Calhoun County Alabama Fairgrounds Events

If you searched for Calhoun County fairgrounds in Alabama and ended up on a page about a fair in August, you landed in the wrong state. Calhoun County, Michigan has a famous fair in Marshall, and several listing sites show its August 2026 dates under “Calhoun County Fair, Anniston, AL.” Those dates don’t belong to Alabama.

The Alabama fair is a different event, held at a different kind of place. This guide covers where it is, when it usually happens, what it costs, and who to call.

Calhoun County Fairgrounds in Anniston: What and Where It Is

The Agri-Center is the fairgrounds

Calhoun County doesn’t have a grounds that goes by “fairgrounds” on the sign. The fair is held at the Calhoun County Agri-Center. The county lists the physical address as 4500 Bynum Leatherwood Road, Anniston, AL 36206, at the corner of Bynum Leatherwood Road and Old Gadsden Highway. Older newspaper coverage has used 4510 Bynum Leatherwood Road, so if your GPS is confused, search for “Calhoun County Agri Center” by name. calhouncounty

The Anniston Star has described the grounds as sitting at the north end of Bynum-Leatherwood Road, just off U.S. 431. The Agri-Center is a county facility that the county lists under Parks and Recreation, alongside its community centers and sports complex. It is not a municipal park and not a state-run venue. annistonstar

Who runs it

The county commission owns the property. The fair is organized separately. The Association of Alabama Fairs directory lists Doug Trantham as president and fair manager for the Calhoun County Fair, based in Anniston. Trantham, of Trantham Farms in Alexandria, oversees the livestock side and contracts with carnival companies each year for the fairs. I found no published fair board roster, so don’t assume a formal county fair association exists the way it does in some counties. Ask when you call.

How old is it?

This is a young fair compared with most. In April 2016 the Anniston Star described that week’s event at the Agri-Center as the county’s first agricultural fair in recent memory. That phrasing suggests earlier fairs existed but had lapsed. I couldn’t find documentation of them, so the history section below stays modest. If you know when the old Calhoun County fairs ran and where, a local historian or the Anniston Star archive is the place to confirm it.

Couldn’t confirm total acreage or a facility map. The Agri-Center’s Facebook page shows horse events with a 4-H concession stand, which points to an arena, but I can’t verify seating, stall counts, or building names. Check with the county before you describe the layout to anyone.

Upcoming Events at the Calhoun County Agri-Center

Two fairs a year

Trantham has said the Agri-Center hosts two annual fairs. Recent coverage shows the pattern:

• Spring fair. In 2024 the spring fair opened Wednesday, April 17 and ran through Saturday, April 27, skipping Monday the 22nd. That’s a longer run than the fall fair.
• Fall fair. The 2023 fall fair ran Wednesday through Saturday, October 18-21. The 2021 fall fair ran Wednesday through Sunday, with animals on site all week.

If the pattern holds, a 2026 fall fair would land in mid-to-late October, which is right now. I couldn’t confirm 2026 dates, so don’t treat that as a schedule. Call the fair manager or check the Agri-Center’s Facebook page.

Riding and other events

The Agri-Center’s Facebook page advertises speed events with buckles and cash premiums, with 4-H running the concession stand. That tells you horse events happen here beyond fair season. I couldn’t confirm a calendar, a series name, or how often these run. The page is the best place to see what’s coming up.

Renting the grounds

The county says the Agri-Center “continues to grow and transform” and invites people to “spend a weekend,” which suggests rentals are available. It doesn’t publish a rental form or fee sheet for the Agri-Center the way it does for its community centers. For questions about booking, call the Calhoun County Commission at 256-241-2800 (1702 Noble Street, Suite 103, Anniston) and ask for the Agri-Center.

If you enjoy exploring local fairs, agricultural exhibitions, community festivals, and family-friendly entertainment, checking out Calhoun County Alabama Fairgrounds Events can help you discover exciting activities and seasonal gatherings across Alabama. Similarly, Butler County Alabama Fairgrounds Events offer opportunities to explore local traditions, enjoy community celebrations, and spend quality time with family and friends. Exploring events in both counties can help visitors discover more of Alabama’s community spirit, from lively fairs and recreational activities to local entertainment and special seasonal events.

The Calhoun County Fair Itself

Hours and typical schedule

In 2021 the fall fair ran 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with animal shows starting at 5 p.m. Saturday. Evening hours are the norm here, so don’t show up at noon on a weekday expecting rides.

Rides, midway, and food

The fair uses traveling carnival companies, and they’ve changed. In 2021 Sonshine Amusement, a family operation based in Springville, ran the rides and food booths. The Association of Alabama Fairs directory lists a different carnival, James Gang, for the current listing. That makes sense, since Trantham contracts separately for the spring and fall fairs. Ride count and food lineup depend on the company, so I can’t give a number.

One detail from the 2021 coverage is useful. The carnival owner said the Association of Alabama Fairs monitors carnival safety records, that ride insurers inspect rides annually, and that food is inspected weekly.

Livestock and animals

The fall fair has featured a pig show on Saturday evening with local FFA students and their pigs. The 2021 fair also had a chicken show from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, a livestock show starting at six, and a petting zoo. I found no evidence of dairy, sheep, goat, rabbit, or crop and home economics divisions. If those exist, they aren’t publicized. Don’t expect a county fair with a thick premium book.

