Fayette County Alabama Fairgrounds Events
The Fayette County Fair in Alabama is a fall fair, and that surprises people who expect fairs to be a summer thing. The 2026 fair was scheduled for October 7 through 10 at the Fayette County Multipurpose Complex, which means most people searching right now are planning for next year, looking for the spring show calendar, or trying to book the grounds for their own event. This page covers all three. Where something could not be confirmed, it says so and tells you who to call.
Overview of Fayette County Fairgrounds
Where the grounds are
The fairgrounds are the Fayette County Multipurpose Complex, at 650 McConnell Loop, Fayette, AL 35555. It sits inside the city of Fayette, the county seat, and locals commonly describe it as being behind Walmart, which is the easiest landmark if your GPS gets confused on the loop road. There is no separate fairgrounds in another part of the county. The fair, the livestock shows, the rodeos and the car shows all happen on this one property.
Who runs it
Two groups matter here, and people mix them up.
The Multipurpose Complex itself is governed by a board of directors selected by the Fayette County Commission and managed by the City of Fayette Park and Recreation department. That is who you call about renting the buildings, the arena, stalls or RV hookups. The complex’s phone is (205) 932-4327 and its email is [email protected].
The Fayette County Fair is organized by the fair’s own leadership. The Fairs of Alabama directory lists Lisa Rushing as fair manager and gives a mailing address of PO Box 655, Fayette, AL 35555, with a phone number of 205-270-1335. Older directory entries listed different names and a different PO box, so if one number goes unanswered, try the complex office and the Fayette County Extension Office at 205-932-8941.
What is on the property
The complex describes itself as one of the premier agricultural event centers in Alabama, with more than 80,000 square feet of covered space. The listed features are a dirt arena measuring 400 by 200 feet, seating for several thousand spectators, concession stands, bathrooms with showers, RV hookups, parking, and livestock stalls. The complex’s own pages give the stall count as roughly 90 on one page and roughly 100 on another, so treat it as about 90 to 100 and ask when you reserve. Total acreage is not published on the complex’s site, and this page will not guess at it.
Why it matters locally
Fayette County is farm and timber country, and the Multipurpose Complex is where that shows up in public. It is the place where 4-H and FFA kids bring hogs they raised since January, where horse people from several counties show up on weekends, and where the county’s biggest autumn crowd gathers. For a lot of families the fair is also the one week a year when the whole county is in the same place.
Upcoming Events at Fayette County Fairgrounds
The calendar
The complex keeps an Upcoming Events page at fayettempc.com, and it is the most reliable place to check. The listings there change often and some entries linger after the date passes, so always check the year before you plan around anything. Events that have appeared on the complex’s calendar in recent seasons include:
- Fayette County Spring Fair (a four-day run in late April)
- 4-H Pig Squeal Show and Auction
- Poultry show
- Horse shows, including one hosted by the Fayette County High School football boosters
- Car shows
- Fayette County Tractor Pull (a July date has been listed)
- Sheep show
- Auctions
- Community food giveaways
Visitors exploring Fayette County Alabama Fairgrounds Events can discover local fairs, agricultural exhibitions, community festivals, and family-friendly activities. Those interested in exploring more of Alabama’s event scene can also check out Etowah Alabama Fairgrounds Events for additional opportunities to enjoy local gatherings, seasonal celebrations, and regional entertainment. Exploring both areas helps visitors discover diverse community events and plan memorable outings across Alabama.
How the year tends to run
Spring. Late April has been busy: the spring fair and the Northwest Alabama 4-H Pig Squeal Show and Auction have been scheduled together at the complex. Poultry and horse shows have also been listed in March and April.
Summer. Summer looks lighter and leans toward pulls, livestock shows and auctions, such as a July tractor pull and an early August sheep show on the complex’s calendar. Heat and weather make outdoor arena dates less predictable, so confirm anything outdoors a few days ahead.
Fall. The county fair, in the first full week of October in recent years, is the anchor of the year.
Winter. Nothing on the public calendar suggests a winter season of big events, though the covered buildings make indoor rentals possible. Call the complex to ask.
Where to find the current schedule
- The complex website, fayettempc.com, under Upcoming Events.
- The complex’s Facebook page.
- The Fayette County Extension Office at 205-932-8941 for 4-H, horse show and youth livestock questions.
- The Times-Record, the local paper, which has run fair and 4-H notices.
