DeKalb County Alabama Fairgrounds Events

If you grew up in DeKalb County, “the fair” means one thing: the DeKalb County VFW Agricultural Fair at the VFW Fairgrounds in Fort Payne. It has run for more than 70 years, and it is organized by a veterans’ post rather than a county agency, which shapes almost everything about it.

The 71st Annual DeKalb County VFW Agricultural Fair runs October 16–24, 2026. Gates open at 5 p.m. on weeknights and 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $5 and parking is $5.

Overview of DeKalb County Fairgrounds

Where the Fairgrounds Are

The fairgrounds are at 151 18th Street NE, Fort Payne, Alabama, the county seat of DeKalb County in the northeast corner of the state. The same address is on file as the home of DeKalb County VFW Post 3128. Both the city’s event calendar and the fair’s own materials use it, though you will see the ZIP written as both 35967 and 35968, so use the street address in your GPS.

During fair week, exhibitors and show animals enter through the Livestock/Farmers Market entrance on 18th Street NE. Visitors should follow the posted signs and parking attendants.

Who Runs It

DeKalb County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3128 sponsors the fair. The post is made up of overseas veterans from across the county, and it is a nonprofit and a member of the Association of Alabama Fairs. The fair committee in 2026 is chaired by Eric Dudash, with Doris Hendricks running the fair office.

The fair’s long-time face was Charles Stephens, who served as chairman and fair manager for years. In 2018 he told WAFF that he had been involved since coming home from Vietnam in 1970. He also explained why the fair matters to the post: it is the VFW’s largest fundraiser, and the money pays for roughly ten to twelve annual programs. Those include recognition of EMTs, firefighters, and law enforcement, an Eagle Scout of the Year award, and projects for area schools, scouts, veterans, and veterans’ widows.

The fair’s own materials thank the DeKalb County Extension Service, agriculture and home economics teachers, the City of Fort Payne, DeKalb County Schools, and Fort Payne City Schools for their cooperation. The County Commission, led by President Ricky Harcrow, opens the 2026 catalog with a welcome letter.

Acreage and Layout

I could not find a published acreage figure, so this page doesn’t give one. The grounds include a main stage, an exhibit building, commercial buildings, a livestock area, and a Coal and Iron Building that has hosted live music. The Coal and Iron Building name appears on the City of Fort Payne’s calendar. The fair office can answer questions about the full layout.

Why It Matters Locally

The fair gives DeKalb County 4-H clubs, school clubs, scouts, church groups, and home cooks a public stage. It also puts goats, lambs, rabbits, chickens, and beef cattle in front of a town that is mostly a long way from the farm these days.

Stephens has said the fair holds Alabama’s record for the number of times it has been named the state’s No. 1 county fair, and the catalog calls it “Award-Winning.” I haven’t independently verified the record, so treat it as the fair’s own claim.

Upcoming Events at DeKalb County Fairgrounds

The 2026 Fair Week Schedule

The fair’s official events page lists this lineup. Entertainment details are still subject to change, so check the site before you go.

• Fri., Oct. 16: Gates 5 p.m.; Horse & Mule Show 6:30 p.m.; gospel group New Ground at 6 p.m.
• Sat., Oct. 17: Gates 1 p.m.; Alabama Show Bird show 6–9 a.m.; Open Beef Show 1 p.m.; karaoke with Mike McClung at 6 p.m.
• Sun., Oct. 18: Gates 1 p.m.; Poultry Show check-in 7 a.m.–1 p.m.; Latin Night with music and dancing at 6 p.m.
• Mon., Oct. 19 (Mommy Monday): Gates 5 p.m.; Lamb Show 6 p.m.; country band Country Case at 6 p.m. A mom or guardian gets a free armband with the purchase of a child’s armband, and both must be present.
• Tue., Oct. 20 (Veterans Appreciation Day): Gates 5 p.m.; Rabbit Show and Costume Contest 5:30 p.m.; Southern rock at 6 p.m. Veterans with ID get free gate admission and $5 off an armband.
• Wed., Oct. 21 (Student Day): Gates 5 p.m.; Dairy Goat Show; karaoke and singing with Randy Womack at 6 p.m. Students get $5 off an armband.
• Thu., Oct. 22 (Armband Day): Gates 5 p.m.; Meat Goat Show 5 p.m.; Chris Roberts’ School of Music students perform at 6 p.m. Armbands are buy-one-get-one, with both people present.
• Fri., Oct. 23: Gates 5 p.m.; demonstration dog shows at 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 p.m.; bluegrass from The Huckleberries at 6 p.m.
• Sat., Oct. 24: Gates 1 p.m.; 4-H Chick Chain at 11 a.m.; country act Tristan Tritt at 6 p.m.

