Benton County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events – County Fairgrounds Events

Benton County is the northwest corner of Arkansas, where poultry, cattle and fruit farming sit next to a fast-growing Bentonville. The Benton County Fairgrounds and Expo Center is a 60-acre campus on the south side of town, close to the Northwest Arkansas National Airport. The Benton County Fair has been around since 1904. It runs nine days each fall, and the grounds also host gun shows, markets and horse events through the year.

This guide covers the 2026 fair schedule, how the facilities are laid out, and how to enter, vend, rent or buy at the junior livestock auction.

Overview of Benton County Fairgrounds

Location

The fairgrounds are at 7640 SW Regional Airport Boulevard, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712. The fair describes the site as at the corner of Highway 279 and Highway 12, inside the Bentonville city limits. Bentonville is the county seat.

Who runs it

A nonprofit 501(c)(3) runs the fair and grounds. The Benton County Fair says it gets no tax or other money from the county or the state. The Arkansas Poultry Commission, through the State Department of Agriculture, provides some funds for ribbons and premiums, plus access to grants for modest construction or maintenance. The fair board, volunteers and sponsors carry the rest.

Size and layout

The campus covers about 60 acres, with over 125,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. Key features:

Auditorium: about 10,000 square feet, with a stage, dressing rooms, heating and air-conditioning
Exhibit Hall: about 21,000 square feet with 220 electric outlets and large cargo doors
Pavilion: about 3,500 square feet, covered and lighted, for food trucks and concessions
Covered equestrian center: seats about 1,200
Livestock barn: pens with cattle ties and horse stalls
Outdoor music stage
25-plus RV hookups with water and electric

The fair notes the square footage is estimated.

History

The fair says it has run since 1904. According to its history, it began as a fruit exhibition. By 1923 it included community exhibits of agricultural and home economics items plus poultry, and horse and bicycle races. The grounds were first in Rogers, then moved to an “old fairgrounds” in Bentonville where Thaden School now stands, and moved to the current site near the airport in 2007.

Why it matters locally

The fair describes Benton County as one of the top agricultural producers in Arkansas, even as the county’s population grows quickly. The fair is where long-time farm families and newer residents meet.

Upcoming Events at Benton County Fairgrounds

Coming up

Benton County Gun Show: November 27-29, 2026, promoted by BK Promotions
Winter Market of NWA: November 27-28, 2026, with vendor applications handled by Live Love Events NWA
Vintage Market Days of Northwest Arkansas: listed at the grounds
Benton County Fair: expected in late September 2027

Dates for outside promoters can change, so confirm with the organizer.

Earlier in 2026

The grounds hosted youth bicycle decorating in early August and the Benton County Fair Pageant, plus horse and 4-H events earlier in the season.

Seasonal pattern

The fair is the big fall event. Gun shows, vendor markets and horse events fill the other seasons. The fair says the grounds are available year-round with controlled gates, parking and RV camping.

Finding the schedule

The Benton County Fairgrounds’ website has the fair schedule, exhibitor info, vendor forms and a fair book. The Facebook page covers other events at the grounds. The phone listed for the venue is 479-795-8900.

Renting the grounds

The grounds rent for events with indoor space, an equestrian arena and outdoor areas. The rental information is on the website. I did not find current price lists.

The Benton County Fair

Dates

The 122nd Annual Benton County Fair ran Friday, September 25, through Saturday, October 3, 2026. The 2025 fair was September 19-27. The 2027 dates have not been announced.

2026 schedule highlights

Opening weekend

Friday, September 25: fairgrounds opened at 4 p.m., with a Guinness World Record attempt by Fiery Redd at 5 p.m., the School of Rock at 6:30 p.m., carnival rides, food trucks, outdoor vendors and a petting zoo
Saturday, September 26: horse show at 9 a.m., exhibit hall entries 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and early vendor setup and RV camping
Sunday, September 27: pageant check-ins and a sensory-friendly midway from 1 to 5 p.m., with the evening pageants at 6 p.m.

Fair week

Monday, September 28: animal arrival, dairy goat show, sheep and beef weigh-ins, dairy show, and a youth shoot
Tuesday, September 29: sheep show, hog and meat goat weigh-ins, and beef show
Wednesday, September 30: meat goat show, hog show, and talent show winners
Thursday, October 1: rabbit show, senior bingo, and the Junior Livestock Auction at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, October 2: 4-H/FFA skills contest, 4-H consumer judging, Super Showmanship, Beautiful Bovine, a goat costume contest and a DJ dance party
Saturday, October 3: awards ceremony, animal release at 11 a.m., bike show, and two-stepping on the main stage

Visitors interested in Benton County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events can also explore community celebrations through Baxter County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events. Both counties provide opportunities to discover local traditions, enjoy family-friendly activities, and explore seasonal gatherings across Arkansas.

