Blount County Alabama Fairgrounds Events – County Fairgrounds Events

If you’re searching for the Blount County fairgrounds, one fact will save you a wrong turn. The Blount County Fair is no longer held in Oneonta. For 2026 it ran at the Blount County Multi-Purpose Center on County Highway 1 in Cleveland, and that is where you should plan to go. This guide covers the fair, how the venue works, how to enter or sell at the fair, and what is and isn’t known about future dates.

Overview of Blount County Fairgrounds

Where the fair is held

The fair’s home is the Blount County Multi-Purpose Center, 6700 County Highway 1, Cleveland, AL 35049. The center is a county-run building that also houses the Blount County Extension Office, so it works as a multi-use venue rather than a fairgrounds with a gate and a grandstand. The Extension Office uses the same address for its Alabama Grazing Academy, held there on September 3, 2026, just before the fair.

Cleveland sits in the western part of the county. The building is on County Highway 1 across from a doctor’s office, which is how the Extension Office itself describes the location.

Who runs it

The Blount County Fair is sponsored by the Blount County Commission and the Blount County Fair Committee, with local sponsors. The 2026 committee included a Commission-appointed board chair, Jeff Hallmark. Other members came from the Commission, the Blount County Farmers Federation, the Economic Development Council, the county’s emergency management agency, Blount County Schools agriscience teachers, the county tourism director and the Auburn University Extension director for Blount County, Amy Payne Burgess.

That mix explains how the fair runs. Farm groups, schools, Extension and county government all have a say.

What isn’t published

Acreage, a site map and the exact number of permanent buildings are not on the fair’s website or in any county listing I could find. The livestock schedule refers to a Livestock Arena and the exhibitor rules refer to an “Event Area” with a Fair Information Desk, but nothing gives dimensions or capacity. Call the Extension Office at (205) 274-2129 for specifics.

Upcoming Events at Blount County Fairgrounds

The next fair

The 2026 fair ran September 15-19, so it has just ended. Organizers have not announced 2027 dates. Recent years have put the fair in mid-September, so expect something similar, but treat it as a pattern and not a promise. Check blountcountyfair.com, which posts the schedule, exhibitor rules and applications each summer.

Other uses of the Cleveland building

The Multi-Purpose Center also hosts Extension programming, including grazing workshops and a barn quilt painting class listed at the same address in August 2026. For anything else on the calendar, the Extension Office is the best first call.

What happened at the old Oneonta center

The Agri-Business Center in Oneonta used to run a long list of events: an Outdoor Expo gun and knife show, pro rodeos and bull rides, a home and garden show, and a well-known haunted attraction called Agri-Phobia. Whether any of those have continued since the move isn’t clear from public listings. If you want a gun show or rodeo in Blount County, confirm the organizer and venue before driving.

Renting the space

Rental terms for the Multi-Purpose Center aren’t published online. Start with the Extension Office, (205) 274-2129, or the Blount County Commission.

If you enjoy exploring local fairs, agricultural exhibitions, community gatherings, and family-friendly activities, Blount County Alabama Fairgrounds Events offer another way to discover the charm of Alabama’s local event scene. Similar to Bibb County Alabama Fairgrounds Events, these gatherings can bring residents and visitors together to enjoy seasonal celebrations, entertainment, local vendors, and community traditions. Whether you are planning a weekend outing or looking for events in nearby Alabama counties, exploring fairgrounds activities in both Blount and Bibb counties can help you discover more opportunities to connect with local culture and community life.

The Blount County Fair Itself

Dates, hours and theme

The 2026 fair opened at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15 and ran through Saturday, September 19. It’s an evening fair, with the gate opening in the early evening on weeknights. The 2026 theme was “Stars, Stripes, and Fairground Nights.” A separate exhibit division is built around the theme, so entrants make something that fits it.

What the week looked like

Tuesday: Opening night with an ALFA Kitchen demo and children’s activities.
Wednesday: 4-H Rabbit Show.
Thursday: Junior Market Lamb and Goat Show, plus Special Friends Day.
Friday: Horse Show, billed as the second annual.
Saturday: 4-H Chick Chain at 11 a.m., the chick auction, then the Steer and Heifer Show.

The Show Me Swine Racers returned with two shows nightly, and the fair has a petting zoo and a carnival midway. The ALFA demo kitchen and a children’s event run every night.

