Garland County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events

The Garland County Fairgrounds are at 4831 Malvern Avenue in Hot Springs, southeast of downtown. Of the Arkansas county fairgrounds this series covers, this one has the busiest calendar. It hosts a ten-day September fair, a rodeo, a long-running demolition derby, one of the state’s bigger craft fairs, gun shows, and a Renaissance festival.

Garland County Fairgrounds Overview

Location

The address is 4831 Malvern Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901. Some listings write it as Malvern Road, but it’s the same place. The grounds are on the southeast side of Hot Springs, a short drive from downtown. Listings put the downtown hotels around seven to eight miles away.

From Little Rock, Hot Springs is about 55 miles southwest. The usual route is Interstate 30 southwest, then US Highway 70 into Hot Springs, then Malvern Avenue out to the grounds.

Who Runs It

The Garland County Fair and Livestock Association runs both the fairgrounds and the fair. The association lists its events on its own website, including the fair, the arts and crafts fair, and a household solid waste collection day. The Garland County Cooperative Extension Service coordinates the youth side, and the county Extension Homemakers Council runs the arts and crafts fair.

How Long It’s Been Going

Event listings say the Garland County Fair was established in 1942. Counting from that, the 2026 fair was the 84th. I could not find an acreage figure or a published map, so I’m not stating either.

Why It Matters Here

The fairgrounds serve two Hot Springs identities at once. Tourists know Hot Springs for the baths and the lakes. The fairgrounds are where Garland County’s own 4-H and FFA kids, Extension homemakers, and hometown event promoters do their work. The Extension office calls the fair a community endeavor, and the grounds’ event calendar backs that up.

Upcoming Events at Garland County Fairgrounds

What’s Coming Up

As of mid-October 2026, listings show:

• Hot Springs Renaissance Faire: Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, 2026, produced by Gates Family Entertainment. An earlier edition at the fairgrounds advertised live jousting, food, and interactive activities, with tickets in the $5 to $15 range.
• G&S Promotions Hot Springs Gun & Knife Show: listed for Saturday, November 7, 2026, with an $8 admission listed on one event site. A second listing shows a G&S show Friday, November 6, so confirm which days are open to the public.

Past this, I did not find other published bookings. Check the association’s calendar for anything newer.

Events Held Here Regularly

• The Garland County Fair in September
• The Hot Springs Arts & Crafts Fair on the first full weekend of October. The 57th edition ran October 2–4, 2026
• Gun and knife shows
• Demolition derbies. A March 2018 news report described the derby returning to the fairgrounds, and the promoter mentioned an early-season show that year, so derbies are not limited to fair week
• Home and garden shows, which festival directories list at the fairgrounds
• A household solid waste collection day. The 2026 date was October 10
• Rodeo, held during fair week

Seasonal Pattern

Spring brings home and garden shows and derby events. September is fair month. October starts with the arts and crafts fair and runs into the Renaissance Faire. November brings gun shows. I could not confirm a winter schedule.

Finding the Current Schedule

The Garland County Fair and Livestock Association’s website is the first place to check. The Extension office posts youth and fair information too.

Renting the Grounds

Outside promoters clearly use the grounds, as the Renaissance Faire, gun show, and demolition derby promoters show. I could not find a published rate sheet, so contact the association for availability and pricing.

The Garland County Fair

Dates

The fair runs about ten days in September. The 2026 fair was listed as September 10–19 on one directory, with other listings giving similar ranges. The 2024 fair ran September 6–14 and the 2020 fair ended Saturday, September 19. I could not find a confirmed 2027 date. Expect another September run and watch the association’s website.

Demolition Derby

The derby has been a signature event for decades. In 2024 it ran two nights at the start of the fair, September 6 and 7, with doors opening at 5 p.m. A 2018 news report called it the largest demolition derby in the South and said the promoter, Jeff Palmer of K&P Promotions, runs it as the “Hot Springs Havoc.” In that report, Palmer said the fair held a Guinness World Records mark for the longest consecutive running derby in the country. That claim comes from him, not from a record I could verify independently. The same report listed a $10,000 top prize in a $22,000 total purse that year, which has likely changed since.

Visitors interested in Garland County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events can also explore local activities through Fulton County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events. Both counties provide opportunities to discover regional traditions, enjoy community gatherings, and plan enjoyable outings throughout Arkansas.

Rodeo

The Garland County Fair Rodeo closes the fair. The 2026 rodeo was listed for September 18–19, with an 8 p.m. start. In 2024 it ran September 13 and 14. In 2020, the fair’s rodeo was a sanctioned event that earned qualifying points toward the National Finals Rodeo.

