Grant County Kansas Fairgrounds Events

Grant County Fairgrounds are located at the Grant County Civic Center, 1000 W. Patterson Avenue, Ulysses, Kansas 67880. The complex serves as the home of the annual Grant County Free Fair and provides facilities for agricultural exhibitions, livestock activities, community gatherings, and private events.

Ulysses, the county seat of Grant County, is the main destination for visitors attending the fair. The grounds are part of a larger community complex that includes a rodeo arena, recreational fields, and outdoor gathering spaces. The facilities also accommodate meetings, auctions, celebrations, and other scheduled activities throughout the year.

The fairgrounds reflect the agricultural character of southwestern Kansas, where farming, livestock production, and rural community organizations remain important parts of local life. The annual fair gives residents an opportunity to display their work, recognize young exhibitors, and gather for entertainment beyond the agricultural competitions.

The Grant County Civic Center manages facility bookings and general venue inquiries. The annual fair’s competitive program is supported by local fair organizers and K-State Research and Extension in Grant County.

History and community significance

The Grant County Fair began in 1948, when community members organized the first event through the Grant County Fair Association. Early facilities were modest, including a former Navy hospital tent used for fair activities. In January 1950, county commissioners appointed the first fair board and made funds available to purchase equipment and basic structures.

The grounds have since developed into a multi-use complex with livestock barns, wash bays, a covered arena, and indoor exhibition space. The fair continues to connect agricultural traditions with youth development and community participation in Ulysses and the surrounding rural areas.

Upcoming Events at Grant County Fairgrounds

The Grant County Civic Center and fairgrounds host activities throughout the year rather than operating only during fair week. The schedule changes with the seasons and with bookings made by community groups, exhibitors, and private organizers.

Annual fair and agricultural activities

The main annual event is the Grant County Free Fair. Its program combines 4-H exhibits, livestock competitions, entertainment, and public activities. Other agricultural events may include livestock shows and activities connected with youth exhibitors.

Visitors can also look for scheduled tractor pulls, concerts, food vendors, commercial booths, and family activities during fair week. The precise program varies by year, so an activity featured in one edition should not automatically be assumed to return the following year.

Community events and private bookings

The Civic Center lists a broad range of uses for its facilities, including auctions, garage sales, business meetings, fundraisers, weddings, family reunions, proms, health fairs, and community bazaars. The wider complex also supports livestock shows and other outdoor gatherings.

The venue has hosted or listed special events such as a gun and coin show, the Tumbleweed Bazaar, and Pheasants Forever activities. These examples demonstrate the variety of uses, but they should not be treated as confirmation of future dates.

Organizations interested in renting space should contact the Civic Center office to ask about available rooms, outdoor areas, kitchen facilities, equipment, and event-specific arrangements.

How to find the current schedule

For upcoming events in Grant County, check the county’s official event calendar and the Grant County Fair’s information published through K-State Research and Extension. The Civic Center office can also confirm event dates, admission arrangements, and facility availability.

Because the 2026 fair has already taken place, visitors planning for 2027 should wait for the next confirmed schedule rather than relying on last year’s program.

The Grant County Free Fair

Typical fair season: Mid-to-late July

The Grant County Free Fair is held during the summer. The confirmed 2026 dates were July 18–25, 2026, with activities scheduled at the Grant County Complex and Fairgrounds in Ulysses. Dates for the 2027 fair should be confirmed through the organizers before travel plans are made.

Livestock, exhibits, and competitions

Agricultural exhibitions form a central part of the Grant County County Fair experience. Youth participants can enter livestock and other projects through the fair’s competitive program. Depending on the year’s official fair book, livestock classes and related activities may include beef cattle, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, rabbits, and horse-related competitions.

The fair’s educational side extends beyond animals. Youth and other eligible exhibitors may participate in project areas such as photography, arts and crafts, foods, clothing, horticulture, and other home and family exhibits. The current premium book is the authority for available categories, age divisions, judging requirements, and deadlines.

