Cullman County Alabama Fairgrounds Events

The 2026 Cullman County Fair runs October 15 through 24. The fair is held at the Cullman County Fairgrounds, 1501 Sportsman Lake Road NW. If you’re reading this the week before opening, jump to the sections on admission, the livestock schedule, and directions. If you’re planning for next year, the sections on vendors, exhibitors, and 4-H are the ones to bookmark. cullmantribune

Overview of Cullman Fairgrounds

Where the grounds are

The fairgrounds sit at 1501 Sportsman Lake Road NW in Cullman, Alabama 35055, on the city’s northwest side. Local coverage has described the grounds as part of Sportsman Lake Park. Hotels clustered around I-65 Exit 310 on Highway 157 are roughly a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half from the park. So the grounds are in town, not out in the country, and fair traffic mixes with ordinary Cullman traffic.

Cullman is the county seat, and the city and county trace back to German settlers in the 1870s. That heritage shows up in the county’s festivals, and it’s part of why the fair draws crowds from well outside Cullman County.

Who runs it

The Cullman County Fair Association runs the fair, and the Cullman Lions Club hosts it. At the opening ceremony, members of the county commission, the fair association, and the Lions Club cut the ribbon together. More than 100 Lions Club members volunteer to prepare for the fair and work it each year. The association’s planning cycle is nearly year-round. Its president has said they take November and December off and start again in January.

How old it is and why it matters

The fair dates back to 1954. The 2026 edition is the 72nd by the count local outlets have used, since 2025 was reported as the 71st.

The fair also matters financially. Proceeds support Alabama Lions Sight, which provides free vision care in schools and towns across the state, and local nonprofits that help people in need in Cullman County. The fair manager has said the entry fees from the parade go back to the city and county band programs, and the association keeps none of it.

The fairgrounds’ acreage isn’t published anywhere I could find. The fair office at 256-734-0661 can tell you if you need an exact figure.

Upcoming Events at Cullman Fairgrounds

The fair is the main event

The Cullman County Fair is the one event this property is known for, and it doubles as the Lions Club’s largest fundraiser. WVTM reported in 2025 that it’s the Lions Club’s biggest fundraiser. I couldn’t find a published calendar of year-round rentals, shows, or swap meets at these grounds. Ticketing sites that list the venue show nothing on the calendar outside fair season. If you’re hoping to host or attend something here in the off-season, call the fair office rather than assuming it’s available.

The lead-up events

Several events surround the main run:

• Fair Parade, Saturday, September 26, 2026. The parade runs through downtown Cullman. This year it was held 19 days before the fair opens, rather than the Saturday right before, as it was in recent years. A local outlet noted that area high school bands and floats are regular parts of it.
• Baking contest turn-in, Wednesday, October 14. The fair moved the baking contest to the day before opening this year. Bakers turn in entries from 9:00 a.m. to noon that day. cullmanfaircullmanfair

How to find the current schedule

The fair’s official website, cullmanfair.org, carries the calendar, ticket information, entry forms, and vendor details. The fair’s phone numbers are 256-734-0661 and 256-734-0339, and its email is [email protected]. The fair also posts updates on its Facebook page. The fair office is the best source for anything not on the website. cullmanfair

The Cullman County Fair Itself

When it happens

The fair has crept later in the calendar over the past decade. In 2014 it opened in late September, on September 25. In 2017 it opened September 21. By 2025 it opened October 9. The 2026 run is October 15 to 24. The fair has opened on a Thursday throughout those years. The fair board hasn’t published 2027 dates yet. Based on the pattern, expect a mid-October opening, but confirm on the website before booking anything.

What’s on the 2026 schedule

The fair’s homepage is clear about what’s changed this year. Plants and flowers are back after a several-year absence, and there’s a new dairy goat costume contest.

The livestock show dates posted by the fair for 2026:

• Dairy cattle and dairy goat show: October 17
• Pet show: October 18
• Meat lamb and meat goat show: October 19
• Junior cattle show: October 20
• Junior horse show: October 22

The poster lists these dates, notes that registration closed September 30, and gives the Extension Office number, 256-737-9386, for questions. Past years have shown that the format shifts. In 2023, for example, the fair dropped its open sheep and goat shows to focus on the youth shows.

Daily attractions are listed on the fair’s entertainment page. The Painted Pumpkin Contest and Scarecrow Contest are displayed daily, along with a farm animal petting zoo and multiple daily shows by the Teeny Weeny Circus, which features performing dogs, a pony and a veteran clown. Past fairs have also featured a Moon Pie eating contest and a greased pig chase.