Midway and Entertainment

A traveling carnival supplies the rides, and the 2024 schedule closed the midway on Monday. That year offered a weekday matinee from 1 to 4 p.m. where every ride took one ticket at $2 each, and a Kids Day on September 10 from 6 to 10 p.m. Past fairs have also had free bingo and free gospel concerts. Prices change yearly, so check before you go.

Youth and Open Exhibits

The Extension office says the fair is a showcase for the county’s top junior livestock projects. It also has a youth quilt division and a talent show. The fair book is how you find class lists, times, and entry forms.

Admission and Parking

I found no published gate or parking price. Check the association’s page.

2020

The 2020 fair is worth a mention. While many fairs closed, Garland County held nine days of events through September 19, centered on the partially open-air arena, with two nights of demolition derby and a sanctioned rodeo. The state health department had not approved carnival rides, so the fair ran a car show honoring essential workers on Tuesday, September 15, in place of a midway.

Facilities and Grounds

Documented:

• A large, partly open-air arena used for the derby and rodeo
• A Show Barn where the junior livestock auction has been held
• Event halls used for youth livestock events and exhibits

Not confirmed: grandstand capacity, number of buildings, stall counts, camping and RV hookups, ADA details, first aid and ATM, and parking capacity. Call the association before depending on any of these.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Commercial Vendors

For fair vendors, contact the Garland County Fair and Livestock Association. For the arts and crafts fair, the Extension Homemakers Council committee publishes rules, an exhibitor application, and a concession agreement each year on the fair’s own website. More than 200 exhibitors and food vendors from multiple states take part, so apply early.

Competitive Exhibits

Pick up the fair book from the Extension office or local businesses, then check the book for deadlines and times, because entry deadlines vary by category and some categories require entry forms.

Contacts

• Garland County Fair and Livestock Association, 4831 Malvern Avenue, Hot Springs
• Garland County Extension Office, Hot Springs. The office has been on Woodbine Street, but confirm the current address and phone number.

Getting to Garland County Fairgrounds

Take Malvern Avenue southeast from downtown Hot Springs. From Little Rock, take I-30 southwest, then US 70 into Hot Springs. I found no public shuttle service. Rideshare is more available in Hot Springs than in smaller Arkansas counties, but ask drivers to use the street address and plan for traffic on derby and rodeo nights.

4-H and FFA at the Fairgrounds

The Extension Office’s Role

The Extension office publishes fair information, accepts questions about entries, and offers 4-H clubs for youth ages 5 to 19. I could not find a current club count.

Junior Livestock Auction

In 2015 the auction took place at the Show Barn on Friday at 1:00 p.m. That timing and place may have changed, so check the current fair book for the date, buyer information, and how proceeds are handled.

FFA

I could not verify which county FFA chapters exhibit. Ask your local agriculture teacher.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

• Hot Springs Arts & Crafts Fair. It began in 1968 in a downtown storefront so Garland County Extension Homemakers could sell handmade items. It now draws over 200 vendors on the first full weekend of October, with a petting zoo, kids’ rides, face painting, and an Extension Homemakers kitchen known for ham and beans, chili, and cakes
• Gun and knife shows in the fall
• Hot Springs Renaissance Faire on the Halloween weekend
• Demolition derbies and home and garden shows outside fair week
• Community collection days such as the solid waste event

History of Garland County Fairgrounds

The fair dates to 1942. The record I found doesn’t cover where the earliest fairs were held, when the Malvern Avenue site was developed, or attendance records. The derby’s reputation and the 2020 decision to go ahead without a midway are the parts of the history I could document.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Garland County Fair in 2026 and 2027?

The 2026 fair ran about ten days in September, listed as September 10–19. I could not confirm 2027 dates. Expect September and check the association’s website.

What time does the fairgrounds open?

Hours vary by event. In 2024, the demolition derby doors opened at 5 p.m. and the rodeo started at 8 p.m. Check the fair’s calendar.

Is there camping at Garland County Fairgrounds?

I found no published camping information. Ask the association.

How do I enter livestock in the Garland County Fair?

Get the fair book from the Extension office and follow its entry forms and deadlines. Youth livestock projects go through Extension and 4-H.

Are dogs allowed at the fairgrounds?

No pet policy is published. Call ahead, especially during livestock events.

Where do I park?

Parking details aren’t published. Expect heavy traffic on derby and rodeo nights.

Who do I contact to rent Garland County Fairgrounds?

Contact the Garland County Fair and Livestock Association at 4831 Malvern Avenue.

How much does it cost to get into the fair?

I could not find a published price. Rides were $2 per ticket during a 2024 matinee, but admission, parking, and rodeo and derby ticket prices should be confirmed with the association.

How do I become a vendor?

Contact the association for fair vendor spaces. For the arts and crafts fair, use the application on that fair’s own website.