Cleburne County Alabama Fairgrounds Events

Cleburne County has not had one fixed fairground that everything happens on. The most recent fair-and-rodeo grounds in Heflin sit at the intersection of County Road 46 and Interstate 20 at exit 205, at 350 Spirit Drive. Before that, the fair and rodeo used a site at 3825 Highway 9 in Heflin, which in 2015 was Ross Mountain Adventures. More recently the county rodeo has been held at the MB Arena at Lost Creek Ag Center, 1042 County Road 98 in Ranburne. Cleburne County holding rodeo and fair this month +3

So when someone asks where the Cleburne County fairgrounds are, the honest answer depends on which event and which year. Always confirm the address for the specific event you’re attending.

Who runs it

The county fair and rodeo have been run by the Cleburne County Chamber of Commerce, not by a separate fair board or the Extension office. The Chamber’s office is at 1404 Ross Street in Heflin, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., phone 256-610-9834. annistonstarcleburnecountychamber

How long it has been going

The Chamber called its 2020 event the 8th annual Cleburne County Fair and Rodeo, which puts the first one around 2013. That’s a modern, Chamber-era fair, not a century-old agricultural society fair, and it’s worth knowing before you go looking for old traditions. annistonstar

Why it matters locally

Cleburne County covers about 561 square miles in the Piedmont, with Interstate 20 running east-west through the southern part. It’s heavily forested, home to Cheaha Mountain and part of the Talladega National Forest. Heflin grew up as a railroad town roughly halfway between Birmingham and Atlanta. The fair and rodeo are among the few events that draw people from across the whole county rather than one town. encyclopediaofalabamaencyclopediaofalabama

Upcoming Events at Cleburne County Fairgrounds

What’s on the calendar

I could not find a published 2026 date for the Cleburne County Fair itself. The most recent fair details I could confirm are from April 2021. The rodeo is the Chamber’s most visible recent event. The 11th Annual Cleburne County Rodeo was held September 5, 2025, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the MB Arena. A separate rodeo producer lists a 3R Rodeo at the MB Arena on September 13-14, 2026.

Seasonal pattern

The timing has moved around:

• Summer, 2015-2020. The fair was held in August. In 2019 organizers noted that it fell during the second week of August, when family budgets are already stretched by back-to-school costs. annistonstar
• Spring, 2021. The Chamber moved the fair and rodeo to mid-April to beat the heat and avoid conflicts with school activities. annistonstar
• Fall, 2023 and 2025. The county rodeo ran in September: September 22-23 in 2023 and September 5 in 2025. abc3340
• Early summer. The MB Arena hosted its own rodeos in June 2024 and June 2025. rodeosusa

Heflin’s Parks and Recreation Department also runs the city’s events, including an Outdoor Jamboree each fall with a pageant, archery tournament and live music. That’s a city event, not a fairgrounds event.

When exploring local fairs, community gatherings, and seasonal entertainment across Alabama, Cleburne County Alabama Fairgrounds Events can be a useful starting point for discovering activities and family-friendly experiences in the region. Visitors interested in exploring more local attractions can also look into Clay County Alabama Fairgrounds Events, which may offer opportunities to enjoy agricultural exhibitions, community celebrations, live entertainment, and other county fair activities. Exploring both counties can help visitors discover different local traditions and plan enjoyable trips throughout Alabama.

How to find the current schedule

Start with the Chamber’s website, cleburnecountychamber.com, which has a Chamber Events page and a community calendar. The fair has also used a Facebook page, facebook.com/CleburneCountyFairHeflin. For anything uncertain, call 256-610-9834 during the Chamber’s weekday hours. annistonstar

Renting the grounds

I found nothing confirming that the Spirit Drive site is rented to outside groups. The MB Arena, a separate venue, lists [email protected] and (770) 550-2855 as contacts on its Facebook page.

The Cleburne County Fair Itself

Name and timing

The event is the Cleburne County Fair, sometimes billed as the Cleburne County Fair and Rodeo. Dates have ranged from mid-August to mid-April, and I can’t say when the next one is.

What has been on the program

Past programs give a sense of what the fair is like:

• 2015: The fair ran 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a livestock show, school group performances, live music, a clay shoot, a hand fiberwork showcase, a church-sponsored greased pig chase and an Extension canning competition. A rodeo followed at 8 p.m. abc3340
• 2021: The fair opened at 5 p.m. on weeknights and 10 a.m. on Saturday, with a carnival and a rodeo.

I found no confirmed information on exhibit categories, pageants or a demolition derby.

Carnival and midway

The 2021 fair had a carnival, with rides purchased separately from admission. I couldn’t identify the carnival company or the ride count. annistonstar

Food

The 2023 rodeo had thirteen food trucks and ten vendor spots including boutiques. I found no record of a locally famous fair food, and I’m not going to make one up. abc3340

Admission history

These are past figures, not current prices:

• 2015: $5 per car, plus $10 for the rodeo.
• April 2021: $2 per person on weeknights, with children 5 and under free. Friday rodeo admission was $15 and included the carnival. annistonstar
• June 2025 (MB Arena rodeo): $20 adults, $15 ages 5-12, free under 4. rodeosusa

Facilities and Grounds

I have no verified details on acreage, exhibit buildings, species-specific barns, grandstand capacity, RV hookups, ADA features or first aid. I’d rather leave that blank than invent a building count.