Carnival, food, and entertainment

The Grant County Free Fair’s published 2026 event information included food vendors, commercial booths, concerts, tractor pulls, and a free barbecue meal on Thursday evening. The full lineup can change each year.

Carnival rides and midway entertainment may be part of the summer fair experience when scheduled by the organizers. However, the number of rides, operating hours, wristband prices, and participating carnival company should be confirmed for each edition. Do not assume that ride passes or special deals from a previous year remain available.

Fairgoers can plan for a mixture of food stands, social gatherings, agricultural activities, and evening entertainment. Community organizations and commercial vendors may participate, but specific food traditions and vendors should be verified against the current program.

Explore Grant County Kansas Fairgrounds Events for information about county fairs livestock exhibitions agricultural displays and community celebrations. Visitors can also discover Graham County Kansas Fairgrounds Events for more local fairground details.

Admission and parking

The event is known as the Grant County Free Fair, and published listings identify it as a free-gate event. Visitors should nevertheless check the current announcement for any separately ticketed grandstand entertainment, ride charges, vendor purchases, or special activities. Free general admission does not necessarily mean every attraction is free.

Current parking arrangements, accessible spaces, and any restrictions should be confirmed with the Civic Center before arrival.

Facilities and Grounds

Exhibition buildings and livestock facilities

The Grant County fairgrounds cover several acres and include livestock barns, wash bays, a covered arena, and indoor exhibition space. These facilities allow organizers to accommodate animal entries and indoor projects alongside outdoor fair activities.

The available public information does not establish a reliable current count of every building, stall, or square foot of exhibition space. Exhibitors should ask the fair organizers about species-specific housing, bedding rules, animal arrival times, cleaning requirements, and stall assignments.

Arena and outdoor areas

The covered arena supports activities that require a defined livestock or event space. The surrounding complex includes outdoor recreation facilities, such as baseball, soccer, and softball fields, as well as a fenced children’s play area.

The arena may be used for scheduled fair activities, but seating capacity and the availability of particular events need to be confirmed for the relevant date.

Camping, accessibility, and amenities

RV electrical hookups are listed among the complex’s facilities. Availability, the number of spaces, hookup specifications, fees, and reservations should be checked directly; the existence of hookups does not guarantee that overnight camping is available for every event.

The county’s event information identifies the venue as ADA accessible. Visitors who need accessible parking, routes, seating, or restrooms should confirm the facilities available for their specific event. Parking capacity, overflow locations, first-aid arrangements, and ATM availability are not reliably established in the published details and should not be assumed.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Commercial vendor applications

Businesses, food vendors, and community organizations interested in participating in the Grant County Free Fair should contact the fair organizers or Civic Center office before preparing a booth. Ask about available space, application forms, insurance requirements, electricity, food-service rules, setup times, fees, and deadlines.

The availability of a booth in a previous year does not guarantee space in the next fair. Commercial spaces and food concessions may have separate application procedures.

Competitive exhibits and premium books

Exhibitors should obtain the current fair book before entering projects. It sets out eligible divisions, judging standards, entry deadlines, check-in times, and any premium awards.

Livestock participants may need to submit animal identification and entry forms before fair week. Horse exhibitors may have separate identification requirements. Arts, foods, photography, and other project entries can have different delivery and judging schedules.

For the latest forms and entry instructions, contact K-State Research and Extension in Grant County at 1100 W. Patterson Avenue, Ulysses, KS 67880, or call 620-356-1721.

Getting to Grant County Fairgrounds

Driving directions

The fairgrounds are at 1000 W. Patterson Avenue, Ulysses, Kansas 67880. Visitors traveling from central Ulysses can use local streets to reach West Patterson Avenue and follow event parking signs when available.

Travelers arriving from other parts of southwestern Kansas should plan their route to Ulysses using the state and regional highways serving the area. From the county seat, the Civic Center is the main destination to enter into a navigation system. Check the event’s parking instructions before arrival because livestock deliveries and public parking may use different access arrangements.