The Pompeyo Family Dog Show, an America’s Got Talent act, is billed as nightly entertainment all week. The 2026 theme is “Happy 250th Birthday, America!”, which carries into the booth, art, and flower-show categories.

Seasonal Pattern

DeKalb’s big event is a fall one. The fair’s recent dates:

• 2023: September 25–30
• 2024: October 14–19
• 2025: October 21–25
• 2026: October 16–24

The date has moved around, and 2026 is the longest run in these records at nine days. If you are planning for 2027, don’t assume a week in advance. The fair board posts dates on the fair website, and the City of Fort Payne’s online event calendar also carries the listing.

Exploring Dallas Alabama Fairgrounds Events can help visitors discover local fairs, agricultural exhibitions, community gatherings, and family-friendly entertainment throughout the region. Those interested in exploring more of Alabama’s fairground activities can also look into DeKalb County Alabama Fairgrounds Events, which may provide opportunities to enjoy seasonal celebrations, livestock shows, local vendors, and community traditions. By exploring events across Dallas and DeKalb counties, visitors can discover more of Alabama’s local culture and find enjoyable activities for families, friends, and visitors of all ages.

Other Events on the Grounds

Outside fair week, the grounds have hosted a Vintage Pickin Fall Market, a two-day fall market with roughly 60 curated vendors, live music, and food trucks. Admission to that event was free for children 12 and under, and parking was free. A Gun & Knife Expo was held there in April 2017, according to a trade-show listing. I could not confirm whether it is still held.

Aggregator sites describe the grounds as a multi-purpose venue with farmers markets and craft fairs, but those sites give no dates or rates. Those entries are unverified, so ask the fair office for what is actually scheduled.

Renting the Grounds

I found no published rental policy or rate sheet. Because the VFW owns and operates the facility, the fair office is the contact for private events or outside groups: (256) 845-9745.

The County Fair Itself

Name, Timing, and Sponsor

The official name is the DeKalb County VFW Agricultural Fair. The fair’s numbering puts its first run in 1956. The 2025 fair was the 70th, held October 21–25, and 2026 is the 71st.

Competitions

Beyond the livestock shows covered below, the premium book runs through a long list of divisions. The notable ones are:

• Booth and scarecrow competitions (Divisions 1–8): 4-H, high school clubs, scouts, elementary schools, homemakers, nutrition sites, churches, and a scarecrow contest. The scarecrow division carries $3,480 in prizes, the largest pool in the premium book.
• Agriculture, canning, and baking: vegetables, honey, sorghum syrup, nuts, peppers, pumpkins, jams, pickles, pie, fried pies, cheese straws, and more. Premiums are modest, from $2 to $15 per ribbon, and the pride is in the ribbon.
• Art, photography, needlework, quilts, handicrafts, and LEGO™ builds, each with adult and junior classes. Adult and junior art and photography entries must not be professional work, and the book defines “professional” as accepting commissions, selling commercially, teaching, or running a business.
• Flower show: presented by the Northeast Alabama Federation of Garden Clubs, free with fair admission, and listed as handicapped accessible.

Midway and Rides

Kissel Entertainment provides the midway. Tickets are $1.50 each or 22 for $30 plus tax. In 2018 WAFF reported more than 30 rides. I don’t have a verified 2026 ride count, so ask at the gate.

Nightly armband specials are the real value for families. In 2026, armbands are $30 most nights and $25 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Food

I couldn’t find a published vendor list. One rule is useful to know: the fair’s general rules bar clubs and groups from selling food or drinks that compete with the VFW Auxiliary concessions and the midway concessions. So if you’re looking for church-booth food, that is not how this fair works.

Entertainment

Music is a major draw. The lineup in recent years has included bluegrass, southern gospel, country, karaoke, and student performances from local music instructors. Earlier years brought a circus act in 2022 and chainsaw carving shows in 2023. A long-running gospel singing event was in its 29th year in 2019.

Admission and Parking (2026)

• Gate admission: $5 (ages 6 and up). Children under 6 get in free with an adult. The catalog says “age 5 and under free.”
• Fairgrounds parking: $5
• Free admission passes are collected at the gate. Exhibitors get one gate pass per person entering exhibits and six passes per booth or scarecrow.
• Discounts: Veterans Appreciation Day (Tuesday), Student Day (Wednesday), Mommy Monday, and Armband Day (Thursday), described above.

Facilities and Grounds

Exhibition Buildings

Individual exhibits are in a dedicated exhibit area, and commercial vendors are in separate commercial and exhibit buildings. Booths for school, club, and scout competitions are a standard 69 inches by 69 inches by 60 inches inside. They are built on the existing floor, with no electrical outlets provided for those divisions.

Livestock

Entries go in at the Livestock/Farmers Market entrance on 18th Street NE. Species-specific show times are in the livestock section below. I could not confirm the number of barns or the stall rental process, so ask the fair office.

