Ouachita County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events

The Ouachita County Fair is held at the Camden Sportsplex at Fairview Park on Mount Holly Road, on the south side of Camden, the county seat in south-central Arkansas. The grounds share space with the county recreation center, so the fair has access to indoor exhibit space and outdoor livestock areas. This guide covers what is confirmed, what has changed from year to year, and where to check current dates and entry rules.

Overview of Ouachita County Fairgrounds

Location and address

The fairgrounds are at 2708 Mount Holly Road in Camden, Arkansas, ZIP code 71701. Several event listings place the fair at the Camden Sportsplex at Fairview Park, and a 2021 fair listing described the site as the Ouachita County Recreation Center, formerly the Boys and Girls Club building. Camden sits on the Ouachita River at the end of its navigable section, and the courthouse is at 145 Jefferson Avenue in the center of town.

Who runs the fair

The Ouachita County Livestock and Fair Association, Inc. is the organization that runs the fair. The Ouachita County Fair Board announces each year’s fair, and the Camden city government lists fair events on its own calendar. The county’s University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service office in Camden serves Camden, Chidester, Bearden, Stephens, and other county towns. Arkansas law requires county fair boards to include a county extension agent as a non-voting member, so the extension office is part of the fair’s governance.

Acreage and facilities

Total acreage and the number of permanent buildings on the site were not verified. The grounds include indoor space used for exhibits, a sportsplex with fields, and outdoor livestock pens, but the exact layout should be confirmed with the fair board.

How long the fair has operated

The founding year of the fair was not verified. Ouachita County was created in 1842, and Camden was incorporated in 1844, so the county’s farm and forest traditions are long established.

Cultural and agricultural significance

Ouachita County has long been tied to the Ouachita River and to its forests. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas notes that the county’s pine forests drew paper and lumber industries, and that oil discoveries in southern Arkansas later shaped its growth. The 2025 fair’s theme, “Back to the Farm,” was built around the county’s agricultural heritage. The fair is one of the few large annual gatherings where farm families, 4-H youth, and town residents meet.

Upcoming Events at Ouachita County Fairgrounds

Types of events

The fair includes livestock shows, exhibits, a pageant, a free children’s day, and carnival rides. The Ouachita County 4-H program also holds jackpot contests off the grounds, including one in Hope, Arkansas. A four-night carnival was listed for October 21 through 24, 2026, at the Camden Sportsplex, and the city’s listing said gate admission was free. Rodeos, demolition derbies, tractor pulls, swap meets, gun shows, and motocross were not confirmed for this site.

Seasonal patterns

The county fair is held in September. The 2025 fair ran September 10 through 13, and the 2024 newsletter listed the fair for September 11 through 14. A fall carnival was listed for late October in 2026, separate from the fair. Spring and winter events were not verified.

Finding the current schedule

The Ouachita County Fair Board and the Ouachita County Livestock and Fair Association are the best sources for the fair’s own dates. The City of Camden’s event calendar lists fair-related events. The Ouachita County Extension Office posts 4-H newsletters and deadlines. Confirm the dates for each year before you plan.

Renting the grounds

Rental rates and procedures for the sportsplex, indoor exhibit space, or livestock area were not verified. The Camden Sportsplex and recreation center are operated by the city and county, so contact them about event bookings.

Visitors interested in Ouachita County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events can also explore regional activities through Newton County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events. Both counties offer opportunities to discover community traditions, enjoy seasonal gatherings, and find activities for families and visitors.

The Ouachita County Fair Itself

Name and timing

The fair is the Ouachita County Fair, and it has been held in September in recent years. The 2025 fair was announced as the first held at the Camden Sportsplex at Fairview Park under its current name, and recent fairs ran Wednesday through Saturday. Confirm the dates each year with the fair board.

Competitions

Livestock shows for poultry, rabbits, sheep, goats, beef, and swine are part of the fair, based on 2021 and 2024 schedules. The 2024 schedule also included a pageant and a mandatory exhibitor meeting before the fair. Crop, arts, and home economics departments were not verified for the current fair, but a creative arts competition was held at a local gymnasium in past years.

Carnival rides and midway

Carnival rides are part of the fair. The 2021 fair sold carnival armbands for $20 at the gate and $15 at local businesses in advance. The October 2026 carnival listing said gate admission was free. Ride count and the current year’s wristband prices were not verified.

Food vendors

Local food and craft exhibits have been part of the fair. Specific nonprofit food stands and any traditional fair foods were not verified.

Entertainment

The fair has included a pageant and a children’s day with a petting zoo in past years. Grandstand acts, local bands, talent shows, tractor pulls, and demolition derbies were not confirmed.

Youth and junior fair programs

The Ouachita County 4-H program runs youth exhibits and the livestock program for the fair. A 2024 4-H newsletter listed a Summer Sewing Camp, a county fair jackpot contest, a mandatory meeting for fair exhibits, and an online livestock registration deadline in August. The number of 4-H clubs and FFA chapters that participate in the fair were not confirmed.

Gate admission, parking, and passes

The 2021 fair charged $5 gate admission for adults and children age 4 and up, and parking was free. A 2025 children’s day ran free from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 13. Current gate prices, season passes, and senior policies were not verified.

Facilities and Grounds

Exhibit buildings

The fair uses indoor space for exhibits, including displays for arts, crafts, and farm products. The number of buildings and their purposes were not verified.

Livestock barns and stall rental

Livestock areas are used for poultry, rabbit, sheep, goat, beef, and swine shows. Stall rental and barn assignment procedures were not confirmed. Youth exhibitors should contact the extension office and fair board.