Admission and rides

Daily admission was $5, free for ages 5 and under. Armband prices are inconsistent between sources:

The fair’s website listed bracelets at $15.
A press release listed $18 on Sept. 15-17 and $25 on Sept. 18-19.

Individual ride tickets were also sold. Check the current year’s page before you go. I couldn’t find a published ride count or the name of the midway company.

Food

Food booths at the fair weren’t itemized. The official exhibitor rules do say that exhibit and organizational booths may not sell or give away food or drink, with individually wrapped candy as the exception. Food comes from the midway and concession vendors.

Competitive exhibits

Home and garden exhibits are organized into nine divisions:

Canning, jams, jellies, preserves, pickles and relishes
Field and truck crops, dried vegetables and herbs, and the 4-H Grows project (heaviest watermelon, sweet potatoes, purple martin gourd)
Baked goods, including quick breads, yeast breads, cakes, pies and a sugar-free class
Handiwork and clothing, plus homestead crafts like lye soap, weaving and pottery
Household linens and quilts
Crafts and Christmas decorations
Art and amateur photography
Plants and flowers
The fair-theme division

Premiums are small: $5 for first, $3 for second and $2 for third in each lot. Items that won a premium at a previous Blount County Fair can’t be entered again.

A few details that catch people out:

Canning jars must be standard brands like Ball or Kerr, in half-pint, pint or quart sizes. Mayonnaise and pickle jars are disqualified.
Baked goods go on disposable plates in sealable bags.
Anything with tree nuts has to be bagged because of allergies.
Photos must be mounted on 11×14 black poster board.
Quilts can’t be more than 15 years old.

Facilities and Grounds

This is the least documented part of the Blount County fairgrounds. Here is what’s confirmed from the fair’s own materials:

Livestock Arena: All livestock shows are held here, including rabbits, lambs and goats, horses, chicks, steers and heifers.
Event Area: Exhibits and booths are displayed here, and it has a Fair Information Desk with a suggestion box.
Booth space: Commercial and nonprofit booths are 96″ x 96″ and must be freestanding.
Pets: No pets are allowed, including for livestock exhibitors. Registered service animals are the only exception.

Camping and RV hookups, a grandstand, ATM locations, ADA parking details and overflow parking aren’t published. If you need accessible parking or have mobility concerns, call before you go. The exhibitor rules do say exhibitors’ cars must be moved from the designated area at least one hour before the fair opens, which tells you parking space near the building is limited.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Commercial and nonprofit booths

Commercial and informational booths rent for $200 per week and nonprofit booths for $100 per week. Each rental includes two complimentary gate passes. Booth subjects are juried to avoid duplicating products, and Blount County businesses get first option. Bordering-county entities can rent if space remains. To request a registration form, email [email protected].

Booth setup runs a day or two before opening. In 2026 it was Sunday, September 13, from 1 to 5 p.m. and Monday, September 14, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A booth not occupied by 9 a.m. on opening day is forfeited, along with the fee.

Entering exhibits

Entries are open to exhibitors from Blount County and its bordering counties. Categories are Open, Senior (60 and older) and Youth (18 and under). Every exhibitor registers with the Fair Committee and gets a sticker, which is mandatory for entry. Pickup in 2026 was Sunday, September 20, 1 to 6 p.m. or Monday, September 21, 9 a.m. to noon. Exhibits left more than a week become fair property.

Volunteering

Volunteers get a free t-shirt, free admission during their shift, half-price entry on another night, and a meal and drink while working. Adults and older teens are welcome.

Getting to Blount County Fairgrounds

From Oneonta

Take US Highway 231 northwest about 7 miles to Cleveland. At the four-way stop, turn left onto County Highway 1. The center is on the left, across from a doctor’s office.

From Highway 79

At the roundabout, head toward Oneonta. At the four-way stop, turn right onto County Highway 1. The building is on the left.

From Birmingham

Blount County is about an hour northeast of Birmingham. Plan to reach US 231 and follow it into Cleveland. Oneonta sits between I-65 to the west and I-59 to the east.

No shuttle or public transit service has been announced for fair week. Rideshare drop-off arrangements aren’t published either, so confirm with the fair committee if you plan to use one.