Visitors exploring Crenshaw County Alabama Fairgrounds Events may also be interested in discovering community gatherings and seasonal celebrations in neighboring parts of the state. Similarly, Cullman County Alabama Fairgrounds Events offer opportunities to explore local fairs, family-friendly activities, agricultural displays, and community entertainment. Comparing events across these counties can help visitors discover new destinations, enjoy different local traditions, and plan memorable outings throughout Alabama.

Pageants

Cullman runs a full pageant ladder in the Coca-Cola Theatre on the grounds. The fair lists Tiny, Petite, Little, Junior and Teen Fair Princess pageants, plus Miss Cullman County Fair Queen. The Queen pageant has traditionally been held on the Tuesday of fair week at 7 p.m., and the fair joined the Miss America organization, which doesn’t allow livestreaming. If you plan to film or stream, ask the fair office about the rules.

Midway and rides

Kissel Entertainment provides the midway. In 2024, ride tickets were $1.50 each, with most attractions needing three or four tickets, and arm bands were the alternative for unlimited rides. Food is covered below under vendors, but the short version is that fair food is Lions Club and midway food only.

Admission and passes

The fair hasn’t posted a 2026 gate price in text I could verify, but its pass pricing implies the 2025 numbers still hold. In 2025, admission was $10 for ages 10 and up, with children 9 and under free. Arm bands were $30 Monday through Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday. The fair’s All-in-One Pass for 2026 cost $30 and was described as a $40 or $45 value, depending on whether you went on a weekend, but sales ended at noon October 8. You can still buy an arm band at the gate. Arm bands sold by Kissel are subject to sales tax, and children 9 and under are admitted free but pay for rides.

Free admission days.

• Senior Citizens Day: Wednesday, October 21. Seniors are admitted free from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. cullmanfair
• Student Day. The fair has offered free student admission on a Monday in recent years. In 2024 it ran noon to 5 p.m. The 2026 date and hours weren’t confirmed. Check the calendar. wvtm13cullmantribune

On both free days, ride tickets are still sold separately. Exhibits themselves have been free to view.

Hours

In 2024, gates opened at 5 p.m. on opening day, the fair closed at 10 p.m. nightly, and gates stayed open longer if demand warranted. Weekend gates have opened earlier in the afternoon in past years. Confirm exact 2026 hours on the calendar.

Facilities and Grounds

Building names around the grounds change with sponsors, so coverage uses different names for the same spaces. The functions are consistent, and the fair’s exhibitor page explains where to go:

• Main Exhibit Building. Registration and sticker pickup for non-livestock entries happen here, and canning, baking, sewing, handicraft, art, photography and youth club exhibits are housed across from the fair office. cullmanfair
• Agricultural Building. Crops, plants and honey are displayed here. cullmanfair
• Livestock Barn and arena. All animals are housed in the Livestock Barn. Past schedules have placed shows and weigh-ins in the Tri-Green barn and arena. The open cattle show has also been held in the Dixie Kubota Barn. CullmanFair2026 +2
• Coca-Cola Theatre. The theatre hosts the Fair Queen and Princess pageants. cullmantribune
• Commercial and community club space. Past calendars set up commercial and community club booths in Buildings 3 and 4.

I couldn’t verify seating capacity for the arena or theatre, an RV or camping policy, ADA specifics, or ATM and first-aid locations. These are the questions the fair office gets most, so call 256-734-0661 rather than guessing. Parking was free in 2017. That may have changed, so confirm before you drive in.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Commercial vendors

The fair’s vendor page is specific, so the rules below come straight from it.

• Booth rental agreements are only available at the fair office, and you should call the fair manager at 256-734-0661 before coming by to confirm a space is open. cullmanfair
• Fees are $200 for an unmanned booth and $300 for a manned booth, payable by check to the Cullman County Fair Association. cullmanfair
• Last year’s vendors get first chance, and their spaces were held until September 19. After that, open booths go to the waiting list. For 2026, that means you’re likely on the waiting list. cullmanfair
• Vendors must declare at rental time whether they’ll sell merchandise, and every product needs the fair manager’s approval. cullmanfair
• The fair doesn’t allow food concessions or food carts other than those run by the Lions Club and the midway. cullmanfair
• Vendors may only drive onto the grounds during setup and takedown, and they must hold a current business license and post a liability sign. cullmanfair
• The vendor, not the fair, is responsible for collecting and paying sales tax, and the fair gives the county sales tax office a list of vendors who sell. cullmanfair

Competitive exhibits

Exhibitors enter through the fair’s website or at the fair office. The rules are detailed and change from year to year. The fair posts the general rules and department rules online, and says updates have been made from last year. The departments cover a lot of ground: cullmanfair

• Field and garden crops and honey, including the scarecrow and decorated pumpkin contests cullmanfair
• Home canned foods, baked foods, and sewing and clothing
• Flowers and plants
• Art, handicraft and amateur photography
• Booths for FCCLA, 4-H and FFA
• Cattle, sheep, goats, horses and pets

Every exhibit or animal needs three stickers, and you must have them in hand before bringing anything into an exhibit building. Last year’s exhibitors are pre-registered and get their stickers by mail. The fair gave out a little over $28,000 in cash premiums and awards the previous year.