Renting the fairgrounds
The complex does rent to outside groups, and it publishes rates. The posted prices are $500 per day for the complex, $750 per day if you need the kitchen and concession areas, $25 per day or $150 per week for RV hookups, and $12 per day for stalls. Rates can change, so confirm before you budget. The venue has hosted rodeos, motocross events, livestock exhibitions, horse shows, tractor pulls and auctions, which gives you an idea of what the staff and layout are set up for.
The Fayette County Fair Itself
Name and timing
It is called the Fayette County Fair. Recent dates:
- 2025: October 1 to 4 (Wednesday through Saturday)
- 2026: October 7 to 10 (Wednesday through Saturday), per the Fairs of Alabama directory
The pattern is four days, Wednesday through Saturday, in the first or second week of October. The 2027 dates were not published as of this update. If the pattern holds, expect early October, but wait for the fair’s official announcement before booking travel or time off.
Gate hours and admission
In 2025, the gates opened at 6 p.m. nightly and admission was $5 for everyone, with children 5 and under and adults 65 and older admitted free. Saturday was billed as Early Bird Family Day, with gates opening at 4 p.m. and admission at $3 from 4 to 6 p.m. and $5 after 6. Prices and hours can change from year to year, so use these as a guide, not a promise. No parking fee or season pass has been publicly listed.
Competitions and exhibits
The fair has a creative arts side. In 2025, people were invited to bring arts and crafts for cash prizes, with entries accepted on the Sunday before the fair from 1 to 5 p.m. at the complex. A horse show has also been part of the program, with details handled through the Extension Office. Livestock competition runs through the 4-H and FFA programs described below. Whether the fair currently includes categories such as canning, baking, field crops or photography should be confirmed in the premium book or with the fair office.
Midway and rides
A traveling carnival provides the rides. The Fairs of Alabama directory lists Sonshine Amusements as the 2026 carnival. Earlier listings have named other carnival companies, which is normal because fairs change contractors. Ride counts and wristband pricing are not published, so check the fair’s Facebook page close to opening night.
Entertainment
The 2025 fair opened with a Youth Night outside the Extension building on Wednesday evening, featuring free pizza and drinks, worship and a guest speaker. The Titus Bozeman Band was on that year’s schedule. Expect a mix of local and regional acts; specific lineups are announced close to the fair.
Food
The fair’s vendor list is not published in advance. Alabama fairs typically mix midway vendors with local church and civic group stands, but ask the fair office what the lineup looks like rather than assuming.
Facilities and Grounds
Buildings and arena
The covered space totals more than 80,000 square feet. The dirt arena measures 400 by 200 feet, large enough for rodeos, pulls and horse shows. The complex lists seating for several thousand spectators. A separate Extension building sits on the property and was the site of 2025’s Youth Night.
Livestock stalls
About 90 to 100 stalls are available. Stall rental is $12 per day on the complex’s current rate sheet. Reserve through the complex office at (205) 932-4327 and ask about species restrictions, bedding rules and health paperwork, because those depend on the event.
Camping and RV
RV hookups are available at $25 per day or $150 per week. Bathrooms with showers are on site. The complex does not publish a count of hookups or say whether tent camping is allowed, so call before you plan a trip around it. Hotels in Fayette are close, and the grounds sit near the retail area in town, so food and fuel are a short drive.
Accessibility, parking and amenities
The complex lists parking and concession stands but does not publish details on ADA parking, paved pathways or accessible restrooms. Because the site includes arena seating, barns and an outdoor midway, call ahead if you or a family member needs mobility accommodations. Parking capacity and overflow plans are not published; arrive early on Saturday nights. There is no published information on first aid stations or ATMs, so bring cash for small vendors in case.
Vendor and Exhibitor Information
Commercial and food vendors
There is no public vendor application form online that could be confirmed. The path is to contact the fair manager (205-270-1335 per the Fairs of Alabama listing) or the complex office, ask for the vendor packet, and ask about space sizes, electrical access, fees and deadlines. If you sell at events across the region, ask whether the carnival contractor controls the midway food spots, because that can limit independent food vendors.
Competitive exhibits
For arts and crafts, the 2025 fair accepted entries on the Sunday before opening, 1 to 5 p.m., at the complex. For livestock and horse entries, begin with the Fayette County Extension Office (205-932-8941) and ask for the current premium book and entry deadlines. Do not assume deadlines match last year’s.
