Houston County Alabama Fairgrounds Events

Houston County doesn’t run a traditional county fair with a grandstand and a 4-H barn on the courthouse calendar. Its fair is the National Peanut Festival, and its fairground is the 200-plus-acre property on U.S. Highway 231 South in Dothan. The festival’s 82nd run is November 6 through 14, 2026. The grounds also host a rodeo, a circus, home shows, concerts, and youth livestock events through the rest of the year.

Overview of Houston County Fairgrounds

Address and location

The grounds are at 5622 U.S. 231, Dothan, AL 36301, on the south side of Dothan, the Houston County seat. Dothan sits in the Wiregrass region in the southeast corner of Alabama, close to the Georgia and Florida lines. Houston County is the newest of Alabama’s 67 counties. The legislature created it on February 9, 1903, mostly from Henry County with pieces of Dale and Geneva. It covers a little over 575 square miles. U.S. 231 runs north to south along its western edge, and U.S. 84 is the other main route through it.

Size and layout

The festival’s own history describes the grounds as more than 200 acres. That description lists two exhibit buildings, an amphitheater, an open-air arena, and an ag complex. Current event listings use sponsor names for the main venues:

• BankPlus Arena, the open-air arena for the greased pig scramble, calf scramble, demolition derbies, horse shows, and car and truck shows
• BankPlus Amphitheater, used for concerts and some racing events
• Alabama AG Credit AG Complex, where junior livestock events are held
• Alfa Event Center, which doubles as the VIP entrance during the festival

Who runs it

The National Peanut Festival Association, Inc. operates the festival and the grounds. The festival materials say roughly 400 volunteers keep it running. That volunteer base is why so many local churches, schools, and civic groups run food booths and show up in the schedule.

How long it has been operating

The first festival was held on a near-freezing Thursday, November 10, 1938, as a three-day event with a pageant, parade, historical play, and grand ball. It ran annually through 1941, paused during World War II, and returned in 1947. For decades it moved around Houston County, spending many of its years at the Houston County Farm Center. It has been on the U.S. 231 grounds since 1999.

Why it matters to the county

Dothan calls itself the Peanut Capital of the World. Much of the U.S. peanut crop is grown within about a hundred miles of town, and much of it is processed in the city. The festival is built around that. Farmers get their own free-admission night, the Alabama Peanut Producers sponsor a recipe contest, and Troy University hosts an Agri-STEM Day for high school students in the arena. The fair here is a harvest celebration for the people who grow the crop.

Upcoming Events at Houston County Fairgrounds

What the grounds host

Recent years of event listings show a steady mix of:

• The National Peanut Festival, the 9- to 10-day fall fair
• Rodeos and horse shows
• Circuses and touring shows
• Demolition derbies and figure-8 races
• Home and remodeling shows
• Concerts and music festivals
• Junior livestock events
• Contests, including the Cubmobile Derby and pageants

The 2026 calendar so far

Dates below come from the festival’s own materials and public listings:

• June 25–28: Do Portugal Circus (animal-free production)
• July 10–11: Wiregrass Stampede Rodeo, with gates at 5 p.m. and rodeo action at 7 p.m. It benefits the nonprofit Wiregrass Gives.
• August 21–23: Dothan Home & Remodeling Show
• September 26: Wiregrass Heritage Festival, a Southern soul music event
• October 16–17: Miss NPF preliminary and finals
• October 24: 72nd Cubmobile Derby
• October 29: NPF Recipe Contest
• November 6–14: 82nd National Peanut Festival

Houston County Alabama Fairgrounds Events offer visitors exciting opportunities to enjoy local fairs, agricultural exhibitions, community festivals, and family-friendly entertainment that showcase the region’s traditions. Similarly, Henry County Alabama Fairgrounds Events provide opportunities to experience rural culture, livestock displays, seasonal celebrations, and activities that bring local communities together. Exploring fairground events across both counties allows visitors to discover more of Alabama’s local attractions, support small businesses and vendors, and enjoy memorable experiences filled with entertainment, community spirit, and Southern hospitality.