Grandstand or arena

The Camden Sportsplex provides fields that have been used for fair events, but seating capacity and the list of arena events were not verified.

Commercial vendor space

Commercial booth spaces were not verified. Contact the fair board about availability and fees.

Camping and RV facilities

Camping and RV hookups were not confirmed. Plan lodging in Camden unless the fair confirms otherwise.

Accessibility, parking, and amenities

Parking was free at the 2021 fair. ADA parking, accessible restrooms, paved paths, parking capacity, concessions, first aid, and ATMs were not verified.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Commercial booths

Booth fees and applications were not verified. Contact the fair board or the Ouachita County Livestock and Fair Association for vendor forms.

Competitive exhibits and livestock entries

Exhibit entries follow the fair’s premium book and youth program rules. Livestock entries require online registration through the 4-H program, which set a deadline in mid-August in 2024. Poultry testing was scheduled before the fair in the same year. Confirm the current year’s deadlines with the extension office.

Premium book and deadlines

Obtain the current premium book from the fair board or extension office. Categories and deadlines change each year.

Contact information

The fair association’s listing included a phone number ((870) 818-7444) and an email address, but those listings were not confirmed as current. The extension office was listed as serving Camden, and its phone number was not verified for this article. Confirm contact details before calling or mailing applications.

Getting to Ouachita County Fairgrounds

From Camden

The fairgrounds are at 2708 Mount Holly Road on the south side of Camden. Use a current map to confirm the turn from downtown.

Highways and roads

Mount Holly Road leads directly to the fairgrounds. Arkansas Highway 76 runs northwest of Camden toward the Poison Springs Battleground State Park, about 14 miles from Camden. Other state highways that connect to Camden were not verified for this article.

Shuttle and rideshare

Public transportation and shuttle service during fair week were not verified. Plan a pickup spot ahead of time.

4-H and FFA at Ouachita County Fairgrounds

The extension office role

The Ouachita County Extension Office coordinates 4-H programs, including the county fair’s youth livestock and exhibit rules. Its agricultural staff helps with enrollment, project requirements, and livestock registration. A 2024 extension newsletter named Ouachita County Extension Agent Kerron Simpson, so confirm current staff before contacting the office.

4-H clubs

The number of 4-H clubs in Ouachita County was not verified. The 4-H office publishes a quarterly newsletter and runs summer camps, sewing classes, and livestock workshops.

FFA chapters

FFA chapters from local high schools participate in the fair, but the list of Ouachita County chapters was not confirmed. Contact the school agriculture departments for current information.

Junior livestock auction

Details on the youth livestock auction, including timing, bidder rules, and how proceeds are distributed, were not verified for this fair. A 2021 fair listing included a premium sale with a lunch before the auction. Ask the extension office or 4-H leaders about the current auction.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

Carnivals and community events

A carnival with free gate admission was listed for October 21 through 24, 2026, at the Camden Sportsplex. The City of Camden event calendar also lists the Ouachita Community Concert, the Great South Arkansas Junk Hunt, and the Ouachita County Historical Society’s events, which may use facilities in Camden.

Rodeos, gun shows, and swap meets

Rodeos, gun shows, swap meets, and motocross were not verified for the Ouachita County fairgrounds. Ask the fair board about outside events on the grounds.

Historical sites nearby

The Poison Springs Battleground State Park is about 14 miles northwest of Camden on Highway 76, and it is part of the Camden Expedition Sites National Historic Landmark. The Camden Confederate Monument stands on the courthouse grounds.

History of Ouachita County Fairgrounds

Ouachita County was created in 1842 from the northwest part of Union County and named for the Ouachita River. The county seat began as a French trading post called Ecore à Fabri, and it was renamed Camden in 1842 at the suggestion of a commissioner. Camden became a steamboat port and a lumber center. The Ouachita County Courthouse was completed in 1933 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The fairgrounds’ founding date and the fair’s first year were not verified. The fair’s move to the Camden Sportsplex at Fairview Park and its current name appear in recent announcements, but the earlier locations were not confirmed.

Attendance records, famous visitors, and major renovations were not verified. Cancellations due to weather, economic hardship, or the pandemic were not verified for this fair.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Ouachita County Fair in 2026 or 2027?
The fair has been held in September in recent years. The 2025 fair ran September 10 through 13. Confirm the 2026 and 2027 dates with the Ouachita County Fair Board.

What time does Ouachita County Fairgrounds open?
Gate hours were not verified. Check the fair board’s schedule for fair week.

Is there camping at Ouachita County Fairgrounds?
Camping and RV hookups were not confirmed. Plan lodging in Camden unless the fair confirms otherwise.

How do I enter livestock in the Ouachita County Fair?
Youth enter through the county 4-H program, which requires online registration before a summer deadline. Contact the Ouachita County Extension Office for forms and current deadlines.

Are dogs allowed at Ouachita County Fairgrounds?
Pet policies were not verified. Ask the fair board before bringing a dog, especially during livestock shows.

Where do I park at Ouachita County Fairgrounds?
Parking was free at the 2021 fair. Parking capacity and overflow areas were not verified for the current year.

Who do I contact to rent Ouachita County Fairgrounds?
Contact the Ouachita County Livestock and Fair Association or the Camden city office that manages the Sportsplex. Confirm current phone numbers before calling.

How much does it cost to get into the Ouachita County Fair?
The 2021 fair charged $5 gate admission for adults and children age 4 and up. The 2025 children’s day was free, and the October 2026 carnival was listed with free gate admission. Confirm the current year’s prices with the fair board.