Contacts
- Complex office: (205) 932-4327, [email protected]
- Fair manager (Fairs of Alabama listing): 205-270-1335, PO Box 655, Fayette, AL 35555
- Extension Office: 205-932-8941
Getting to Fayette County Fairgrounds
Driving
Head for the city of Fayette and set your GPS to 650 McConnell Loop. From downtown and the courthouse square, the grounds are a short drive across town toward the commercial area. Fayette is served by U.S. 43 and several Alabama state highways, including Alabama 13 and 18. Expect roughly an hour from Tuscaloosa or Jasper area traffic, and longer from Birmingham. Check a live map for current travel times, because those are estimates.
Transit and rideshare
No public shuttle service for fair week has been announced. Fayette is a small city, so rideshare availability can be thin, especially late at night. Plan a ride home before you go.
4-H and FFA at Fayette County Fairgrounds
Extension office role
The Fayette County Extension Office, part of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, handles youth programs and has directed people to it for horse show questions. The 2025 fair’s Youth Night was held outside the Extension building at the complex, which shows how closely the office and the grounds work together. The number of active 4-H clubs in the county is not published, so ask the office.
The Pig Squeal
The Northwest Alabama 4-H Pig Squeal Show and Auction is the best-documented youth event at the complex. In a recent year it was held on a Friday in late April, with the swine show at 9 a.m. and the auction following. Students from Fayette and surrounding counties raise market hogs from January and are judged on showmanship and market weight. A processor is on site with cut sheets, and buyers do not have to take possession of the pig. Payment was by check only, not cash.
FFA
FFA chapters at the county’s high schools use the complex, but a chapter-by-chapter list could not be verified for this page. Ask the Extension Office or the ag teacher at your school.
Auction details
The Pig Squeal auction is open to buyers, and it supports the students who raised the animals. Whether the fair itself holds a separate junior livestock auction was not confirmed.
Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair
The complex’s own description lists rodeos, motocross events, livestock exhibitions, horse shows and tractor pulls. Its recent calendar has also carried a car show, a poultry show, a sheep show, auctions and community food giveaways. Gun shows, swap meets and concerts are not on the posted schedule, so do not assume them. If you run an event and want to rent the grounds, the rate sheet above is the starting point.
History of Fayette County Fairgrounds
A documented founding date for the Fayette County Fair or the Multipurpose Complex could not be verified, and an invented year would be worse than none. What the record does show: the complex is overseen by a board selected by the Fayette County Commission and managed by the city’s parks department, the fair is now held in early October, and the grounds have been used for rodeos, motocross and livestock events. For the real history, the Times-Record’s archives, the Fayette County Archives and longtime fair volunteers are better sources. Whether the fair has ever been canceled, and how the community responded, is also something to confirm locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Fayette County Fair in 2026 and 2027?
The 2026 Fayette County Fair was scheduled for October 7 to 10. The 2027 dates had not been announced at the time of this update. Recent fairs have run Wednesday through Saturday in early October.
What time does the Fayette County Fairgrounds open?
In 2025, fair gates opened at 6 p.m. Monday through Friday style nights, with Saturday opening earlier at 4 p.m. for Early Bird Family Day. Hours for other events vary by event.
How much does it cost to get into the Fayette County Fair?
In 2025, admission was $5, free for children 5 and under and adults 65 and older. Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. was $3. Confirm current prices with the fair.
Is there camping at Fayette County Fairgrounds?
RV hookups are available at $25 per day or $150 per week, with showers on site. Tent camping is not addressed on the complex’s website, so call (205) 932-4327.
How do I enter livestock in the Fayette County Fair?
Start with the Fayette County Extension Office at 205-932-8941 for 4-H and FFA entries and the premium book. Outside exhibitors should contact the fair manager.
Are dogs allowed at Fayette County Fairgrounds?
No public policy was found. Call the complex or the fair office before bringing a pet, and expect leash and livestock-area rules to apply.
Where do I park at Fayette County Fairgrounds?
Parking is on the property at 650 McConnell Loop. No parking fee has been publicly listed. Arrive early on Saturday nights.
Who do I contact to rent Fayette County Fairgrounds?
Call the Fayette County Multipurpose Complex at (205) 932-4327 or email [email protected]. Posted rates are $500 per day, or $750 with the kitchen and concession areas, plus $12 per day for stalls and $25 per day for RV hookups.
What events are held at Fayette County Fairgrounds besides the fair?
Rodeos, motocross, horse shows, tractor pulls, livestock exhibitions, car shows, auctions and the 4-H Pig Squeal Show and Auction.
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