What the record does show: at the 2019 rodeo, a contract producer supplied the arena, bleachers, stock and personnel, so the Spirit Drive arena was set up for the event rather than permanent. The MB Arena in Ranburne is a standing arena, and its page mentions a 4-H horse club meeting there. annistonstarfacebook

If you’re bringing animals, a trailer or a wheelchair, ask the Chamber these before you go: Are stalls or pens provided? Is there overnight parking? Where is accessible parking? Is there on-site water and power?

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Commercial vendors

Vendor applications have gone through the Chamber. Call 256-610-9834 or email [email protected]. Booth fees and deadlines weren’t published anywhere I could find.

Competitive exhibits and livestock

The fair has historically included a livestock show and an Extension-run canning competition. I couldn’t find a current entry deadline or premium book. Ask the Chamber, and also ask the Cleburne County Extension office about 4-H and youth classes.

Contact

Cleburne County Chamber of Commerce, 1404 Ross St, Heflin, AL 36264 (mailing: P.O. Box 413). Phone 256-610-9834, weekdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Getting to Cleburne County Fairgrounds

Heflin (Spirit Drive site)

Take Interstate 20 to exit 205 and follow County Road 46 to Spirit Drive. One 2019 report gave exit 199 for the same grounds, but most reports say 205. Check your GPS against the event flyer. Heflin is also reached by State Roads 4, 9 and 46. encyclopediaofalabama

Ranburne (MB Arena)

Use 1042 County Road 98, Ranburne, AL 36273. Some listings show 1040. A 2023 news report gave a Main Street address in Ranburne instead, so confirm the venue for each event.

From Birmingham or Atlanta

Heflin is roughly halfway between the two cities, and I-20 is the main route. I found no shuttle or public transit service for fair week.

4-H and FFA at Cleburne County Fairgrounds

I could not verify the number of active 4-H clubs, the FFA chapters that exhibit, or whether there is a junior livestock auction, so I’m not describing one. Here’s what I can say:

• The Alabama Cooperative Extension System coordinates 4-H, and the county Extension office is the right first call for youth livestock, poultry and project questions.
• The MB Arena’s page says it hosts a 4-H horse club.
• The Cleburne County School System has eight schools, so ask the agriculture teachers at the high schools about FFA participation.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

Rodeo is the main one: the Chamber’s county rodeo, the MB Arena’s own rodeos, and visiting events such as the 3R Rodeo. Also check the Chamber’s community calendar for fundraisers and festivals. I found no confirmed gun shows, swap meets, motocross or concerts tied to these grounds.

History of Cleburne County Fairgrounds

• 1866-1906: The state legislature created the county in 1866. Edwardsville was the first county seat, and Heflin won the seat after a 1905 election and an Alabama Supreme Court ruling. encyclopediaofalabama
• 2015: The fair is held at Ross Mountain Adventures on Highway 9.
• 2016-2018: The Chamber-hosted rodeo runs at 3825 Highway 9.
• 2019: The rodeo is split from the fair, to ease the cost for families.
• 2020: The fair and rodeo are combined into one weekend. The Chamber’s director tied the decision to the complexities of planning during COVID-19. annistonstar
• 2021: The fair moves to April.
• 2023-2025: The county rodeo is held in Ranburne.

I found no record of a full cancellation or a record attendance year.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Cleburne County Fair in 2026-2027?
I couldn’t confirm a date. The fair has been held in August and April, and the Chamber’s rodeo has recently run in early September. Check cleburnecountychamber.com or call 256-610-9834.

What time does the fairgrounds open?
At the April 2021 fair, gates opened at 5 p.m. on weeknights and 10 a.m. on Saturday. The 2025 rodeo opened at 5:30 p.m. Hours change each year, so check the event flyer.

Is there camping at the fairgrounds?
I found no confirmed camping at the Heflin or Ranburne sites. Ask the Chamber. Cheaha State Park and the Talladega National Forest are within the county.

How do I enter livestock in the fair?
Contact the Chamber and the county Extension office. I couldn’t find a published entry process or deadline.

Are dogs allowed?
No policy was published that I could find. Service animals are covered by federal law, and for pets, call the Chamber first.

Where do I park?
Parking has been on-site, and in 2015 it cost $5 per car. Current fees and overflow areas aren’t published.

Who do I contact to rent the fairgrounds?
For the fair site, start with the Chamber at 256-610-9834. For the MB Arena in Ranburne, use [email protected] or (770) 550-2855.

How much does it cost to get in?
Past figures: $2 per person on weeknights in April 2021, and $20 adults, $15 ages 5-12, free under 4 at a June 2025 rodeo. Confirm each year.

Is this the same as the Cleburne County Fair in Arkansas?
No. That’s in Heber Springs, Arkansas, and is run by that county. The Alabama fair is in Heflin and is run by the Chamber.