Getting to Cullman Fairgrounds

Driving

From I-65, take Exit 310 (Highway 157) toward Cullman. Plug 1501 Sportsman Lake Road NW, Cullman, AL 35055 into your GPS for the last stretch, since the exact turns depend on which direction you approach from. From Birmingham and Huntsville, Exit 310 is the standard route into Cullman, and from Jasper the usual route runs via AL-69 to I-65. I didn’t find a published shuttle or public transit option for fair week. Rideshare drop-off logistics aren’t published either, so plan to be dropped near a main entrance and walk in.

Where to stay

Several hotels along the Highway 157 corridor at Exit 310 are about a mile and a half from the park. Book early for the second weekend of the fair.

4-H and FFA at Cullman Fairgrounds

The Cullman County Extension Office coordinates 4-H and the youth livestock shows. The 2026–2027 4-H club year began August 1 and runs through July 31, 2027. Alabama 4-H is open to ages 9 to 18, with Cloverbud programming for ages 5 to 8. School-based clubs and fair-related 4-H activities start in October, and the Extension Office number is 256-737-9386.

Cullman youth also take their animals beyond the home fair. In 2018, several Cullman County exhibitors won Charolais heifer champion titles at the Alabama National Fair’s youth beef show in Montgomery.

The fair’s exhibition booth department includes space for FFA chapters. The fair lists Department 6E for FCCLA, 4-H and FFA booths. The fair also has a dedicated page for FCCLA, the county’s developmental disabilities program (CCCDD), and nursing homes. The fair’s published schedule includes cash premiums for livestock classes. I couldn’t find a sale-style junior livestock auction on it. If you plan to sell a market animal, ask the Extension Office how that works here.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

The fair association’s own calendar is the verified list: the parade, the baking day, the pet show, the junior horse show, and the pageants. Anything beyond that, such as gun shows, swap meets, rodeos, motocross, or concerts, isn’t something I could document at this property. I left it out instead of guessing.

History of Cullman Fairgrounds

The fair’s origin year is 1954. Local reporting notes that the Cullman Lions Club has been running it, though one outlet described that as the club’s best estimate. The fair has since grown into one of the larger community events in north Alabama. The fair says annual attendance tops 40,000. WVTM reported about 46,000 attendees in 2024.

The fair also ran during the pandemic. In 2020 it opened October 8 with added precautions, and a limited-capacity rule in the Coca-Cola Theatre was expected to affect the Queen pageant. I found no record of a cancelled year.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Cullman County Fair in 2026 and 2027?

The 2026 fair runs October 15 to 24. The 2027 dates haven’t been announced. The fair has recently opened in early to mid October, so watch cullmanfair.org for the announcement.

What time does Cullman Fairgrounds open during the fair?

Weekday gates have opened at 5 p.m. and the fair has closed at 10 p.m., with earlier opening on weekends. Student and senior days start earlier. Check the calendar for exact 2026 hours.

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

In 2025, admission was $10 for ages 10 and up, and children 9 and under were free. Arm bands were $30 Monday through Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday. The fair’s 2026 pass math points to the same prices, but confirm at the gate.

Is there camping at Cullman Fairgrounds?

The fair hasn’t published camping or RV information. Call 256-734-0661 for the current policy. Hotels near I-65 Exit 310 are the usual fallback.

How do I enter livestock in the Cullman County Fair?

Register through the fair and pick up your stickers at the fair office. Youth livestock questions go to the Cullman County Extension Office at 256-737-9386. Registration for 2026 closed September 30, so start early next year.

How do I become a vendor at the Cullman County Fair?

Visit the fair office for a Booth Rental Agreement. Booths are $200 unmanned and $300 manned. Last year’s vendors get priority until September 19, so new vendors should expect a waiting list. Food sales are not allowed.

Are dogs allowed at Cullman Fairgrounds?

Dogs compete in the 4-H dog show and pet show. The fair hasn’t published a general policy for visiting pets, so call the fair office first.

Where do I park at Cullman Fairgrounds?

Parking has been free in past years. The fair hasn’t published overflow lots, so arrive early on weekend nights.

Who do I contact to rent Cullman Fairgrounds?

Call the Cullman County Fair office at 256-734-0661 or 256-734-0339, or email [email protected]. The mailing address is Cullman County Fair, P.O. Box 562, Cullman, AL 35056.

Do children get in free?

Children 9 and under get free admission. Rides are extra.