Seasonal pattern

Summer is for the rodeo and touring shows. Late summer brings home shows and concerts. October is pageant and contest season, and early November is the festival itself. Winter and spring are quieter, though listings show a family festival on the books for May 2027.

Finding the current schedule

The official source is nationalpeanutfestival.com, along with the association’s social media pages. The festival also holds an annual entertainment announcement press conference. For 2026 it was set for August 18.

Renting the grounds

The festival says the fairgrounds are built to host year-round events, and outside promoters clearly use it. The circus, rodeo, and home show all come from outside producers. For rental rates, available buildings, and dates, contact the association directly. I could not find a published rate sheet, so don’t plan around a number until you’ve talked to them.

The County Fair Itself: The National Peanut Festival

Name and timing

The festival is held in early November, running Friday to Saturday of the following week. In 2026 that is November 6–14. The parade moved to the final day this year, Saturday, November 14, at 9:30 a.m.

Daily themes

The schedule rotates through named days, which is useful for planning:

• Opening Day and First Responder Friday (Nov 6)
• Peanut Proud Saturday (Nov 7)
• Salsa Sunday (Nov 8)
• Farmers Night (Nov 9), with free admission for farmers and their families in recent years
• Teacher Tuesday (Nov 10)
• Veterans Day Celebration and All In Credit Union Day (Nov 11)
• Special Citizens Day and First Responders Night (Nov 12)
• Senior Citizens’ Day, Friday Funday (Nov 13)
• Saturday Shellabration (Nov 14)

Special Citizens Day and Senior Citizens Day moved a day later than usual this year. Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, schools are closed, and the arena was already booked.

Carnival and midway

A midway with rides runs alongside the exhibits. Rides are sold separately from gate admission as armbands. In 2025 armbands ranged from about $28 to $48 depending on the night, with a combined admission-and-armband option on one day.

Food

The festival gives priority to local nonprofits that fund schools, churches, and civic groups, then looks at what is different from existing food booths. Elephant ears are returning in 2026. Roughly fifteen food booths show up in public listings. Boiled peanuts are the obvious local order.

Entertainment

There are two stages in the listings: a national-act stage and a local stage. Local bands should know the local stage has only nine days of slots and receives hundreds of requests. Email [email protected] with audio and video samples. All entertainment must be family-appropriate.

Arena events

The arena draws strong crowds. Regulars include the Greased Pig and Calf Scramble (Monday, Nov 9 in 2026), the demolition derby, a horse show called Equestrian Chaos, and a car and truck show. Some arena events had paid reserved seating in past years. The 2025 Friday-night figure-8 derby listed reserved seats at $20 with free general admission.

Admission and tickets

• 2025 gate admission: $11 for most days, $9 on one day
• 2026 advance tickets: $9 after September 13, sold through November 5
• 2026 Mega Pass: $38 now (it was $33 during the early flash sale), also through November 5
• VIP Package: $250 through October 31. It covers 18 one-day tickets, 2 VIP parking passes, the Alfa Event Center entrance, and VIP restrooms. Ride armbands and concert seats cost extra.
• Free or discounted: children 5 and under with a paid adult (per 2023 and 2024 festival FAQs), Alfa Insurance members at $5 on designated days, free admission for first responders, teachers, military, and farmers on their days

Gate prices are the most likely number in this article to change, so check the ticket page.

Facilities and Grounds

Buildings and arenas

Beyond the arena and amphitheater, the Alabama AG Credit AG Complex handles livestock. The older festival description counts two exhibit buildings, and I couldn’t confirm that number for current use.

Livestock

Recent schedules show a junior heifer and feeder steer event and a market hog showmanship event at the ag complex. For stall assignments, species-specific rules, and entry paperwork, contact the association directly.

Security

The festival has invested in digital surveillance, uses metal detectors and bag inspections, and has required clear bags no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ in recent years. It says it does not plan a curfew or age restriction for minors in 2026 but reserves the right to change that.

Pets

No pets, except service animals.

Accessibility and parking

A third-party venue listing mentions handicap parking near the main entrance, wheelchair-accessible areas, and a standard parking fee of $10 per vehicle. I haven’t confirmed these against the official site.

