Chautauqua County Kansas Fairgrounds Events

The Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Sedan, Kansas, bring together local agriculture, youth education, livestock competitions, and community entertainment each summer. The annual Chautauqua County Fair gives residents an opportunity to display their agricultural projects, enter creative exhibits, watch livestock shows, and take part in traditional fair activities.

Located at 610 Park E Avenue in Sedan, the fairgrounds serve as a gathering place for families, 4-H members, exhibitors, and visitors from communities across southeastern Kansas. The annual fair combines organized youth competitions with activities such as horse shows, rodeo events, food gatherings, and family entertainment.

For anyone searching for Chautauqua County fairgrounds events, exhibitor information, or the next county fair schedule, understanding how the grounds operate can make planning a visit much easier.

Overview of Chautauqua County Fairgrounds

Location and setting

The Chautauqua County Fairgrounds are located at 610 Park E Avenue, Sedan, KS 67361. Sedan is the county seat of Chautauqua County, and the fairgrounds are situated in the community rather than in a distant rural location.

Visitors should use the Park E Avenue address when planning a trip. Because temporary fair-week traffic arrangements can differ from ordinary access, checking local directions and parking instructions before arrival is advisable.

The grounds accommodate several activities associated with the county fair, including livestock exhibitions, indoor displays, youth competitions, and arena events. A published fair schedule and grounds map are the most useful ways to identify individual buildings and activity areas.

Who organizes the fair?

The Chautauqua County Fair Association and the local fair board are central to organizing the community’s annual fair and coordinating fair-related activities. Kansas State University Research and Extension’s Rolling Prairie District provides local 4-H support, including information about youth projects, entries, livestock requirements, and judging schedules.

The fair therefore serves two connected purposes: it offers public entertainment and gives local young people a place to demonstrate practical skills developed through agriculture, home economics, arts, and other educational projects.

Agricultural and community importance

Agriculture remains an important part of life in Chautauqua County. Livestock exhibitions, animal judging, crop-related projects, and youth agricultural education connect the fair to the county’s farming and rural traditions.

For Sedan and nearby communities, the fair also creates a shared summer gathering where residents can support young exhibitors, meet neighbors, and take part in activities organized by local groups.

Upcoming Events at Chautauqua County Fairgrounds

Annual fair dates and the 2027 schedule

The 2026 Chautauqua County 4-H Fair was scheduled for July 22–25, 2026, at the Sedan fairgrounds. Those dates have passed. As of November 1, 2026, a confirmed 2027 fair schedule was not available in the information reviewed for this article.

Visitors planning ahead should check the Rolling Prairie District Extension office and the Chautauqua County Fair Association for announcements about next year’s dates, entry deadlines, and public activities.

What events are held at the fairgrounds?

The documented fair program includes several activities that make the grounds useful to different age groups and interests.

• Livestock shows: Beef cattle, swine, sheep, and goats are among the animals included in the county’s 4-H fair program.
• Horse shows: Horse-show activities have been listed at the Lou Todd Memorial Arena in Sedan.
• 4-H project judging: Youth exhibitors present projects for evaluation and feedback.
• Open-class exhibits: Public fair materials include agricultural products, antiques, crafts, fine arts, flowers, photography, textiles, and culinary and canning entries.
• Community gatherings: Past Chautauqua County Fair and Rodeo programs have included food events, music, family activities, and arena entertainment.

Rodeos, carnival attractions, and other special activities should be confirmed against the schedule for the specific year. Not every event is necessarily held annually.

Seasonal activity patterns

The main county fair activity takes place during summer, with important preparation occurring before fair week. Livestock identification, project preparation, entry registration, and educational activities may have deadlines well before the grounds open to the public.

Outside the annual fair, visitors should not assume that the grounds operate as a daily entertainment venue. Availability for private rentals, independent shows, markets, or other gatherings requires confirmation from the fair board.

The Chautauqua County Fair

Typical fair season: July

The Chautauqua County Fair takes place during the summer. The 2026 4-H fair dates were July 22–25, but the dates for 2027 should be treated as unconfirmed until published by the organizers.

Livestock competitions and agricultural exhibits

Livestock judging is a major part of the youth fair program. Published schedules identify weigh-in activities for swine, sheep, goats, and beef cattle, followed by exhibit check-in and judging.

The fair also provides opportunities for participants to present projects beyond livestock. Agricultural products, flowers, photography, artwork, crafts, clothing, textiles, and preserved foods have appeared in the fair’s open-class program.

Exact competition classes, age divisions, judging procedures, and awards vary by the applicable fair book. Exhibitors should consult the current year’s rules instead of relying on an older schedule.

