Greene County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events

The Greene County Fairgrounds are in Paragould, in northeast Arkansas, and every year the Greene County Fair opens there on Labor Day. A lot of other Greene Counties have fairs too, in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, and elsewhere, and most of them run in July or August. If the page you’re reading mentions Xenia, Waynesburg, Carrollton, or Greeneville, it’s the wrong state. This one is the Labor Day fair in Paragould.

Greene County Fairgrounds Overview

Location

The fairgrounds are at 1108 Highway 49B, Paragould, Arkansas 72450. Paragould is the county seat, and the city describes itself as sitting on Crowley’s Ridge, about 150 miles northeast of Little Rock and 80 miles northwest of West Memphis.

Who Runs It

The Greene County Fair is run by its own fair board. The board’s listed members include a president, a fair manager, an assistant manager, a treasurer, and a secretary. The manager at the 2023 fair, Dennis Hammon, told local TV that the crew works on the fair all year. The Greene County Cooperative Extension Service handles the youth livestock program and 4-H side, and Extension has had a presence in the county since 1912.

How Old It Is

The fair’s own website says the fair has served northeast Arkansas for over 130 years. The fair manager has called it the oldest fair in Arkansas, and the City of Paragould calls it the single largest county fair in the state. Those are the fair’s and city’s own claims, and I could not find an independent ranking to back either one. I also could not find a published acreage for the grounds.

Upcoming Events at Greene County Fairgrounds

What’s Documented

The fairgrounds host more than the fair:

• The Greene County Fair, Labor Day week
• The Miss Greene County Fair Pageant, held in the BC Lloyd Building on the fairgrounds
• The Greene County Rodeo for Childhood Wishes, a charity rodeo for Make-A-Wish that held its fourth annual edition in 2022
• Livestock shows during fair week

I found no confirmed events booked for the rest of fall 2026. I also found no documented schedule of gun shows, swap meets, flea markets, or motocross events at this site, so I’m not listing any.

Seasonal Pattern

Late summer and early September are the busy stretch. For anything in other months, check the fair’s Facebook page.

Finding the Current Schedule

The fair’s official website and its Facebook page are the authoritative sources. The Extension office posts livestock and 4-H information on its county page.

Renting the Grounds

I could not find a rental price list or booking form. Contact the fair board or manager.

The Greene County Fair

Dates

The fair’s published rules say it begins on Labor Day and runs through the following Saturday, six days in all. Recent years:

• 2023: September 4–9
• 2025: opened September 1
• 2026: Labor Day was September 7, so the fair opened that Monday and ran through Saturday, September 12. The pageant was Saturday, September 5, and the rodeo was listed for September 7

For 2027, Labor Day is September 6, so expect the fair to open that week. Confirm with the fair’s page.

The Rodeo

The Greene County Fair Rodeo is held on opening night, produced by JB Rodeo Company. The 2026 listing showed a 5:30 p.m. start, $5 general admission, and free entry for children 5 and under. Rodeo admission is separate from fair admission, as far as I could tell, so confirm before you go.

Demolition Derby and Other Entertainment

The demolition derby ran two nights in 2023, and a board member’s 2025 preview listed wrestling, a demo derby, a rodeo, and a trick rider. In 2025 the fair added a circus, with one show a day during the week and two on Saturday. In 2023 the fair added an exotic petting zoo, including kangaroos. The derby charges its own entry fee on top of fair admission.

Visitors interested in Greene County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events can also explore local gatherings through Grant County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events. Both counties offer opportunities to discover regional heritage, enjoy seasonal celebrations, and find community activities across Arkansas.

Midway

A carnival supplies the rides. The fair manager said in 2023 that a new ride company was in its third year with the fair. Ride tickets have been $1 each or 25 for $20, with most rides taking two or more tickets, and riders need either an armband or tickets. Armbands can’t be replaced if lost or broken.

Admission

The fair’s website lists admission at $6 for ages 13 and up and $3 for ages 5 to 12. Admission and ride prices change, so confirm for the current year. Local vendors sell arts and crafts at the fair.

