Polk County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events
The Polk County Fair and Rodeo is held at the fairgrounds on Polk Road in Mena, the county seat in the Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas. The grounds sit off U.S. Highway 71 South, and they host the fair, a rodeo, livestock shows, and several fall festivals. This guide covers what has been verified, what still needs checking, and how to find current dates and entry rules.
Overview of Polk County Fairgrounds
Location and address
The fairgrounds are at 156 Polk Road 43 in Mena, Arkansas, ZIP code 71953. Driving directions from the highway point travelers south on U.S. 71 to Fairgrounds Road, then to a turn beside the Lions Club golf course, about half a mile to the right. Mena is the largest city in Polk County, and it sits at the base of the Ouachita Mountains, near Rich Mountain, the county’s best-known landmark.
Who runs the fair
The Polk County Fair and Rodeo Association runs the fair and rodeo. The Polk County Extension Office in Mena serves the county’s 4-H and agricultural programs, including the communities of Mena, Hatfield, Cove, and Wickes. 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
A facility listing for the Andy Risenhoover Arena at the fairgrounds describes a 500-seat outdoor arena with 25 RV hookups and no covered main area. The listing also says the grounds do not have stalls or wash racks. That listing may be out of date, so confirm the facilities with the fair association. Total acreage and the number of permanent buildings were not verified.
How long the fair has operated
The founding year of the Polk County Fair was not verified. Polk County was created on November 30, 1844, and Mena was founded as a railroad town in 1896, so the county fair grew alongside the town and its railroad economy.
Cultural and agricultural significance
Nearly half of Polk County lies inside the Ouachita National Forest, and the county’s economy rests on lumber and wood products, tree farming, cattle, and poultry. The fair reflects those industries, and its rodeo and livestock shows connect the county’s forest and farm traditions. Rich Mountain, which rises to 2,861 feet, is the county’s most prominent landmark.
Upcoming Events at Polk County Fairgrounds
Types of events
The fairgrounds host the Polk County Fair, a rodeo, livestock shows, exhibits, and entertainment. The rodeo has been held on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. in recent years, with a Wing Rodeo Company listing for August 8 and 9, 2025, and August 9 and 10, 2024. The Ouachita Bigfoot Festival and Conference was listed for November 6 and 7, 2026, at the grounds, and a fall arts and craft fair and a fiber arts show were also listed for the fairgrounds. Demolition derbies, tractor pulls, gun shows, and motocross were not confirmed.
Seasonal patterns
The fair was listed for September 2 through 5, 2026, which makes it a late-summer and early-fall event. The rodeo has been held in early August in recent years, and a 2026 listing showed a rodeo on a Friday in August. Fall festivals fill the calendar in October and November. Spring and winter events were not verified.
Finding the current schedule
The Polk County Fair and Rodeo Association is the primary source for the fair and rodeo. The Polk County Extension Office in Mena can confirm 4-H and livestock events. Festival calendars also list fall events at the fairgrounds. Because the rodeo and fair dates appear in different listings, verify each event before planning.
Renting the grounds
The arena listing describes the grounds as available for events, with RV hookups and seating. Rental rates and booking procedures were not verified. Contact the fair association to ask about availability for outside groups.
Visitors exploring Polk County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events can also discover regional activities through Poinsett County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events. Exploring both locations helps visitors learn about community traditions, discover seasonal gatherings, and enjoy local celebrations throughout Arkansas.
The Polk County Fair Itself
Name and timing
The event is the Polk County Fair, with the rodeo held as part of the fair program. The 2026 fair was listed for September 2 through 5, with a four-day schedule. Confirm the 2027 dates with the fair association.
Competitions
Livestock shows and exhibits are part of the fair, according to its event listing. Specific judging categories for beef, dairy, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, and rabbits were not verified. Crop, home economics, photography, art, woodworking, floriculture, canning, and baking departments were not confirmed.
Carnival rides and midway
Carnival rides and the carnival company were not verified. Check the fair association’s listing for the midway in the year you plan to attend.
Food vendors
The fair listing mentions food vendors and community celebrations. Specific nonprofit food stands and any traditional fair foods were not verified.
Entertainment
The rodeo is the best-documented entertainment on the fairgrounds. Grandstand acts, local bands, pageants, talent shows, tractor pulls, and demolition derbies were not verified.
Youth and junior fair programs
The Polk County 4-H program is the youth development program of the University of Arkansas extension system. A 2021 extension listing said the county’s 4-H program has 13 community clubs and just over 300 youth members. The Mena FFA has partnered with 4-H and the Mena Lioness Lions Club on youth events, according to a local news report. The number of FFA chapters that participate in the fair was not verified.
Gate admission, parking, and passes
Gate prices, season passes, parking fees, and free-admission policies for children or seniors were not verified. Check the fair association’s listing before going.
Facilities and Grounds
Exhibit buildings
The fairgrounds include exhibit space used for crafts and agricultural displays, according to the venue listing. The number of buildings and their purposes were not verified.
Livestock barns and stall rental
A venue listing says the grounds do not have stalls. Livestock barns and stall rental procedures were not verified, so youth exhibitors should ask the extension office and fair association about barn assignments.
Grandstand or arena
The Andy Risenhoover Arena is an outdoor arena with seating for about 500 people, according to a venue listing. The listing says the main area is not covered. The rodeo is held in the arena.
