturday in late September, so 2027 would likely land around Sept. 21–25, but the Kiwanis Club has not confirmed that.

What time does the Chilton County Fair open?

Recent fairs have opened at 6 p.m. nightly.

Is there camping at the Chilton County Fairgrounds?

I found no camping or RV hookups at Clanton City Park. There is currently no standing fairgrounds.

How do I enter livestock in the Chilton County Fair?

I found no current livestock shows at the city park. Call the Chilton County Extension Office at (205) 280-6268 to ask whether any are scheduled.

Are dogs allowed at the Chilton County Fairgrounds?

I couldn’t find a pet policy. Ask the Kiwanis Club through [email protected].

Where do I park at the Chilton County Fair?

Parking has been free. In past years, visitors used Fifth Avenue North and Park Drive beside Jack Hayes Field.

Who do I contact to rent the Chilton County Fairgrounds?

There is no fairground to rent right now. For fair questions, contact [email protected] or (205) 755-3397. For fairground plans, call the Chilton County Commission at (205) 755-1551.

How much does it cost to get into the Chilton County Fair?

Admission has been free in recent years, including the 2025 fair. Rides have cost extra, and 2021 unlimited ride tickets were $18 a night.

Where is the new Chilton County fairground?

The county and city have worked on a site off Highway 145 or County Road 28 in Clanton. I could not confirm that it is open or when it will be.