Bradford County Florida Fairgrounds Events

Bradford County Fairgrounds sits on the north side of Starke, the county seat, and it is the place where most of the county’s agricultural life gets concentrated once a year. Locals still mostly call the event the Bradford County Fair, though the association has been moving toward the name Bradford Agricultural Fair. Both names will get you the same week of livestock shows, midway rides, and 4-H exhibits.

This guide covers what the grounds are, what happens there beyond the fair, how the fair works for exhibitors and visitors, and what still needs confirming before you plan a trip.

Overview of Bradford County Fairgrounds

Location and layout

The fairgrounds are at 2300 N. Temple Avenue in Starke, Florida. Temple Avenue runs north out of town, and the UF/IFAS Extension Bradford County office is just down the same road at 2266 N. Temple Avenue, so if you are looking for the people who run the 4-H side of the fair, you can find them without leaving that stretch.

The grounds hold a set of exhibition barns, a grandstand area, and a midway that has been reworked more than once. I could not verify the total acreage or a current site map, so ask the fair office for one if you need to plan parking or a booth location.

Who runs it

The fair operates through the Bradford County Fair Association, a nonprofit that has run the event for decades. The association’s history has been rocky in recent years. It took out a $1.5 million loan in 2018 to pay for new fairground facilities, and after it fell behind on the loan, the county stepped in. Following the 2025 fair, the association was no longer under management of the Bradford County Fair Association due to its foreclosure. A separate dispute followed over land that had been donated to a related nonprofit. The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office referred the matter to state investigators, and the association says it did nothing wrong.

Because management has changed hands, confirm who currently runs the grounds and the fair before you sign a booth contract, enter an exhibit, or pay a deposit.

How long it has been running

Local coverage describes the fair as a staple for roughly 60 years, traditionally held in spring. One report referred to it as the 70th annual fair, which suggests the event has been running since the 1950s, but I could not confirm the founding year from a primary source.

Why it matters to residents

Starke is a small county seat with a strong agricultural and military connection. Camp Blanding, the Florida National Guard’s training facility, sits a short drive east of town. In a county like this one, the fair is one of the few times the whole community gathers in one place. The association’s president has described it this way: “Fairs in small counties are a cultural thing.” That is the best description of what the fair means here.

Upcoming Events at Bradford County Fairgrounds

What gets held on the grounds

The fairgrounds host more than the annual fair. Event types that have been associated with the site include livestock shows and sales, 4-H competitions, FFA events, community festivals, and seasonal exhibitions. I could not confirm a full calendar of rodeos, demolition derbies, tractor pulls, gun shows, motocross, or concerts at the grounds, so treat those as possibilities to check rather than scheduled events.

Seasonal patterns

Spring is the traditional season for the fair. A 2025 announcement said the fair permanently moves from spring to fall, but the spring schedule held in 2025 and again in 2026. For the most recent confirmed run, the fair ran through Sunday in early March 2026. A third-party listing shows a February 2027 date, but I could not confirm that against the fair’s own schedule.

Summer, fall, and winter events at the grounds are not documented well enough for me to describe a pattern. Ask the fair office what else is booked for the year.

Finding the current schedule

The most reliable path is to contact the fair association or the UF/IFAS Extension Bradford County office directly. The extension office handles the 4-H and youth side of the fair. Their listed phone number in their 2024–2025 4-H materials was (904) 966-6224, but confirm it is current before relying on it.

The 4-H Beef Bash, a cattle show run by Bradford County 4-H, has its own Facebook page, which is one place to look for show-specific updates.

Private rentals

I could not verify whether the fairgrounds rent facilities for private events, weddings, or outside groups, or what the rates would be. Contact the fair office before assuming the site is available.

The County Fair Itself

Dates and admission

The fair is held in early spring, usually late February through early March. A 2025 report said admission was free for children 5 and under and $5 for adults, according to the fair’s website at the time. Confirm current gate prices, ride wristband deals, parking fees, and any season pass or senior discounts with the fair office, since I could not find a verified 2026 price list.

Livestock and exhibits

Livestock is the center of the fair. The grounds have barns for poultry, rabbits, cattle, and pigs, which serve as judging areas, auction spaces, and places for visitors to walk through and see the animals. A recent report also mentioned a new livestock pavilion debuting at one of the more recent fairs. Confirm which animal categories are judged in a given year, since the program changes.