Carnival rides, food, and entertainment

Past programs have included carnival rides, family activities, music, and other public entertainment. However, the number of rides, participating carnival company, wristband options, and operating hours should be confirmed for each year’s fair.

Food is another part of the gathering. The 2025 fair program listed a free barbecue and bean feed, with donations appreciated, alongside other food-related activities. That is a documented example of the fair’s community-oriented approach, but the same meal should not be assumed for 2027.

The program has also featured a talent show, rodeo activities, a hay scramble, and a tractor pedal pull. These examples help visitors understand the range of activities associated with the fair, although individual events may change from year to year.

Admission and parking

Admission arrangements depend on the particular event. The 2025 program included some free community activities, but that does not establish a universal free-admission policy for every event or future fair.

No confirmed 2027 ticket prices, parking charges, season passes, or senior admission policies were available in the information reviewed. Families should check the current fair announcement before budgeting for admission, rides, or grandstand entertainment.

Facilities and Grounds

Exhibition buildings and livestock areas

The fairgrounds have facilities for livestock activities, indoor exhibits, and public gatherings. The fair’s published building map identifies a fair and exhibits building with air conditioning and designated areas for displays such as crafts, culinary entries, flowers, photography, agricultural products, textiles, and fine arts.

Animal check-in and weighing are scheduled activities, so livestock exhibitors should follow the instructions provided by the relevant superintendent or extension staff. Stall assignments, bedding requirements, animal care rules, and arrival times should be checked in the current fair book.

Explore Chautauqua County Kansas Fairgrounds Events for updates about county fairs livestock shows agricultural exhibitions and family entertainment. Visitors can also discover Chase County Kansas Fairgrounds Events for more information about Kansas fairgrounds.

Arena and outdoor activity spaces

The Lou Todd Memorial Arena has been used for horse-show activities. The grounds have also hosted outdoor fair activities and community gatherings.

A verified seating capacity for the arena, total fairground acreage, number of permanent buildings, and general parking capacity were not established by the information reviewed. Visitors requiring particular facilities should ask the organizers rather than assume that every service is available.

Camping, accessibility, and amenities

Fair-related camping arrangements have appeared in the local extension fair information, including designated camping-slot information in previous schedules. The availability of camping for 2027, hookup options, fees, and reservation deadlines still require confirmation.

Visitors who need accessible parking, paved routes, accessible restrooms, or other accommodations should contact the fair organizers before travelling. Detailed current information about first-aid stations, ATMs, shuttle services, and accessible facilities was not confirmed.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Applying for a commercial booth

Businesses, craftspeople, food vendors, and organizations interested in participating should contact the fair board before setting up a booth. The 2025 fair book states that organizations and individuals must obtain a fair board permit to sell items or services on the midway.

Applicants should ask about booth dimensions, electricity, food-service requirements, insurance, fees, setup times, and the deadline for submitting applications. These conditions may differ between food vendors, commercial exhibitors, and nonprofit groups.

Entering competitive exhibits

The current fair book is the primary reference for competitive entries. It explains eligible classes, entry procedures, judging requirements, and the schedule for displaying exhibits.

For 4-H entries, the Rolling Prairie District uses an online FairEntry process. The 2026 registration period ran from June 8 through July 10, 2026, and is now closed. The corresponding dates for 2027 have not been confirmed.

Open-class exhibitors should look for the next year’s entry forms and rules before preparing items for submission. A previous year’s handbook is useful for understanding the process but should not replace the current edition.

Getting to Chautauqua County Fairgrounds

Driving to Sedan

Use 610 Park E Avenue, Sedan, Kansas 67361 as the destination address for the fairgrounds. Sedan is the county seat, making it a practical starting point for visitors travelling from other parts of Chautauqua County.

Drivers arriving from outside the county should plan their route to Sedan using current road maps and then follow local directions to Park E Avenue. The exact approach may depend on the visitor’s starting point and any temporary road arrangements in place during fair week.

Parking and local transport

The location is within Sedan, but a specific public-transit service or fair-week shuttle was not confirmed. Visitors should check whether organizers have announced temporary parking areas, overflow arrangements, or designated drop-off points.

For rideshare users, arranging a pickup point with the driver in advance can help avoid confusion around crowded entrances. Follow any event-day traffic signs and directions from parking attendants.

4-H and FFA at Chautauqua County Fairgrounds

The role of 4-H

The Chautauqua County 4-H Fair gives young people a setting to demonstrate the skills developed through their projects. Participants prepare animals and exhibits, meet entry requirements, and present their work for judging.

The Rolling Prairie District Extension office is a useful contact for information about project registration, fair books, livestock education, and youth participation. Families should verify current club information and eligibility requirements directly with the local extension staff.