Stage and Arena

A main stage and the Coal and Iron Building host live music. I found no verified seating capacity.

Camping and RV

I could not verify any camping or RV facilities on the grounds. If you’re traveling from out of state to show animals, call the fair office before you plan your stay.

Accessibility

The only accessibility statement I found in the fair’s materials is for the flower show, which is listed as handicapped accessible. The dairy goat rules also allow volunteer assistance for handicapped exhibitors in the show ring. For ADA parking, restrooms, and paths, call the office.

Pets

No pets are allowed in the exhibit building or the cattle area. That is a printed rule in the fair’s general exhibit guidelines. The rule says nothing specific about service animals, so call ahead if you need guidance.

On-site Amenities

Concessions are operated by the VFW Auxiliary and the midway. I found no information on first aid or ATMs, so bring cash for parking and gate admission in case card readers aren’t available.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Commercial Booths

• Setup: Commercial and special exhibitors install booths on Wednesday and Thursday before the fair (October 14–15 in 2026), 8 a.m.–3 p.m., and must be finished by 3 p.m. Thursday.
• No selling from booths. Commercial and special exhibitors cannot sell or solicit funds from their booths.
• No tents or canopies in the commercial buildings. Only one business per booth, and a maximum of two workers per 10-foot booth, who must stay inside it.
• Teardown: Sunday and Monday after the fair (through 3 p.m. Monday, October 26, in 2026). The fair says guards won’t be responsible for anything left past that.
• Contact: Eric Dudash is the Commercial Exhibit contact, at (256) 845-9745 or [email protected].

I did not find a published commercial booth fee. Ask the fair office, and do it early. The 2026 setup window has passed.

Entering Competitive Exhibits

• Registration: Saturday and Sunday before the fair, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. For 2026 that was October 10–11, and today (Oct. 11) is the last day. There are no exceptions to those dates for agriculture, canning, baking, art, photography, needlework, quilts, handicrafts, LEGO™, and flower entries.
• Booths and scarecrows needed pre-registration by September 30, with booth work October 7–11 and judging Monday, October 12.
• Pickup: Sunday after the fair (October 25 in 2026), 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Items not collected by October 30 are donated or discarded.
• Rules: One item per class per person, and exhibits must stay on display all week. Premiums are paid only for listed classes.

The full premium book and competition rules are available as PDFs on the fair’s website. Entry forms for horse and mule, lamb, open beef, goat, and poultry are there too.

Fair Office Contact

• Phone: (256) 845-9745
• Email: [email protected] (office) or [email protected] (chairman)
• Mail: DeKalb County VFW Post 3128, 151 18th St NE, Fort Payne, AL. The post’s older mailing address, as of 2020, was P.O. Box 680776, Fort Payne.
• Web: dekalbcountyvfwfair.com

Getting to DeKalb County Fairgrounds

Driving

Fort Payne is the county seat, so if you’re coming from elsewhere in DeKalb County you are headed to town either way. I-59 passes through Fort Payne, and U.S. 11 (Gault Avenue) is the main road through the city. Put 151 18th Street NE into your GPS rather than relying on landmarks.

Out-of-county exhibitors regularly come from nearby towns such as Valley Head and Rainsville, and the goat and lamb shows accept out-of-state entries. For exact exit and turn directions, use your navigation app on the day, because I couldn’t verify exit numbers.

Transit and Rideshare

I found no shuttle or public transit service tied to fair week. Rideshare is a question for the fair office. Plan on driving and budgeting for the $5 parking fee.

4-H and FFA at DeKalb County Fairgrounds

Extension and 4-H

The fair thanks the DeKalb County Extension Service in its catalog. Local 4-H contacts listed for 2026 are Vanessa Roberts (256-845-8559) and Hannah Maddox (334-734-1229). 4-H clubs get three booth slots in their own division, with $490 in prizes, and there is a dedicated 4-H Rabbit Show and Costume Contest.

The Alabama 4-H Chick Chain Project ends fair week on Saturday, October 24, at 11 a.m. I couldn’t find a count of active 4-H clubs in DeKalb County.

FFA

High school club booths (Division 2) explicitly include FFA, Beta Club, FCCLA, Key Club, SADD, and VICA, with five booth slots and $740 in prizes. I didn’t confirm which FFA chapters participate each year, so check the school ag programs directly.

Junior Livestock Auction

I found no junior livestock auction in the fair’s 2026 catalog, events page, or news coverage. The shows pay cash premiums and ribbons rather than selling animals at auction. If you’re looking for an auction, call the fair office to confirm. I’m flagging this rather than guessing.