The livestock auction is the event that draws the largest crowds. Local FFA and 4-H members from Bradford and Union counties show their animals, and buyers bid on them. Participation in the auction is covered in the 4-H section below.

Exhibit categories

The 4-H exhibit room has historically included categories such as photography, educational materials, woodworking, clothing and textiles, fiber arts, scrapbooking, jewelry, creative arts, decorated items, paintings and drawings, poetry and stories, canned goods, edible plants, and ornamental plants (both flowering and non-flowering). Other categories, including crop and home economics exhibits, are judged in the same building or nearby. Check the current premium book for the year you plan to enter.

Midway and rides

The midway has been a point of change. Fair leaders have talked openly about the rides. One president put it this way: “we want more rides, we want bigger rides.” The grounds were raised to address drainage and soil problems, and in 2023 the fair was temporarily moved to the parking lot after soil issues surfaced on the midway. The 2026 coverage reported more rides and more local vendors than the year before. I could not verify the number of rides or whether a traveling carnival company operates them, so ask the fair office for the current ride provider and wristband options.

Food

Food at the fair is largely run by local groups. A recent fair listing described a Kiwanis Club barbecue stand, a Rotary Club funnel cake booth, and a Shands Hospital Auxiliary strawberry shortcake stand. Nonprofit food stands are a good reason to eat in the grounds rather than at the midway stands, since the money goes back to local organizations.

Entertainment

I could not confirm this year’s grandstand acts, pageants, talent shows, or demolition derbies. Those usually get announced closer to fair week, so check the schedule the fair posts ahead of your visit.

Junior fair and youth programs

Youth programs are central to the fair. The 4-H and FFA exhibitions and the youth livestock sale are the parts of the event that have the most local participation. More detail follows below.

Florida’s agricultural fairs celebrate rural traditions through livestock shows, local vendors, community gatherings, and seasonal entertainment. Visitors exploring Bradford County Florida Fairgrounds Events can learn about upcoming fairs and family activities while also discovering Bay County Florida Fairgrounds Events.

Facilities and Grounds

Buildings

A state grant helped fund the most recent round of construction. A 2024 report said that a $3 million grant from the Florida legislature allowed the association to build three new buildings and improve the midway. Those buildings are the core of the livestock and exhibit space.

Grandstand and arena

I could not verify the grandstand’s seating capacity or the types of events currently held there. Ask the fair office before planning around seating.

Camping and RV

I could not verify whether the grounds offer camping or RV hookups during fair week. Check with the fair office.

Accessibility, parking, and amenities

I could not verify ADA parking locations, paved pathway coverage, accessible restroom counts, parking capacity, overflow lots, or first aid and ATM locations. These are worth asking about directly, especially if you are bringing older visitors or small children.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Commercial vendor booths

Booth information for the fair has been listed through third-party sites, which describe a 10×15 booth size and about 120 vendor spots. Those figures came from a non-official listing, so confirm booth sizes, fees, and availability directly with the fair office before applying.

Competitive exhibits

For 4-H exhibits, the 2025 entry process required that exhibitors be enrolled in Bradford or Union County 4-H or FFA for that program year. Registration closed on February 21, 2025, with item check-in on February 26 at the extension office. Entries had to stay on display until the Saturday evening of fair week, and premiums and ribbons were forfeited if exhibits were removed early. Expect a similar schedule for future years, but confirm the exact dates when the new premium book is released.

Premium books and the fair office

Premiums are paid by the Bradford County Fair Association, and their amount depends on state reimbursements. Request the current premium book from the extension office or the fair office, since the book is the authoritative source for entry deadlines, rules, and prize amounts.

Getting to Bradford County Fairgrounds

Starke is the county seat, and the fairgrounds are on the north side of town along Temple Avenue. Drivers coming from the Jacksonville or Gainesville direction will reach town on the main roads that connect to Starke, then head north along Temple Avenue to the grounds.

I could not verify public transit or shuttle service during fair week. Rideshare drop-off points are also unverified, so plan on driving or ask the fair office how visitors without a car typically get there.

4-H and FFA at Bradford County Fairgrounds

The extension office’s role

The UF/IFAS Extension Bradford County office runs the county 4-H program and coordinates the youth side of the fair. Its staff handles registration, exhibit room logistics, and the rules that determine who can enter. If you are new to 4-H or FFA and want to show animals or enter exhibits, start there.