Junior livestock sales

Past fair rules have included a premium sale for eligible market livestock. The published requirements have included educational participation and involvement in livestock-related activities, illustrating that the program involves more than simply bringing an animal to the fair.

Eligible animals and exhibitors must meet the applicable requirements, which may include species-specific weight standards. The current year’s fair book determines which animals qualify, how sale entries work, and when required paperwork must be completed.

The rules for the 2027 sale, including buyer registration, payment procedures, and the distribution of proceeds, should be confirmed with the extension office or fair organizers.

FFA and school participation

The county fair’s documented youth program is strongly connected to 4-H. Participation by particular FFA chapters or local high schools was not independently confirmed, so prospective participants should contact their agricultural education instructors or fair officials for details.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

The Chautauqua County fair program has included activities beyond livestock judging and exhibit displays. Previous programs have listed rodeo events, horse shows, a talent show, a tractor pedal pull, community food events, music, and family entertainment.

These activities reflect the fairgrounds’ role as a venue for organized community events. However, a past appearance in the fair program does not guarantee that an event will return in the next season.

No current schedule was confirmed for independent gun shows, flea markets, swap meets, motocross events, ATV competitions, or holiday festivals at the grounds. Anyone hoping to attend or organize one of these events should verify the date, venue availability, and admission arrangements directly with the fair board.

History of Chautauqua County Fairgrounds

The Chautauqua County Fair is an established agricultural and community tradition in southeastern Kansas. Its continued focus on livestock, youth projects, and open-class exhibits connects the present-day program with the broader history of county fairs as places where farming knowledge and practical skills are shared.

The 2025 fair materials marked the county’s 150th anniversary and highlighted the histories of local communities, including Sedan, Cedar Vale, Elgin, Peru, and Chautauqua. Those references illustrate how the county’s agricultural identity developed alongside local commerce, settlement, and community institutions.

The available records reviewed for this article did not establish the exact year the Sedan fairgrounds were first created, a complete timeline of facility construction, or verified record-breaking attendance figures. Those details should not be guessed. Likewise, a complete record of weather-related cancellations or other interruptions was not established.

The fair’s continued use for youth competitions, agricultural exhibits, and community activities demonstrates its ongoing local importance without requiring unsupported claims about attendance or uninterrupted operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Chautauqua County Fair in 2027?

The 2027 dates were not confirmed in the information reviewed as of November 1, 2026. The 2026 4-H Fair was scheduled for July 22–25. Check the Rolling Prairie District Extension office for the next official schedule.

What time do Chautauqua County Fairgrounds open?

Opening hours depend on the event. Livestock check-in, judging, public exhibit viewing, and evening entertainment may have different start times. Consult the schedule for the specific day.

Where are Chautauqua County Fairgrounds located?

The fairgrounds are at 610 Park E Avenue, Sedan, Kansas 67361, in Chautauqua County.

Is camping available at Chautauqua County Fairgrounds?

Camping-slot arrangements have appeared in previous fair information, but availability, fees, electrical hookups, and reservation procedures for 2027 have not been confirmed. Contact the fair organizers before bringing an RV or camper.

How do I enter livestock in the Chautauqua County Fair?

Review the current 4-H fair book and complete the required registration process. Confirm animal identification, health requirements, weigh-in times, eligibility rules, and deadlines with the Rolling Prairie District Extension office.

Are dogs allowed at Chautauqua County Fairgrounds?

A current general pet policy was not confirmed. Contact the organizers before bringing a dog, and ask whether service-animal rules, animal-show restrictions, or leash requirements apply.

Where do I park at Chautauqua County Fairgrounds?

Use the event’s current parking instructions and follow signs or directions from attendants. Specific overflow parking locations and parking charges for the next fair have not been confirmed.

Who do I contact to rent Chautauqua County Fairgrounds?

Contact the Chautauqua County Fair Association or a fair board representative to ask about rentals, available buildings, event dates, insurance, and fees. Rental availability should be confirmed before advertising an event.

How much does it cost to enter the Chautauqua County Fair?

Admission depends on the event and year. Some past community activities have been free, but a confirmed 2027 general admission price was not available. Check the current fair announcement before visiting.

What livestock are shown at the Chautauqua County 4-H Fair?

Published fair schedules include beef cattle, swine, sheep, and goats. The current fair book provides the official list of classes, eligibility requirements, weigh-in procedures, and judging times.

Can local businesses sell products at the fair?

Potential vendors should obtain permission from the fair board before selling on the midway. Ask about booth applications, food-service rules, fees, utilities, insurance, and setup deadlines.