Livestock Show Rules at a Glance

• Lamb show (Mon., Oct. 19, 6 p.m.): Youth up to age 19 from Alabama and surrounding states. Weigh-in starts at 5 p.m. Entry is $5 for showmanship and $10 for market. Every sheep needs a scrapie tag, and out-of-state lambs need current health papers. Superintendent Brittany Hill: 256-390-8738.
• Rabbit shows (Tue., Oct. 20): $7 per rabbit, with rabbits at least 8 weeks old. The 4-H show and costume contest start at 5:30 p.m. and the open show at 6 p.m. Entries should be in place 30 minutes before. The catalog lists Extension at 256-845-8595 for entries, which is close to but not identical to the 4-H contact number above, so confirm which is correct.
• Dairy goat show (Wed., Oct. 21): ADGA-sanctioned. Check-in 10 a.m.–2 p.m., entry $5 plus $5 pen fee. Contact show secretary Anita Ramsey. The catalog puts the start at 3 p.m., while the events calendar says 5 p.m., so confirm.
• Market meat goat shows (Thu., Oct. 22, 5 p.m.): Goats must weigh at least 35 pounds and be a year old or younger. Weigh-in must be done by 4 p.m. All goats must go home after the show. Youth and adult classes, with out-of-state exhibitors welcome. Contact Anita Ramsey, 256-504-7808.
• Poultry show (Sun., Oct. 18): Check-in 7 a.m.–1 p.m., entry $1 per bird. Birds must stay all week and be picked up Sunday morning after the fair. Contacts: Brian Buffington (256-601-1882) and Alan Scott (256-997-7322).
• Open beef (Sat., Oct. 17, 1 p.m.): Contact Landon Marks, 256-706-0032.
• Horse and mule (Fri., Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m.): Contact Sarah Chastain, 256-641-0195.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

Fair week is the main event, but the grounds see other use. Documented examples are the Vintage Pickin Fall Market and the 2017 Gun & Knife Expo mentioned above. The VFW post also runs community programs, and the fair’s own program list includes recognitions for first responders and Eagle Scouts.

I found no verified record of rodeos, motocross, or demolition derbies at these grounds, so I’m not claiming them. If you organize an event and want to use the facility, the fair office is the place to start.

History of DeKalb County Fairgrounds

By the fair’s own numbering, the first fair was in 1956. Alabama’s agriculture commissioner notes in the catalog that Alabama fairs date to the 1850s, which fits the way local fairs grew out of farm-community showcases.

A few moments from the record:

• 2018: Heavy rain hit the 63rd fair, and organizers were hoping for a dry weekend.
• 2020: Pandemic closings canceled many fairs across the country. The VFW fair committee consulted state legislator Nathaniel Ledbetter, County Commission President Ricky Harcrow, and Fort Payne city council members, then decided to go ahead with the fair. Stephens said it was the post’s main source of income for maintaining facilities and running programs.
• 2022: Booth competitions returned for the first time since the pandemic began.
• 2026: The fair expanded to nine days.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the DeKalb County Fair in 2026–2027?

The 2026 fair is October 16–24. The 2027 dates haven’t been announced. Recent years have run from late September to late October, so check dekalbcountyvfwfair.com or fortpayne.org in spring and summer 2027.

What time does DeKalb County Fairgrounds open for the fair?

Gates open at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. A 2018 news report said gates closed at 11 p.m. I don’t have a confirmed 2026 closing time, so ask the fair office.

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

Gate admission is $5 for ages 6 and up. Children under 6 are free with an adult. Parking is $5. Ride tickets are $1.50 each or 22 for $30 plus tax, and armbands are $25–$30 depending on the night.

Is there camping at DeKalb County Fairgrounds?

I couldn’t find any published camping or RV information. Call the fair office at (256) 845-9745 before you plan to stay on-site.

How do I enter livestock in the DeKalb County Fair?

Use the entry forms on dekalbcountyvfwfair.com for horse and mule, lamb, open beef, goat, and poultry. Rabbits are entered through Extension or before the show. Each species has its own fee, health requirements, and check-in time.

Are dogs allowed at DeKalb County Fairgrounds?

Pets are not allowed in the exhibit building or cattle area, according to the printed rules. The fair itself features a dog show, and I couldn’t find a general rule for other areas, so call ahead.

Where do I park at DeKalb County Fairgrounds?

Parking is on the fairgrounds for $5. I couldn’t find overflow lot information. Arrive early on weekend nights and follow the parking attendants.

Who do I contact to rent DeKalb County Fairgrounds?

Call the fair office at (256) 845-9745. The grounds belong to the VFW post, which has hosted events outside fair week. I found no published rate sheet.

Do veterans get in free?

Yes, on Veterans Appreciation Day (Tuesday, October 20, 2026), when veterans with ID get free gate admission and $5 off an armband.

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

Contact fair chairman Eric Dudash at (256) 845-9745. Commercial booths in 2026 were set up October 14–15, and exhibitors cannot sell from their booths.