Clubs and membership

I could not confirm the current number of 4-H clubs in Bradford County. The extension office is the best source for that number and for club contact information.

FFA chapters

Local high school FFA chapters take part in the fair, particularly in the livestock shows and auction. The 2025 coverage mentioned students from both Bradford and Union County FFA and 4-H chapters showing livestock at the swine and cattle auction.

Participation requirements

The county’s 4-H minimum standards for 2024–2025 required members to be in good standing before they could enter projects in the Bradford County Fair. The standards included registering in 4-H Online by October 1, attending 75% of club meetings, submitting at least one record book, and participating in a community service project. Members were also required to take part in the annual Bradford 4-H auction and give a speech or demonstration at the club or county level. Confirm the current year’s standards with the extension office.

The livestock auction

The annual livestock auction takes place during fair week. Buyers bid on animals raised by 4-H and FFA members, and the money goes to the young people who raised them. A separate auction, held after the county 4-H banquet, sells gift baskets, coolers, experiences, and gift cards from local businesses. Proceeds from that auction go to the Bradford 4-H Association and to individual club funds.

Beef Bash

The Bradford County Beef Bash is a cattle show run by the county 4-H association. It includes registered Brahman heifers, American-influenced heifers, commercial heifers, bulls, steers, and showmanship classes for all ages. It is open to 4-H and FFA members, and the proceeds go to the Bradford County 4-H Association.

Scholarships

The 4-H association offers event-matching scholarships for summer camps and state-level events, plus a college scholarship funded by an educational endowment. Checks for the summer camp fund are made payable to the Bradford County 4-H Association and mailed to the extension office.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

Community festivals

Starke has a long festival history. A strawberry festival was launched in 1998 at the fairgrounds to honor the county’s strawberry crop, and the event has continued to attract visitors. I could not confirm its current dates or whether it still runs on the grounds, so check before planning around it.

Other events

I could not verify dates or details for gun shows, swap meets, flea markets, horse shows, motocross or ATV events, chili cook-offs, harvest festivals, or community fundraisers at the grounds. If you are planning a private event or are looking to rent space, the fair office is the place to start.

Concerts and touring acts

I could not verify whether touring acts currently perform at the grandstand.

History of Bradford County Fairgrounds

Early roots

The fair has traditionally been a spring event built around livestock and agricultural exhibits. Its emphasis on animal shows and 4-H reflects the agricultural base of the county.

Expansion and the 2018 loan

The association’s biggest recent change was an expansion project that began in 2018. It was financed by a $1.5 million loan, and when repayment fell behind, the county took over management, and the grounds faced foreclosure.

The 2023 move

In 2023, the fair was temporarily moved to the parking lot after soil problems on the midway. The fair returned to the grounds once the midway had been raised and improved.

Shift to fall

In early 2025, the association announced a permanent move from spring to fall, with the first fall fair still to be scheduled. The spring fair continued in 2025 and 2026, so the timing of any future change should be confirmed with the association.

Cancellations

I could not verify whether the fair has been canceled due to weather, economic hardship, or the pandemic. The 2024 coverage described the fair’s return after COVID with a large turnout.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Bradford County Fair in 2027?
A third-party listing shows February 20 through 23, 2027, but that has not been confirmed by the fair association. Check the fair’s schedule or call the extension office before making plans.

What time does Bradford County Fairgrounds open?
I could not verify daily gate hours. Ask the fair office, since hours change during fair week.

Is there camping at Bradford County Fairgrounds?
I could not verify camping or RV availability. Contact the fair association before planning to stay on site.

How do I enter livestock in the Bradford County Fair?
Livestock entries are handled through the fair association and the extension office, and 4-H or FFA membership is generally required. Contact the extension office for the current rules and deadlines.

Are dogs allowed at Bradford County Fairgrounds?
I could not verify the fair’s pet policy. Ask before bringing an animal onto the grounds, since livestock areas have their own rules.

Where do I park at Bradford County Fairgrounds?
I could not verify parking locations or capacity. Expect the grounds to be busy during fair week and plan to arrive early.

Who do I contact to rent Bradford County Fairgrounds?
Start with the Bradford County Fair Association. Given the recent changes in management, confirm who handles rentals before contacting anyone.

How much does it cost to get into the Bradford County Fair?
A 2025 report listed $5 for adults and free admission for children 5 and under. Confirm current prices with the fair office.