Washington County Alabama Fairgrounds Events

The fair is held at the Cecil E. McMullan Fairgrounds on U.S. Highway 43 at Stanley Drive in Jackson. Local papers and the 2025 coverage call it the Clarke County Fairgrounds, so you’ll see both names. It is one place.

Jackson is a city of about 4,750 people (2020 census) and the largest city in Clarke County. It sits directly across the Tombigbee River from Washington County. For many Washington County families the fairgrounds are a short drive up U.S. 43, which is why the fair carries both county names.

Who runs it

The organization behind the fair is the Greater Clarke-Washington Counties Fair Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Jackson. The IRS granted its tax-exempt status in March 1976. Its stated purpose is to provide wholesome entertainment for the community and raise money for charitable organizations, and the money raised does go back out. Nonprofit filings show the association making charitable grants in the tens of thousands of dollars in some years.

The Jackson Area Rotary Club is the fair’s long-time sponsor, and recent coverage describes nightly programs hosted by the fair board together with the Rotary Club.

Why it matters to Washington County

Washington County is large (over 1,000 square miles), heavily forested, and has no big town. Chatom, the county seat, has roughly 975 people. A county like that doesn’t have the population base to support a stand-alone fair, so sharing one with Clarke County makes sense. Washington County has its own contestants in the fair queen pageant, and its students and adults with special needs are formally invited to Special Needs Day.

Upcoming Events at the Fairgrounds

The fall fair is the main event

The Clarke-Washington Fair is the headline event at the grounds. I could not find a published schedule for 2026 or 2027, so I won’t print dates for them.

The pattern from recent years is consistent:

• 2022: Friday, Oct. 28 through Saturday, Nov. 5
• 2023: Friday, Oct. 27 through Saturday, Nov. 4
• 2025: Friday, Oct. 24 through Saturday, Nov. 1

So the fair opens on a Friday in the last week or so of October and runs about nine days, with at least one Sunday closure in the years I could confirm (Oct. 30 in 2022, Oct. 29 in 2023). If the 2026 fair follows the pattern, it is either days away or about to begin, so call the fair contact below before you drive over.

The rest of the year

I could not confirm a public calendar of other events at the grounds, such as gun shows, rodeos, swap meets, or private rentals. I’d rather say that than list events that may not exist. Ask the fair association whether the grounds are rented to outside groups and what types of events are allowed.

The Clarke-Washington Fair Itself

Hours and typical week

In the recent years I checked, gates opened at 5 p.m. on weekdays, with Saturday matinees opening at noon. Special Needs Day in 2025 ran from 9 a.m. to noon.

Admission

Treat these as past prices, not current ones:

• 2023: general admission was $5.
• 2022: K-12 students paid $3 during the Saturday afternoon matinee (noon to 4:30 p.m.).
• 2022: “Midnight Madness” on the last two Fridays offered ride arm bands for $13 from 10 p.m. to midnight.
• Earlier years: the fair has run a children’s day with a $1 admission for ages 5 to 17.

I couldn’t find the 2025 or 2026 admission price. Ask the fair office, or check the association’s Facebook page, before you go.

Visitors exploring Washington County Alabama Fairgrounds Events can also discover exciting local gatherings and seasonal activities through Walker County Alabama Fairgrounds Events. Both counties provide opportunities to enjoy agricultural exhibitions, livestock shows, community festivals, family-friendly entertainment, and celebrations that highlight Alabama’s local heritage. Exploring events in Washington and Walker counties allows families and travelers to discover new experiences, learn about regional traditions, and plan enjoyable outings while staying connected with upcoming fairs and community activities throughout Alabama.

Carnival and midway

The fair has a traveling-style midway. Coverage of the 2025 fair mentions swings, a merry-go-round, a Tilt-A-Whirl, a giant slide, and the Zipper, which the paper called a local favorite. Game booths line the grounds, and prizes run from stuffed animals to live goldfish. I couldn’t confirm which carnival company supplies the rides.

The Big Tent and evening programs

A large red-and-white-striped tent hosts a different program each night. Here is what the 2022 schedule looked like, as a sample of the format:

• Saturday: 4-H Chick Chain Show and Auction at 1 p.m., followed by the Little Miss pageant (girls through age 9) and the Junior Miss pageant (ages 10 to 17).
• Monday: Clarke County 4-H Dairy Show at 6 p.m., then the Miss Clarke-Washington Fair Queen Pageant at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday: live music under the Big Tent at 7 p.m.

Other years have included a Halloween night, a cheerleader competition at Jackson High School’s gym, and a children’s day. Programs change from year to year, so don’t plan around any single night without checking.

Food

The 2025 coverage mentions food as one of the draws, but I couldn’t confirm specific vendors or whether local nonprofits run food stands with the fair office if you want to sell food or want to know what’s on the grounds.

4-H and Youth Programs

What is confirmed

The 4-H connection is real but narrower than at a large livestock-focused fair. Confirmed events include:

• The 4-H Chick Chain Show and Auction, held under the Big Tent on a Saturday.
• The Clarke County 4-H Dairy Show, held on a weeknight.

The event listings I found are tied to Clarke County 4-H. I couldn’t confirm whether Washington County 4-H members exhibit in these shows, how many clubs the county has, or which FFA chapters take part. [VERIFY] with the Washington County Extension office in Chatom.