Pageants

The 2026 Miss Greene County Fair Pageant was held on Saturday, September 5, at 1:00 p.m. in the BC Lloyd Building, with rehearsals on September 3 and 4. The fair also lists junior miss divisions.

Facilities and Grounds

Documented: the BC Lloyd Building, an arena used for the rodeo and derby, and livestock barns for the fair’s shows.

Not confirmed: exhibit building counts, stall counts, grandstand capacity, camping and RV hookups, ADA parking and pathways, first aid, ATMs, and overflow parking. Call the fair office.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Commercial Vendors

Local vendors selling arts and crafts have been part of the fair. I could not find a published vendor application, booth fee, or deadline, so contact the fair board through the website or Facebook page.

Competitive Exhibits

The fair’s rules are specific about who can compete:

• Competition is open only to bona fide residents of Greene County
• Junior exhibitors must live in Greene County or attend a Greene County school
• Classes are divided into junior, senior, and open divisions, and no entry can be shown in two divisions

The fair’s general rules also say an animal can’t be shown in both junior and senior/open divisions, with an exception for the pen of three steer class. Read the full rules on the fair’s about page before entering.

Getting to Greene County Fairgrounds

The address is 1108 Highway 49B in Paragould. From downtown Paragould, take Highway 49B to the grounds. Paragould is about 150 miles from Little Rock and roughly 80 miles from West Memphis. I found no public transit or fair-week shuttle service, and rideshare is unreliable in a town this size, so arrange rides ahead of time.

4-H and FFA at the Fairgrounds

The Extension Office’s Role

The Greene County Extension office publishes monthly 4-H newsletters covering the youth livestock show members, the Teen Leader Club, and the shooting sports program. A new Extension office building was started in Paragould in 2023, replacing space in the Federal Building. The office staff includes a staff chair, a 4-H agent, and an agriculture agent.

FFA and Junior Livestock

I could not find a list of participating FFA chapters, a published junior livestock auction date, or auction rules for the Arkansas fair. Contact the Extension office for entry paperwork, deadlines, and sale details. Because the fair limits junior exhibitors to Greene County residents or students at Greene County schools, confirm eligibility first.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

The Rodeo for Childhood Wishes, held at 1108 Highway 49B, is the clearest non-fair event I could document. It’s a charity rodeo supporting Make-A-Wish, and its fourth annual edition was in July 2022. I could not confirm whether it’s still held.

History of Greene County Fairgrounds

The fair’s website says the fair has operated for over 130 years, and the fair manager has called it the oldest in Arkansas. Greene County itself was created by the territorial legislature in 1833. I could not find the date the current Highway 49B site was acquired, attendance records, or any record of cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Greene County Fair in Arkansas in 2026 and 2027?

The fair begins on Labor Day and runs through the following Saturday. In 2026 that was September 7 to 12. For 2027, Labor Day is September 6. Confirm with the fair’s website.

What time does the fairgrounds open?

I could not find published daily hours. The rides in past years opened in the afternoon, and the rodeo started at 5:30 p.m. Check the fair’s schedule.

Is there camping at Greene County Fairgrounds?

I found no published camping information. Contact the fair board.

How do I enter livestock in the Greene County Fair?

Contact the Greene County Extension office. Entries are limited to Greene County residents, and junior exhibitors must live in the county or attend a county school.

Are dogs allowed at the fairgrounds?

No pet policy is published. Call ahead, because livestock are on site.

Where do I park?

No parking details are published. The grounds are at 1108 Highway 49B.

Who do I contact to rent the fairgrounds?

Contact the Greene County Fair board or fair manager through the fair’s website or Facebook page.

How much does it cost to get into the fair?

The fair’s website lists $6 for ages 13 and up and $3 for ages 5 to 12. Rides are extra, and the demolition derby and rodeo charge separately.

How do I become a vendor?

Contact the fair board. I found no published application.