Camping

I found no confirmed on-site camping information. Ask the association before planning an RV trip, and see the flags below.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Food and commercial vendors

Food vendors apply through the festival. Selection favors local nonprofits first, then unique offerings, then photos and booth setup, and finally product quality and professionalism. Apply early if you can, since the festival says it receives applications from many vendors every year. Sponsorship packages (Bronze through Platinum) are also sold. The festival says it reaches 200,000-plus attendees over its run.

The Home & Remodeling Show is run by an outside company, Nationwide Expos, which takes booth reservations separately.

Competitive exhibits and livestock

Premium book availability and entry deadlines were not published in anything I found. Contact the festival office and ask for the current exhibitor information.

Contact

The Alabama tourism listing shows (334) 793-4323. A third-party listing shows a main office line of (334) 677-8090. Verify before publishing either one.

Getting to Houston County Fairgrounds

The grounds sit on U.S. 231 South in Dothan. If you’re coming from Montgomery or Troy, take U.S. 231 south through Dothan. From the Florida side, 231 comes up from Panama City. U.S. 84 crosses Dothan east to west. Houston County’s only public airport is Dothan Regional.

I found no published shuttle or public transit service. The 2025 listing mentioned shuttles from remote lots, but I haven’t confirmed it for 2026. Expect heavy traffic on U.S. 231 on opening Friday and the final Saturday.

4-H and FFA at Houston County Fairgrounds

The festival has a real youth livestock component. Recent events include a junior heifer and feeder steer event and a market hog showmanship event at the AG complex. Troy University’s Agri-STEM Day brings local high school students to the arena. I didn’t find a verified count of Houston County 4-H clubs or FFA chapters, and I didn’t find a published description of a junior livestock auction (bidders, date, proceeds). Contact the Houston County office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System for 4-H details and local ag teachers for FFA participation.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

• Rodeo: Wiregrass Stampede Rodeo, July
• Circus: Do Portugal Circus, June
• Horse show: Equestrian Chaos during the festival
• Demolition derbies and racing: during the festival
• Contests: Cubmobile Derby, Recipe Contest, Miss NPF pageant
• Music: Wiregrass Heritage Festival, concerts at the amphitheater
• Trade shows: Home & Remodeling Show

Two other Dothan venues are worth knowing about. The Houston County Farm Center at 1701 E. Cottonwood Road is a 5,000-seat arena that hosts local sports and concerts, and its renovation was finished in 2025. Landmark Park runs its own seasonal festivals, including a fiber arts festival.

History of Houston County Fairgrounds

The festival began in 1938 and moved around the county for six decades. After years at the Houston County Farm Center and other sites, it settled on the U.S. 231 grounds in 1999. It paused for World War II and returned in 1947. I found no verified record of a cancellation in other years, including during the pandemic. Check the festival association before stating anything about that.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Houston County fair in 2026?
The National Peanut Festival runs November 6–14, 2026, at the fairgrounds in Dothan.

What time does the fairground open?
Posted hours for 2026: Fri 4 p.m.–midnight, Sat 10 a.m.–midnight, Sun 1–11 p.m., Mon–Wed 4:30–11 p.m., Thu 1–6 p.m. Those come from a listing site, so confirm them on the festival’s website.

Is there camping at the fairgrounds?
I couldn’t confirm camping. Call the association.

How do I enter livestock?
Junior livestock events are held at the Alabama AG Credit AG Complex. Contact the festival office or the Houston County Extension office for entry rules and deadlines.

Are dogs allowed?
No. Only service animals are allowed.

Where do I park?
On the grounds, with a posted fee. A third-party listing says $10 per vehicle. Handicap parking is near the main entrance.

Who do I contact to rent the fairgrounds?
The National Peanut Festival Association. Use the number on the official website.

How much does it cost to get in?
Gate admission was $11 on most days in 2025. For 2026, advance tickets are $9 and the Mega Pass is $38 through November 5. Children 5 and under are free with a paid adult. Ride armbands are extra.

Can I bring a bag?
Only clear bags no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ have been allowed in recent years.

Is there a Houston County 4-H or FFA presence?
Yes, through junior livestock events and school programs at the festival.