Miller County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events
If you’re searching for the Miller County fairgrounds in Arkansas, you’re looking for the Four States Fairgrounds at 3700 East 50th Street in Texarkana. Miller County doesn’t run a separate county fair. The Four States Fair & Rodeo, held in early spring, serves as the county’s big fair, and the grounds host events through most of the year. This guide covers the fair, the rest of the calendar, the buildings, vendor and exhibitor basics, and how to get there.
Overview of Miller County Fairgrounds
Where the grounds are
The fairgrounds sit on the Arkansas side of Texarkana, the Miller County seat, within Bobby Ferguson Park. The mailing and street address is 3700 East 50th Street, Texarkana, AR 71854. The office number is 870-773-2941.
Texarkana is split by the state line, and the fair has history on both sides. Texarkana, Arkansas is in Miller County and Texarkana, Texas is in Bowie County. That is where “Four States” comes from: the fair has long drawn crowds from Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. In 2021 the executive director put the fair’s customer base at roughly a 150-mile radius.
Size and layout
A 2019 Texarkana Gazette feature put the grounds at about 100 acres. The main structures are:
- The Entertainment Center (Four States Arena). It is about 70,000 square feet with a 108-by-300-foot arena floor and 4,794 permanent seats. Capacity can reach about 6,500 for concerts.
- The Fine Arts Building, which is also a banquet and meeting space.
- The Agricultural Learning Center.
- Livestock and commercial buildings and a hard-surfaced parking lot (see the Facilities section).
Who runs it
The grounds are operated by the Four States Fair Association, Inc., a nonprofit. It was chartered on March 6, 1945, and its stated mission centers on agriculture, livestock and equine competition, and affordable family entertainment. Lisa Garner is executive director. She has held the job for more than two decades, and her grandmother held it for about fifty years before her.
Why it matters locally
For a lot of Miller County families the fair is the spring marker, the way a first frost or opening day of fishing season is for other people. The association says the fair is the largest single event in the Texarkana area, with about 100,000 visitors over its ten days. It also brings the county’s farm side into town. Kids who have never touched a calf get to meet one here.
Upcoming Events at Miller County Fairgrounds
What happens on the grounds
The Four States Fairgrounds is a working event venue, not a place that wakes up once a year. Recent coverage describes a calendar that includes:
- Barrel racing, team roping, and cutting competitions
- Rodeos and bull riding
- Livestock shows, including youth livestock events
- Motorsports and monster truck shows
- Expos, auctions, and community gatherings
- Private parties, banquets, and meetings
The largest recent non-fair event was the Arkansas Youth Expo, a multi-day youth livestock event held October 8–11, 2026. Its organizers described it as one of the largest youth livestock events in the region. The Junior League of Texarkana’s Mistletoe Fair, a holiday shopping event, has long been associated with the grounds in November or December. Confirm the 2026 dates before you plan around it.
Seasonal pattern
- Spring: The Four States Fair & Rodeo, early April.
- Summer: Quieter for public events. Horse shows, roping, and private rentals fill the gaps.
- Fall: Youth livestock events such as the Arkansas Youth Expo, plus motorsports and expos.
- Winter: Holiday shopping events like the Mistletoe Fair, indoor team roping (the fairgrounds has hosted New Year’s Eve roping), and private bookings.
Finding the current schedule
The fair association’s website (fourstatesfair.com) is the authoritative source, and its Facebook page carries day-of updates. You can also call the office at 870-773-2941. Third-party calendars often lag behind. One listing site still shows “April 2027 (dates not updated)” for the fair.
Renting the facilities
The association says it offers facilities for business meetings, personal events, and celebrations, both private and public. Outside groups can rent the Entertainment Center, which has staging, security, box office operations, and dressing rooms. The Fine Arts Building is advertised for banquets of about 400 people. The office handles rates, deposits, and availability.
The Four States Fair & Rodeo
Name and timing
The 81st annual fair ran April 3–12, 2026. The 80th ran April 4–13, 2025. The fair used to be held in mid-September. COVID-19 pushed the 2020 edition to April 2021, and it stayed in spring afterward.
What about 2027? I could not find official 2027 dates. Recent years put the opening on the first Friday of April or the Friday before it, so early April is the expectation. That would put opening day around April 2, 2027, but treat that as a pattern, not an announcement.
