Ashley County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events – County Fairgrounds Events

Ashley County is timber and farm country in the far southeast corner of Arkansas. The county seat is Hamburg, and the largest city is Crossett, about 20 miles away. The Ashley County Fair is a locally run, resident-focused event. It is built around exhibit halls, youth projects, livestock, pageants and a parade, and it has gone without a carnival in some years.

This guide covers what I could confirm about the fairgrounds, the fair board and the entry rules. A few details conflict between sources. I flag them below and tell you who to ask.

Overview of Ashley County Fairgrounds

Location

Local newspaper coverage and a tourism listing put the Ashley County Fairgrounds at 408 West Jackson Street, Hamburg, Arkansas 71646. A 2025 newspaper story described the fair grounds as “on the old Hamburg Highway,” and an old rodeo listing shows 530 East Jefferson Street. One state fair roundup places the fair in Crossett. The Jackson Street address is the one that appears consistently, but confirm the location with the fair board before you drive out for an event.

Who runs it

The Ashley County Fair Board runs the fair. Fair board member Sandra Dorman is the usual spokesperson in local coverage. The board also raises money for upkeep of the fairgrounds, including a monthly Sunday dinner. A 2023 newspaper item described the dinner as held on the second Sunday of each month at the fairgrounds, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Check that this tradition is still running.

Size and history

I could not find an acreage figure, a founding date or a building count. A Crossett FFA page shows the fair already running in 2018, when it ran September 8-15. Ask the board about the history if you need it.

Why it matters locally

The fair describes its purpose as showing what is great about Ashley County residents. That fits what the entries look like: homemade bread, quilts, sewing, leather work, field crops, canned goods, and kids’ art and writing. It is a small-town event run by neighbors.

Upcoming Events at Ashley County Fairgrounds

Where things stand now

The 2026 fair is over. The fair board released the year’s participant, entry and point totals on October 7, along with youth Best of Show winners and the county pageant results. The 2027 dates have not been announced.

Date pattern

The fair has moved around:

2018: September 8-15
2024: August 10-18, moved earlier so the fair could bring in a carnival
2025: September 13-21

The 2026 dates are not clear. A tourism listing shows September 4-5, but treat that as unconfirmed since the fair runs a full week in other years. Watch the Ashley County Fair Facebook page, which has about 2,700 followers, and the local newspapers for 2027 announcements.

Other events

The fairgrounds host the monthly fair board dinners. An older listing shows an Ashley County Rodeo in early July at the fairgrounds, but its dates are from 2016 to 2018, so I cannot confirm it still runs. Hamburg also holds the Armadillo Festival the first weekend of May. I did not find that it is held at the fairgrounds.

I did not find a published rental price list or a list of private events.

Visitors interested in Ashley County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events can also explore local gatherings through Arkansas County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events. Both counties offer opportunities to discover regional traditions, enjoy seasonal activities, and find community celebrations that bring families and visitors together.

The Ashley County Fair

Timing and structure

The fair runs most of a week and starts before the exhibit halls open. In 2024 the pageants and talent show were held on August 3, a week before the fair, and the horse show kicked things off on August 10. The parade was August 12. The 2024 fair had a float prize for the theme, “County pride-county wide, Ashley County Fair.”

Entries and the 2025 schedule

The 2025 fair used this entry schedule:

Monday, September 15: entry turn-in, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, September 17: cut flowers, cut plants, fresh vegetables, field crops and baked goods, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, September 18: exhibit hall opens at 10 a.m., and livestock entries are due by 7 p.m.
Sunday, September 21: awards and entry pickup

There was no early entry in 2025. All exhibitors must be Ashley County residents. In 2024, an Early Entry Day for non-perishable items ran from noon to 4 p.m. on opening day.

Livestock

The fair holds livestock shows, and in 2025 it opened a peewee category for children ages 3 to 8. Children must present their animals with little help from a parent, guardian or older sibling. I did not find species classes or a junior auction.

Carnival

The carnival situation varies. In 2024 the fair had a carnival for the first time since 2018, with Sunshine Midways running games and rides August 15-18. In 2025 there was no carnival. Dorman explained that carnivals require fairs to guarantee income of roughly $15,000 to $50,000, and the fair covers any shortfall. Many Arkansas county fairs compete for a small number of carnivals in a short window. Check the 2027 plans before you assume rides.

Pageants and entertainment

The Miss Ashley County pageant has several age divisions, and the 2026 winners were published in early October. The fair also holds a talent show, a parade and a fair queen crowning.

Admission and parking

I did not find a published gate price, parking fee or senior policy. Ask the fair board.

Facilities and Grounds

I did not find a published building list, grandstand capacity, barn count, camping policy, accessibility details or parking information. The grounds include exhibit halls, space for the horse show, and livestock facilities. The monthly dinner suggests a kitchen or dining space. Call ahead for accessibility or parking questions.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Exhibitors

Entries are by Ashley County residents and are turned in during the entry window before the exhibit hall opens. Specific entry rules and class lists are in the fair book. The board notes the schedule changes by year, so get the current one.

Vendors

I could not find a vendor application. Ask the fair board through its Facebook page. With no carnival some years, food and commercial space may also vary.

Contact

The Ashley County Fair Facebook page is the most reliable public channel I found. An older state directory lists a separate association address in Fountain Hill, but that listing is dated, so do not rely on it.

Getting to Ashley County Fairgrounds

Hamburg is the county seat. U.S. Highways 82 and 425 are major routes in the area. From Crossett, drive north toward Hamburg. From El Dorado, Monticello or Lake Village, use Highway 82 or the highway toward Hamburg. I did not find public transit or a shuttle. Given the conflicting location notes above, confirm the entrance before fair week.

4-H and FFA at Ashley County Fairgrounds

Local 4-H and FFA members are part of the fair. The Crossett FFA chapter links to the fair on its site. The two public school districts in the county are Hamburg and Crossett. The county Cooperative Extension office handles 4-H, but I did not find a count of active clubs. I did not find a junior livestock auction, so ask the board whether one is held.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

Monthly Sunday dinners: a fair board fundraiser
Horse show and pageants: held in the days before the fair
Rodeo: an older listing shows an early July rodeo, unconfirmed since 2018

I did not find gun shows, swap meets, motocross or concerts.

History of Ashley County Fairgrounds

The fair was running by 2018 and has since changed its schedule and carnival plans. The 2024 move to August was the first time the carnival came back after six years. I did not find the fair’s founding date, cancellations or attendance records.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Ashley County Fair in 2027?

The 2027 dates have not been announced. The fair has been held in August and in mid-September in recent years.

What time does Ashley County Fairgrounds open?

The exhibit hall opened at 10 a.m. on the first day in 2025. Check the fair book for 2027 hours.

Is there camping at Ashley County Fairgrounds?

I did not find any published camping information.

How do I enter livestock in the Ashley County Fair?

Entries are due before the exhibit hall opens, and in 2025 livestock entries were due at 7 p.m. on the Thursday. Exhibitors must be Ashley County residents.

Are dogs allowed at Ashley County Fairgrounds?

I did not find a published pet policy. Ask the fair board.

Where do I park at Ashley County Fairgrounds?

Parking details are not published. The grounds are at 408 W. Jackson Street in Hamburg, per local listings.

Who do I contact to rent Ashley County Fairgrounds?

Use the Ashley County Fair Facebook page to reach the fair board.

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

No admission price was published. Ask the fair board.

Is there a carnival at the Ashley County Fair?

It varies. There was one in 2024 and none in 2025.