Commercial vendor space
Commercial vendor space at the fair was not verified. Contact the fair association for availability and fees.
Camping and RV facilities
The arena listing describes 25 RV hookups at the fairgrounds. Camping and RV rates, reservations, and rules were not verified. Confirm before planning a stay.
Accessibility, parking, and amenities
ADA parking, accessible restrooms, paved paths, parking capacity, concessions, first aid, and ATMs were not verified. Call the fair association before the event with accessibility questions.
Vendor and Exhibitor Information
Commercial booths
Booth fees, applications, and insurance requirements were not verified. Contact the fair association for vendor forms.
Competitive exhibits and livestock entries
Exhibit entries follow the fair’s premium book and youth program rules. Youth livestock entries go through the 4-H program and the extension office. Confirm residency requirements, entry forms, and deadlines.
Premium book and deadlines
The premium book lists departments, rules, and deadlines for each year. Obtain the current book from the fair association or extension office.
Contact information
The Polk County Extension Office is in Mena, Arkansas, ZIP code 71953. Its phone number was not verified for this article, so check the University of Arkansas county extension listing. The fair association’s phone number and email were not verified either.
Getting to Polk County Fairgrounds
From Mena
The fairgrounds are reached from U.S. Highway 71 South. Follow the highway south from downtown Mena to Fairgrounds Road, then look for the turn beside the Lions Club golf course, about a half mile in.
Highways and roads
U.S. Highway 71 runs through Mena and is the main route to the fairgrounds. Historic records describe U.S. 71 South as passing through the downtown historic district. Polk Road 43 provides the grounds’ address.
Shuttle and rideshare
Public transportation and shuttle service during fair week were not verified. Plan rideshare pickup spots ahead of time.
4-H and FFA at Polk County Fairgrounds
The extension office role
The Polk County Extension Office coordinates 4-H youth development, livestock projects, and fair entries. A county 4-H program provides project resources in animal science, arts, communications, STEM, and outdoor shooting sports, according to a 4-H newsletter. The office also offers summer camps and youth leadership programs.
4-H clubs
The county’s 4-H program had 13 community clubs and just over 300 youth members in a 2021 extension listing. That count may have changed, so confirm with the extension office.
FFA chapters
The Mena FFA takes part in youth events with 4-H and local civic groups. The names of other FFA chapters in Polk County were not verified.
Junior livestock auction
Details on a youth livestock auction, including timing, bidder rules, and how proceeds are distributed, were not verified for Polk County. Ask the extension office or 4-H leaders before planning to bid or sell.
Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair
Rodeos and horse shows
The Polk County Rodeo has been held at the fairgrounds in August, with Friday and Saturday evening performances. Other horse shows at the grounds were not verified.
Fall festivals and craft shows
The Ouachita Bigfoot Festival and Conference was listed at the fairgrounds for November 6 and 7, 2026. A fall arts and craft fair and an Ouachita Quilt Show fiber arts festival were also listed in connection with the fairgrounds. Check the festival organizers for the latest dates.
Other Mena events
The Lum and Abner Festival is held in Mena in June, according to a local festival listing, and the Mena Art Gallery holds a spring art show in Janssen Park. The Lum and Abner radio show was based on life in the Pine Ridge community of Montgomery County, and Mena’s Lauck and Goff families helped create it.
Gun shows, swap meets, and motocross
Gun shows, swap meets, flea markets, and motocross at the fairgrounds were not verified.
History of Polk County Fairgrounds
Polk County was formed on November 30, 1844, and named for President James K. Polk. The county seat was Dallas until 1898, when voters moved it to Mena. The railroad reached Mena on August 19, 1896, and the town incorporated the following month. A tornado struck Mena on April 13, 1911, causing heavy damage.
The county has several well-known historical connections. Queen Wilhelmina State Park, on Rich Mountain northwest of Mena, was established in 1957, and its lodge opened in 1963. Chet Lauck and Norris “Tuffy” Goff, both with ties to Mena, created the Lum and Abner radio program, which ran nationwide from 1931 to 1955. The Commonwealth College also operated in the county for a time.
The fairgrounds’ founding date, the first fair year, and any record-breaking attendance years were not verified. Cancellations due to weather, economic hardship, or the pandemic were not verified for the Polk County Fair.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Polk County Fair in 2026 or 2027?
The 2026 fair was listed for September 2 through 5. Confirm the 2027 dates with the Polk County Fair and Rodeo Association.
What time does Polk County Fairgrounds open?
Gate hours were not verified. Rodeo evenings have started at 8:00 p.m. in recent years. Check the fair association’s schedule for fair week.
Is there camping at Polk County Fairgrounds?
A venue listing describes 25 RV hookups at the fairgrounds. Confirm current availability and rules with the fair association.
How do I enter livestock in the Polk County Fair?
Youth enter through the 4-H program and the Polk County Extension Office. Ask the office for entry forms and deadlines.
Are dogs allowed at Polk County Fairgrounds?
Pet policies were not verified. Ask the fair association before bringing a dog, especially during livestock shows.
Where do I park at Polk County Fairgrounds?
Parking capacity and overflow areas were not verified. Arrive early for the rodeo and busy fair evenings.
Who do I contact to rent Polk County Fairgrounds?
Contact the Polk County Fair and Rodeo Association. Confirm the current phone number before calling.
How much does it cost to get into the Polk County Fair?
Gate prices were not verified. Check the current year’s listing before going.