4-H and FFA at Blount County Fairgrounds

The Blount County Extension Office is a core partner in the fair, and 4-H programs are the backbone of the livestock schedule. I couldn’t find a published count of active 4-H clubs, or a list of FFA chapters that exhibit.

What is published is how the shows work:

4-H Rabbit Show: Open to Blount County 4-H members only. Ribbons go to showmanship divisions from junior through senior, plus Best Costume and Best Trick.
4-H Chick Chain: Breeds are Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington, Black Australorp and Barred Rock. Ribbons go for showmanship and best of breed, plus overall grand champion pen.
Chick auction: It begins around 12:30 p.m. the same day, and the public is encouraged to attend and bid. The fair does not say what happens to the proceeds.
Junior Market Lamb and Goat Show: Exhibitors must be full-time Alabama residents. Each can show up to four animals, with a $50 Grand Champion prize and a separate $50 Blount County Born & Bred award.
Steer and Heifer Shows: Exhibitors must be Alabama 4-H, FFA or FCCLA members. Steers are capped at 20 pre-registered entries, and adults aren’t allowed in the ring.

The fair committee includes agriscience teachers from Blount County Schools, which ties the local ag programs to the fair.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

The Cleveland venue’s non-fair calendar is mostly Extension programs and community classes. Blount County’s other big gatherings happen elsewhere. The Covered Bridge Festival is in downtown Oneonta each October, and the Blountsville Harvest Festival is in downtown Blountsville. Neither is held at the fair venue, but both fall near the fair season, so they work well in the same trip. Blount County has three of Alabama’s 13 covered bridges, including the Swann Covered Bridge near Cleveland.

History of Blount County Fairgrounds

The county fair began in 1953, started by the Jaycees. The 2019 fair was billed as the 66th annual. It was held at the Blount County-Oneonta Agri-Business Center at 500 New Street, off US 231 South in Oneonta, for decades.

Oneonta itself became the county seat in 1888, after the creation of Cullman County in 1877 left Blountsville off-center. That move is part of why Oneonta, not Cleveland, was the traditional hub.

The fair was cancelled in 2020. In August of that year the Agri-Business Center posted a notice that, because of COVID-19 guidance, it was closed and the fair and all upcoming events were cancelled until further notice.

By 2026 the fair had moved to Cleveland, now run through a county-appointed committee. Why and when the move happened isn’t documented in anything I could find, so I haven’t speculated.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Blount County Fair in 2026-2027?

The 2026 fair ran September 15-19, 2026. The 2027 dates haven’t been announced. Check blountcountyfair.com in summer 2027.

What time does the Blount County Fair open?

In 2026 the gates opened at 6 p.m. on opening night, Tuesday, September 15. Later nights followed the evening schedule on the fair’s site, with livestock shows at 6 p.m. most nights.

Where is the Blount County Fair held?

At the Blount County Multi-Purpose Center, 6700 County Highway 1, Cleveland, AL 35049.

Is there camping at Blount County Fairgrounds?

Camping and RV facilities aren’t listed on the fair’s website. Ask the fair committee or the Extension Office, (205) 274-2129.

How do I enter livestock in the Blount County Fair?

Use the Livestock Entry Form at blountcountyfair.com. The rabbit show is for Blount County 4-H members only. Lamb, goat and steer or heifer exhibitors have to meet Alabama residency and 4-H, FFA or FCCLA membership rules. Registration opens a few hours before each show.

Are dogs allowed at Blount County Fairgrounds?

No. The fair prohibits pets for everyone, including livestock exhibitors. Registered service animals are the only exception.

Where do I park at Blount County Fairgrounds?

Parking is on or around the Multi-Purpose Center on County Highway 1. A parking capacity and overflow plan aren’t published. Exhibitors must clear the designated area at least one hour before the gates open.

Who do I contact to rent Blount County Fairgrounds?

For the Cleveland building, call the Blount County Extension Office at (205) 274-2129. For fair booths, email [email protected].

How much does it cost to get into the Blount County Fair?

In 2026, admission was $5 per person and free for ages 5 and under. Ride armbands were listed at $15 on the fair’s website and $18 or $25 in a press release. Individual ride tickets were also sold.

Can bordering-county residents enter exhibits?

Yes. The fair is open to exhibitors from bordering counties, with Blount County entries given first option on booths.