Candler County Georgia Fairgrounds Events

Not as far as I can find. Candler County, Georgia, does not appear to operate a county fairgrounds or an annual county fair. People looking for fair-style fun, livestock shows, or rides usually drive to fairs in neighboring counties or to larger facilities farther away. Most of the county’s agricultural and community activity happens at extension offices, farms, parks, and the Georgia Grown Innovation Center on South Terrell Street in Metter.

Metter is the county seat. The county was carved from parts of Bulloch, Emanuel, and Tattnall counties in 1914 and named for Governor Allen D. Candler, who served from 1898 to 1902. It covers about 247 square miles, and the Candler County Courthouse, built in 1921, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Pulaski is the only other incorporated town, about six and a half miles from Metter.

Upcoming Events in Candler County

The county’s regular events are mostly educational and agricultural. The Candler County Extension office, reachable at 912-685-2408, coordinates most of them and is the best source for current dates.

Extension hosts a regional series of production meetings each winter for growers in Candler, Evans, and Tattnall counties. The 2026 series included a peanut meeting at the Georgia Grown Innovation Center on January 30 and a tobacco meeting at Beverick’s in Metter on February 5. Those dates have passed, but the same format typically returns each year, so growers should watch for next season’s schedule.

Cattle and forage workshops have been held in Metter, including a July 2023 update and a second annual workshop on July 10, 2024 at the Georgia Grown Innovation Center. Meetings are usually free or low-cost, and the office asks people to call ahead so they can plan the meal count.

For Halloween, I could not confirm an official Metter trick-or-treat time for this year. Check with the City of Metter or Candler County government before heading out.

The Candler County Farm Tour

The Candler County Farm Tour is the county’s signature agricultural event. It was first documented in November 2022 and was put together by the Candler County Extension Office, the Candler County Farm Bureau, and the Metter-Candler Chamber of Commerce. That first tour drew about 50 participants, including Candler Youth Leadership members and community residents, and visited five stops that showed different kinds of local agribusiness. One stop was Growers Supply Cotton Gin, where visitors watched cotton being ginned.

The 2025 tour ran on Friday, November 7, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and was sponsored by the Farm Bureau and UGA Extension. Organizers say it is open to adults and youth interested in agriculture, and the day mixes stops at working farms with educational talks. A 2026 date had not been announced when I checked, so watch the Candler County Extension website and social pages in the late summer and fall.

Nearby Fairs: The Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair

The closest traditional fair is the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair in Statesboro, the seat of neighboring Bulloch County. The fair is held at the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fairgrounds at 16942 Georgia Highway 67 South. The Kiwanis Club of Statesboro chartered in 1960 and held its first agricultural fairs in 1963 and 1964 on open lots as fundraisers. The fair grew into a regional event that the local Kiwanis club still runs, and the club uses the proceeds to help local nonprofits throughout the year.

Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair Dates

The fair runs once a year in October, usually in mid-October. The 2025 edition ran October 13–18. The 2026 fair has already ended, so watch the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro for 2027 dates, which are typically announced in advance.

Traditional fair features include a parade down Main Street that kicks off the week, carnival rides, food booths, live music, and youth activities. The fair also hosts crafts, fine art, and homegrown product exhibitors. Admission, parking fees, and ride pricing have changed over the years, so check with the fair before planning your budget.

Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry

For a much larger fair experience, the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, in Houston County, is the main destination in the region. It is a state-owned complex of more than 1,100 acres that opened in 1990, and it hosts the state-sponsored Georgia National Fair each October. The 2026 fair ran October 8–18 with the theme “America250: Georgia Grown.” The grounds also host livestock and horse shows, rodeos, trade shows, and gun shows.

The fairgrounds’ calendar listed an Eastman Gun Show on November 7–8 and a Georgia National Antique Agriculture Show around November 11–14. Verify these dates on the fairgrounds’ official calendar before you go.

Perry is a considerable drive from Metter, so plan the trip as a day or weekend outing.

Agricultural fairs bring communities together through livestock displays, local products, family activities, and seasonal entertainment. People searching for Candler County Georgia Fairgrounds Events can explore regional celebrations while also discovering Camden County Georgia Fairgrounds Events.

Extension Programs, 4-H, and FFA

The Candler County Extension office is the hub for youth and agriculture programming. The office is located at 1075 East Hiawatha Street, Suite B, in Metter, and the 4-H agent and FACS agent are the primary contacts for youth and family programs.

Candler County 4-H is active in the county’s schools and community. In spring 2026, 91 4-H members in grades 4 through 12 competed at the District Project Achievement contest, which builds public speaking and communication skills. Earlier reports show the county’s 4-H program has also partnered with the Candler County Charter School System to reach hundreds of 4th through 7th graders, and it runs an annual community rabies and pet vaccination clinic in a drive-thru format.

Extension also co-hosts an annual Ag Day for elementary students. In March 2024, the event at Metter Elementary School drew 1,079 youth in grades PreK through 5, who learned about agricultural careers and businesses.

For FFA details, contact the agriculture teachers at Metter Middle School and the local high school, since their chapters’ fair and livestock involvement varies year to year.

Getting to Metter and the Surrounding Area

Metter sits in southeast Georgia, about 50 miles west of Savannah. The city grew around the railroad, and its former Central of Georgia depot was built in 1902. Today, most visitors drive. For Claxton and the Evans County Recreation Department, U.S. Highway 280 is the main route. For the Kiwanis fairgrounds in Statesboro, plan to take Georgia Highway 67 to the fairgrounds on the south side of town.

I could not verify public transportation or shuttle service for any local event, so assume you will drive and plan parking when you arrive.

History of Candler County and Its Agricultural Roots

Candler County’s economy has always been tied to farming, and the county’s history is preserved in its courthouse and the old Metter High School, built in 1910. That building now houses the Candler County Historical Society Museum. The courthouse’s neoclassical design was done by J. J. Baldwin and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Farming, cotton, peanuts, pecans, and cattle remain part of the county’s identity. The Farm Tour and the production meetings reflect that continuing focus, and they are the best way for newcomers to see the county’s agriculture firsthand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Candler County, Georgia have a county fairgrounds?
Not that I could confirm. Most of the county’s agricultural and community events are held at extension offices, farms, parks, and the Georgia Grown Innovation Center in Metter.

When is the Candler County Fair?
I could not find a Candler County Fair. The closest fair with rides and livestock is the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair in Statesboro, which runs in October.

When is the Candler County Farm Tour?
The most recent confirmed tour was Friday, November 7, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A 2026 date had not been announced when I checked.

Who do I contact about Candler County extension programs?
Call the Candler County Extension office at 912-685-2408 or visit the office at 1075 East Hiawatha Street, Suite B, in Metter.

Where is the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair held?
At the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fairgrounds at 16942 Georgia Highway 67 South in Statesboro.

Where is the Georgia National Fairgrounds?
At 401 Larry Walker Parkway in Perry, Georgia, in Houston County.

Does Metter have a Halloween trick-or-treat event?
I could not confirm an official Metter trick-or-treat time. Check with the City of Metter or Candler County government.

How can I get involved in Candler County agriculture events?
Contact the Candler County Extension office to ask about the Farm Tour, production meetings, Ag Day, and 4-H programs, and to find out about volunteer or exhibitor opportunities.