Pageants

Pageants are a major part of this fair. They run in age divisions: Little Miss (through age 9), Junior Miss (ages 10 to 17), and a senior-level Miss Clarke-Washington Fair Queen. The queen pageant is open to contestants from Clarke and Washington counties only.

Special Needs Day

Each year the fair sets aside a morning for students and adults with special needs from Clarke, Washington, and Choctaw counties. In 2025 it was held Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to noon, at no cost. That is the clearest documented example of the fair serving Washington County residents as a group.

Facilities and Grounds

I can confirm the following: there is a tent area (the Big Tent), a South Tent area used for dairy showing, and room for a full carnival midway. I could not find the acreage, the number of permanent buildings, grandstand seating, camping or RV hookups, or the accessibility layout. [VERIFY] each of these directly. Don’t assume camping is available, and ask about ADA parking, paved paths, and restrooms before bringing someone who needs them.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

I couldn’t find a published vendor application, a premium book, or entry deadlines. The fair association is small and run by volunteers, and it doesn’t appear to maintain a full website. If you want to enter an exhibit, sell at the fair, or run a booth:

• Call the fair contact and ask for the vendor application and the exhibitor entry rules.
• Ask about booth fees, deadlines, and whether food vendors need a county health permit. [VERIFY]
• For 4-H entries, ask the county Extension office which fair the club exhibits at.

Contact

• Phone: (251) 769-1994 (listed in the Jackson chamber of commerce directory)
• Mailing address: Greater Clarke-Washington Counties Fair Association, P.O. Box 551, Jackson, AL 36545

Nonprofit records also list an older P.O. Box 22 for the association. Use Box 551, which is the one on the chamber listing and current filings, but verify before mailing anything important.

Getting to the Fairgrounds

From Chatom and the rest of Washington County

U.S. Highway 43 runs through Mobile, Washington, and Clarke counties, and it is the main road between Washington County and Jackson. From Chatom or McIntosh, take U.S. 43 north into Clarke County. The fairgrounds are on U.S. 43 at Stanley Drive.

Coming into Jackson

U.S. 43 bypasses downtown Jackson on the west side. State Route 177 (College Avenue) follows the old route through town and reconnects with U.S. 43 at both ends. If you’re on a GPS and it routes you through downtown, you can usually get back to the bypass easily.

Parking, transit, and rideshare

I couldn’t find information on parking capacity, overflow lots, shuttles, or rideshare drop-off. There’s no public transit worth relying on in a county this rural, so plan to drive. Ask the fair office about parking if you’re bringing a trailer or a large group.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

Besides the fall fair, I confirmed no other recurring events at the grounds. Rotary-sponsored and charity-supporting events are consistent with how the association describes itself, but I won’t claim any specific ones. If you want to rent the grounds or use them for a fundraiser, ask the fair office.

History of the Fair

What I can document:

• The association received its IRS tax-exempt ruling in March 1976, so it has been operating as an organized nonprofit for roughly half a century.
• The fairgrounds carry the name of Cecil E. McMullan. who he was and when the grounds were named for him, ideally through the Clarke County Historical Society or the Jackson library.
• Over the years the fair has featured appearances by figures such as a former Miss Alabama who served as emcee of the queen pageant.
• I couldn’t find information on cancellations, including during the pandemic, or attendance records.

A local newspaper archive or the Rotary Club would be the best sources for a fuller history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Washington County, Alabama have its own fairgrounds?

Not that I could find. Washington County residents attend the Greater Clarke-Washington Counties Fair at the Cecil E. McMullan Fairgrounds in Jackson, Clarke County.

When is the Clarke-Washington County Fair in 2026 and 2027?

Dates haven’t been published where I could find them. The fair has opened on a Friday in late October (Oct. 28, 2022; Oct. 27, 2023; Oct. 24, 2025) and run about nine days. Call (251) 769-1994 to confirm.

Where is the fair held?

At the Cecil E. McMullan Fairgrounds, on U.S. Highway 43 at Stanley Drive in Jackson, Alabama.

What time does the fair open?

In recent years, gates opened at 5 p.m. on weekdays and at noon for Saturday matinees. Confirm before you go, since hours can change.

How much does it cost to get in?

General admission was $5 in 2023, and K-12 students paid $3 at Saturday afternoon sessions in 2022. Current prices weren’t available, so call ahead.

Is there camping at the fairgrounds?

I couldn’t confirm any camping or RV facilities. Ask the fair office.

How do I enter livestock or a 4-H project?

There’s no published entry process. Contact the fair office and your county Extension office. Confirmed 4-H events include the Chick Chain Show and the 4-H Dairy Show.

Who can compete in the Miss Clarke-Washington Fair Queen Pageant?

It’s for senior girls from Clarke and Washington counties. Younger divisions (Little Miss and Junior Miss) also run during the fair.

Who do I contact to rent the fairgrounds or become a vendor?

The Greater Clarke-Washington Counties Fair Association: (251) 769-1994, or P.O. Box 551, Jackson, AL 36545.

Are dogs allowed?

I couldn’t find a posted pet policy. Ask the fair office, especially if you plan to bring a dog to a livestock event.