Public transit and dedicated fair shuttles have not been confirmed as regular services. Visitors should arrange their own transportation unless organizers announce a shuttle for a particular event. Rideshare users should coordinate a pickup location that does not interfere with livestock trailers, vendor deliveries, or emergency access.

4-H and FFA at Grant County Fairgrounds

Youth development and project judging

The Grant County Free Fair provides a setting for young people to present projects developed through agricultural education and other practical learning activities. K-State Research and Extension in Grant County is an important source of information about 4-H participation, fair entries, project requirements, and youth programming.

The exact number of active 4-H clubs and participating FFA chapters should be confirmed with local extension staff and schools. Participation can vary from year to year, so a fixed count should not be published without current verification.

Junior livestock auction

Junior livestock auctions are an important part of many Kansas county fairs because they connect youth exhibitors with local businesses and community supporters. Grant County participants should consult the current fair book to determine the livestock species included, auction date, buyer registration requirements, and bidding procedures.

Prospective buyers should also ask whether the program offers traditional livestock purchases, add-on contributions, or online bidding. Payment arrangements and the portion of proceeds received by exhibitors depend on the applicable auction rules. These details should not be assumed without confirmation from the organizers.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

The Grant County Civic Center and surrounding grounds accommodate a range of activities outside the main summer fair.

• Auctions and garage sales: Indoor and outdoor spaces can support sales and community fundraising activities.
• Gun and coin shows: These have appeared among the venue’s listed special events; upcoming dates require confirmation.
• Community bazaars: Events such as the Tumbleweed Bazaar offer opportunities for local sellers and shoppers when scheduled.
• Livestock and agricultural activities: The barns and arena support events connected with livestock and rural interests.
• Private celebrations: Weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, and other gatherings can be arranged through the Civic Center.
• Meetings and fundraisers: Civic groups and organizations can inquire about rooms, kitchen access, and equipment for scheduled functions.

Rodeos, motocross events, ATV competitions, and particular touring concerts should not be treated as annual fixtures unless they appear in a current event announcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Grant County County Fair in 2026–2027?

The 2026 Grant County Free Fair ran from July 18 through July 25, 2026. The 2027 dates should be confirmed through the fair organizers or Grant County Civic Center.

What time do Grant County Fairgrounds open?

Opening hours vary according to the event. Livestock check-in, judging, vendor setup, and public entertainment may each have different schedules. Check the relevant day’s program before traveling.

Is there camping at Grant County Fairgrounds?

The complex lists RV electrical hookups. Visitors should contact the Civic Center to confirm overnight camping permission, availability, reservations, and applicable charges.

How do I enter livestock in the Grant County County Fair?

Obtain the current fair book and livestock entry forms through Grant County’s K-State Research and Extension office. Confirm animal identification rules, entry deadlines, health requirements, and check-in times.

Are dogs allowed at Grant County Fairgrounds?

A current general pet policy has not been confirmed. Contact the organizers before bringing a dog, particularly during livestock exhibitions or crowded public events. Service-animal arrangements should be discussed if clarification is needed.

Where do I park at Grant County Fairgrounds?

Start with the event’s designated parking areas at the Grant County Civic Center. Follow posted signs and instructions from parking staff, especially when livestock trailers and commercial vendors are arriving.

Who do I contact to rent Grant County Fairgrounds?

Contact the Grant County Civic Center office at 620-356-1808. The office can provide information about facility availability, room layouts, equipment, outdoor spaces, and rental arrangements.

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

The Grant County Free Fair is advertised as a free-gate event. Individual rides, concessions, and selected entertainment may have separate charges. Confirm the arrangements for the year you plan to attend.

What types of events take place at Grant County Fairgrounds?

The complex hosts the annual county fair, livestock activities, community meetings, auctions, bazaars, private celebrations, and other scheduled events. The specific calendar changes throughout the year.

How can I become a vendor at the Grant County Free Fair?

Contact the fair organizers before fair week and ask for the current vendor application, booth fees, insurance requirements, setup instructions, and submission deadline.