What it costs

Treat these as old numbers, not 2026 prices:

• In 2021, admission was $5 per person, a $20 inclusive rides ticket was offered, and children five and under got in free. annistonstar
• In 2016, admission was $5 for adults and $3 for children, with an $18 armband required for rides.

I found no published information on parking fees, season passes, or senior discounts. Student exhibitors can enter without a charge to care for their animals. annistonstar

Why the proceeds matter

Trantham has said the proceeds support the FFA and 4-H programs. That is the point of this fair. It’s closer to a youth livestock fundraiser with a carnival attached than a multi-day agricultural showcase. annistonstar

Facilities and Grounds

I could not verify most of what this section normally covers: building counts, barn layout, arena seating, vendor space, RV or camping hookups, ADA features, paved paths, parking capacity, ATMs, or first aid. The Agri-Center doesn’t have a public facilities page. What I can say:

• Camping. No confirmed camping or RV hookups. Ask before you plan around it.
• Dogs. No published pet policy. Call ahead.
• Parking. No published lot capacity or fees. The grounds sit at a road corner off US 431, so expect to arrive on that road.
• Restrooms and concessions. The 4-H concession stand shows up in photos of horse events, but I can’t speak to fair-week food or restroom access.

If you’re reading this to plan a trip with accessibility needs, call the commission office first.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Entering livestock

Entry is run through the fair manager and school agriculture programs. The pattern from 2021 is that students check in with Trantham, who knows why they’re there. I couldn’t find a premium book, entry deadlines, or an online registration page. Start with your 4-H leader or FFA advisor, then the fair manager. annistonstar

Commercial vendors

I found no vendor application, booth fee schedule, or deadline. Since the carnival company operates the food booths, independent vendor space may be limited. Ask the fair manager directly.

Who to contact

• Fair manager: Doug Trantham, 256-310-8367, per the Association of Alabama Fairs directory. Confirm the number is current before you rely on it. alabamafairs
• County commission: 256-241-2800, 1702 Noble Street, Suite 103, Anniston.
• Extension office: aces.edu/counties/Calhoun.

Getting to the Calhoun County Fairgrounds

The Agri-Center is in the west part of the Anniston and Oxford area. Bynum Leatherwood Road runs to the grounds from US 431, and the entrance sits at Old Gadsden Highway. Anniston is the county seat and about an hour from Birmingham, per Anniston’s own tourism material. Use the address 4500 Bynum Leatherwood Road, Anniston, AL 36206 in a map app. I found no shuttle or public transit service to the grounds during fair week, and no designated rideshare drop-off. Plan on driving.

4-H and FFA at the Agri-Center

The fair exists for these programs. Trantham has said proceeds support 4-H and FFA and that exhibiting teaches students responsibility and leadership. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System office for the county coordinates 4-H, and the Agri-Center’s horse events use a 4-H concession stand. annistonstar

I couldn’t verify the number of active 4-H clubs, which high school FFA chapters exhibit, or whether a formal junior livestock auction exists. Don’t assume there’s an auction. The FFA pig show is documented. Ask the extension office how animals are sold or placed after the show.

Other Events and History

Beyond the two fairs, the documented activity is horse and speed events. I found no evidence of gun shows, swap meets, demolition derbies, tractor pulls, or concerts at the Agri-Center. If you’ve seen them advertised, verify that they’re held here and not at another county venue.

On history, the verifiable record is short. The Anniston Star treated the April 2016 fair as the first in recent memory. Spring fairs ran in 2024, and fall fairs in 2021 and 2023. I couldn’t find attendance records, notable visitors, cancellations, or details about how the pandemic affected the fair, apart from the 2021 carnival adding sanitizing stations and more space between rides. If you have local history, add it here. It’s the most useful thing this page could gain.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Calhoun County Fair in 2026?

The Alabama fair has recently run in spring (April) and fall (October), usually Wednesday through Saturday or Sunday. I couldn’t confirm 2026 dates. Listings showing August 16-22, 2026 refer to the Calhoun County, Michigan fair. Check with the fair manager or the Agri-Center’s Facebook page.

What time does the fair open?

Recent fall fairs opened at 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Confirm each year’s hours.

Where is the Calhoun County Fairgrounds?

At the Calhoun County Agri-Center, 4500 Bynum Leatherwood Road, Anniston, AL 36206, near Old Gadsden Highway and US 431.

How much does it cost to get into the fair?

Past fairs charged $5 admission, with a separate rides ticket. Children five and under were free in 2021. These are not 2026 prices.

Is there camping?

I found no confirmed camping or RV hookups at the Agri-Center. Call the county commission office to ask.

How do I enter livestock?

Talk to your 4-H leader or FFA advisor, then the fair manager. No public entry form or deadline was found.

Are dogs allowed?

No pet policy is published. Call before bringing one.

Who do I contact to rent the Agri-Center?

The Calhoun County Commission, 256-241-2800, 1702 Noble Street, Suite 103, Anniston. The county doesn’t publish a rental form for this site.

Is this the same as the Calhoun County Fair in Marshall, Michigan?

No. Michigan’s fair is held in August at its own fairgrounds. Alabama’s runs in spring and fall at the Agri-Center in Anniston.