Exhibits

Exhibit hall categories include home economics, art, photography, baked goods, horticulture, quilts and crafts. Exhibitors register online and pick up entry tags at the fair office the week before.

Carnival and admission

A carnival runs through the fair, with evening hours on weekdays and longer hours on weekends. The 2026 schedule listed gate admission as follows:

Opening Friday: $15, including rides
Sensory-friendly Sunday: $10
Monday to Thursday evenings: $10
Friday, October 2: $15
Saturday, October 3, from 2 p.m.: $20

Confirm 2027 prices when the schedule posts. A fair directory says the fair draws over 20,000 people.

Facilities and Grounds

Entrances

The fair’s directions page lists three entrances. The west entrance, off Highway 279 or Vaughn Road, is best for the horse arena and livestock barn. The east entrance, off Barron Road, is best for the auditorium, exhibit hall and carnival midway. The south entrance, off Highway 12 or Regional Airport Boulevard, is for commercial traffic during the fair and is closest to the midway and music stage. That page is older, so check the current entry plan.

Camping

The grounds offer RV camping with water and electric hookups, and early RV camping was available Saturday before the 2026 fair. I did not find current rates.

Accessibility and amenities

I did not find details on ADA parking, first aid or ATMs. Call before the fair if you need an accessible route.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Exhibitors

Register for the fair at the fair’s website and use the fair book for rules. In 2026, entry tags could be picked up Tuesday, September 22, and Thursday, September 24, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the fair office. Exhibit hall entries were accepted on Saturday, September 26.

Vendors

The fair website has vendor forms, and there are both indoor and outdoor vendor areas. Indoor vendors set up before the fair opens and tear down on the Sunday after the fair.

Contact

Use the phone number listed for the venue, 479-795-8900, or the fair’s Facebook page.

Getting to Benton County Fairgrounds

The grounds are on the south side of Bentonville, a short drive from downtown and from the Northwest Arkansas National Airport. Use the address 7640 SW Regional Airport Boulevard. Highway 279, Highway 12 and Barron Road lead to the entrances. I did not find a fair-week shuttle or public transit, and rideshare drop-off arrangements were not published.

4-H and FFA at Benton County Fairgrounds

Junior Livestock Premium Auction

The Junior Livestock Premium Auction is the fair’s biggest youth event. It was Thursday, October 1, at 6:30 p.m. in 2026. The fair says the sale raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for dozens of exhibitors, who put the money toward 4-H livestock projects or their education. In a premium sale, the exhibitor keeps the animal.

Competitions

The 2026 week included livestock shows for dairy goats, dairy cattle, sheep, beef, meat goats, hogs and rabbits. It also included a 4-H/FFA skills contest, 4-H consumer judging and Super Showmanship. I did not find a count of Benton County 4-H clubs or a list of participating FFA chapters.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

Gun shows: held at the grounds
Vendor markets: Winter Market of NWA and Vintage Market Days
Horse shows: the covered equestrian center hosts them
Fair extras: a lawnmower pull, dog show and seniors day have been listed in past years

I did not find motocross, rodeos or concerts beyond the fair’s stage acts.

History of Benton County Fairgrounds

The fair began as a fruit exhibition and grew into a county fair with agricultural, home economics and poultry classes by the 1920s. It moved from Rogers to the old Bentonville fairgrounds and then to the current site in 2007. The fair announced a modified schedule in 2020, and I did not find more detail about cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Benton County Fair in 2027?

The 2027 dates have not been announced. The 2026 fair ran September 25 to October 3.

What time does Benton County Fairgrounds open?

During the 2026 fair, the grounds opened at 9 a.m. on weekdays and the gates opened in the afternoon or evening.

Is there camping at Benton County Fairgrounds?

Yes. There are more than 25 RV hookups with water and electric.

How do I enter livestock in the Benton County Fair?

Are dogs allowed at Benton County Fairgrounds?

I did not find a published pet policy, though a dog show has been listed in past years. Ask the fair office.

Where do I park at Benton County Fairgrounds?

Parking is on the grounds at 7640 SW Regional Airport Boulevard. Fees were not published.

Who do I contact to rent Benton County Fairgrounds?

Use the rental information on the website or call 479-795-8900.

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

In 2026, gate admission ranged from $10 to $20 depending on the day.

When is the junior livestock auction?

It is held on the Thursday of fair week. In 2026 that was October 1 at 6:30 p.m.