Midway and carnival rides
The carnival provider has changed in recent years. Wagner’s Carnival worked the fair around 2021–22. Amped Amusement ran the midway in 2023, and Miller Spectacular Shows of Batesville took over in 2025. For 2026 the fair partnered with North American Midway Entertainment.
The 2026 midway had about 30 rides, including 11 thrill rides, a 63-foot Ferris wheel, Zero Gravity, bumper cars, and kiddie rides. Unlimited ride bands were $35 per day on the opening and closing weekends, and the fair introduced FunTagg QR-code cards (often worn as wristbands) for ride access. A “Manic Monday” promotion offered rides for $2 each with gate admission.
Fair food
I found no documented signature food or named nonprofit stands, so I won’t invent any. One festival directory lists 39 food booths. Expect corn dogs, funnel cakes, and fried everything. Ask on the fair’s Facebook page which local groups are working stands.
Entertainment
- Demolition derby: Saturday of opening weekend in the Entertainment Center, with the same ticket covering the fair. Doors opened at 4 p.m. and the show started at 5 p.m. in 2026.
- Rodeo: Three nights during the final weekend (April 9–11 in 2026), produced by Wing Rodeo Company with rodeo admission including fair entry.
- Other draws: Outdoor stage bands, Hype & Glory Wrestling, a Kids’ Day with mutton bustin’ and a mini rodeo, and radio-sponsored promotion days.
Competitive exhibits
The fair runs junior livestock and home arts and fine arts competitions. A 2017 report cited 669 head of junior livestock and about 1,000 home arts and fine arts entries. The premium book lists the current classes and rules. The fair also sponsors a pageant tradition. An office saddle labeled “Miss Four States Fair 1964” sits in the director’s office.
Admission and costs (2026 figures)
| Item | 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Fair admission, adults | $10 |
| Fair admission, children 6–12 | $5 |
| Children 5 and under | Free |
| Rodeo, adults | $20 |
| Rodeo, children 6–12 | $15 |
| Unlimited ride band (weekends) | $35/day |
Police, fire, military, and first responders get in free with ID plus three guests on Back the Badge night. Free senior admission (55+) has also appeared in recent schedules. I could not verify a parking charge or season pass, so check the fair’s website.
Visitors interested in Miller County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events can also explore local celebrations through Marion County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events. Both counties offer opportunities to discover regional traditions, enjoy seasonal activities, and plan enjoyable outings across Arkansas.
Facilities and Grounds
Buildings
- Entertainment Center: the arena described above. It has hosted rodeos, concerts, monster trucks, and even minor-league hockey in the early 2000s.
- Fine Arts Building: home to home arts and fine arts competition during the fair and to banquets the rest of the year. It dates to 1952.
- Merchant/commercial building: built in 1950 with the original ticket offices.
- Livestock barns: the first livestock building went up in 1960. I could not verify species-by-species barn counts or stall rental procedures, so call the office.
- Agricultural Learning Center: opened in 2006 and described as the first of its kind in Arkansas and the four-state region. It runs year-round programs on beef, dairy, and crops for schools, scouts, 4-H clubs, and home school groups. A model dairy cow and a toddler playroom are part of the fair-time setup.
Camping and RV
A fairgrounds RV area exists. Third-party listings describe about 80 full-hookup sites, with electric, water, sewer, and restroom access. A reviewer noted that gates are locked unless an event is underway, so it works for event stays and not as a drop-in campground. Call the office for reservation rules and rates. Commercial RV parks are also nearby.
Parking
The Arkansas tourism listing describes a 15-acre hard-surfaced parking lot. During fair week, expect traffic control by Texarkana Arkansas police and overflow arrangements that change year to year.
Accessibility and amenities
I could not verify specific ADA parking locations or pathway surfaces. The main buildings are permanent structures, and the Entertainment Center has fixed seating. Call the office ahead of a visit if you need accessible seating or parking. Concession stands operate during events.
Vendor and Exhibitor Information
Becoming a commercial vendor
I did not find a posted vendor fee schedule. Contact the fair office at 870-773-2941 or use the fair website’s vendor information. Vendor applications are typically due well before an event. For example, Arkansas Youth Expo vendor applications were due August 1 for an October show. For the April fair, plan to ask in the winter.
Entering competitive exhibits
Livestock, home arts, and fine arts entries follow the fair’s premium book, which lists classes, rules, and deadlines. Get the current book from the fair’s website or office. Entry deadlines for the April fair fall well before opening day.
Contact
Four States Fair Association, 3700 East 50th Street, Texarkana, AR 71854. Phone: 870-773-2941.
Getting to Miller County Fairgrounds
By car
Texarkana sits at the junction of Interstates 30 and 49, and the fairgrounds are on the east side of town on East 50th Street, near Texarkana Regional Airport. Signs for the airport and fairgrounds along Four States Fair Parkway help. From the county seat’s downtown courthouse area (400 Laurel Street), the grounds are a short drive east and south. Rough distances from larger cities:
- Shreveport, Louisiana: about 75 miles
- Little Rock: about 140 miles
- Dallas: about 180 miles
Use GPS and the street address for exit specifics, since fair-week traffic detours vary.
Public transit and rideshare
I could not verify a fair shuttle or special transit. Rideshare drop-off follows the same traffic patterns as fair-week parking, so build in extra time on busy weekend evenings.
4-H and FFA at the Fairgrounds
Extension coordination
The Miller County Cooperative Extension Service office, in the courthouse at 400 Laurel Street, runs 4-H and agriculture programming for the county. Extension agents have brought school groups to the Ag Learning Center for farm-type lessons. In one 2015 session, an agent taught kindergartners from around the area, reaching about 160 children and seven adults.
Junior livestock
The fair hosts junior livestock shows. I could not verify the number of 4-H clubs in Miller County, which local FFA chapters show here, or the details of a junior livestock auction (date, buyer rules, proceeds). Ask the fair office and the Extension office for current details.
Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair
The grounds have documented ties to rodeos, team roping, barrel racing, motorsports, monster trucks, and youth livestock expos. I did not find verified recurring gun shows, flea markets, or swap meets, so check the fair’s calendar. Concerts have used the Entertainment Center, and the fair’s outdoor stage books local and regional bands.
History of Miller County Fairgrounds
The Four States Fair & Rodeo was chartered on March 6, 1945. A rodeo staged by the Four States Livestock Association was held in 1941 at the Texarkana Baseball Park, and the fair’s records suggest an earlier rodeo around 1940. The first official fair ran October 9–14, 1945, at Spring Lake Park on the Texas side, one month after World War II ended. The opening day drew more than 10,000 people.
Early fairs were segregated, with a separate parade and separate agricultural exhibits for Black participants. The record is a reminder that the institution’s history is more complicated than the nostalgia.
Permanent buildings followed: the merchant building and ticket offices in 1950, the fine arts building in 1952, and a livestock building in 1960. In the 1980s the fair moved to the Arkansas side inside Bobby Ferguson Park, and the Entertainment Center opened in 1985. The 2020 fair was postponed from September to April 2021, the only recent major disruption I found.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Miller County (Four States) Fair in 2027?
Official 2027 dates were not published as of October 19, 2026. Recent fairs ran ten days beginning in early April (April 3–12 in 2026). Check fourstatesfair.com for the confirmed schedule.
What time does the fairgrounds open for the fair?
In 2026, gates opened at 5 p.m. on weekdays, noon on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Rodeo nights started in the evening, with doors opening ahead of the show.
Is there camping at the fairgrounds?
Yes, an RV area with hookups exists, with listings citing about 80 sites. It is event-based, so call 870-773-2941 for availability and rates.
How do I enter livestock?
Use the fair’s premium book and entry forms, and submit before the deadline. Youth exhibitors should also talk to their 4-H or FFA advisor.
Are dogs allowed?
I could not verify a pet policy. Call the office. Service animals are generally permitted under ADA rules.
Where do I park?
There is a large hard-surfaced lot on the grounds, with overflow and traffic direction during fair week.
Who do I contact to rent the fairgrounds?
Call the Four States Fair Association at 870-773-2941.
How much does it cost to get in?
For the 2026 fair, $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6–12, and free for ages 5 and under. Rodeo tickets were $20 and $15 and included fair admission. Prices for 2027 may differ.
Is the fair open to people from outside Miller County?
Yes. The fair draws from several states and a wide regional area.
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