Hot Spring County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events
Hot Spring County’s fairgrounds are on Collie Road in Malvern, Arkansas. The name causes confusion in search. Hot Springs is a city in neighboring Garland County, and the Garland County Fairgrounds sit on a road called Malvern Avenue, so “Hot Springs fairgrounds Malvern” searches can send you to the wrong county. There’s also a Hot Springs County, Wyoming, with its own fair. This guide covers the Hot Spring County fairgrounds in Malvern, about 21 miles south of the city of Hot Springs.
Hot Spring County Fairgrounds Overview
Location
The fairgrounds are at 1303 Collie Road, Malvern, Arkansas 72104. Malvern is the county seat, and it took that role in 1878. The mailing address is PO Box 1012, Malvern.
Who Runs It
The Hot Spring County Livestock Exhibition and Fair Association, a nonprofit, runs the fair and manages the fairgrounds. In its filing with the IRS, the association describes the grounds as several buildings on about 17 acres and says its goals are to run the annual fair and to hold other activities through the year that give county youth positive things to do.
Why It Matters Here
Hot Spring County’s economy rests on beef and dairy cattle, hay, soybeans, and rice, according to the Association of Arkansas Counties. The association’s stated purpose is youth livestock, and that matches how the fair works. Malvern also hosts a long-running rodeo that draws competitors from several states.
Upcoming Events at Hot Spring County Fairgrounds
What’s Coming Up
- The Merry Market at the Fairgrounds, December 4–5, 2026. The fairgrounds posted a call for vendors and food trucks on Facebook, and the fair association’s site lists a December 4 event.
Beyond that I did not find confirmed bookings for the rest of 2026.
What the Grounds Host
The association says it offers its facilities for private events, reunions, meetings, and community gatherings. It lists an Education Building, a Barn Area, and the open grounds. Besides the fair and the Merry Market, the grounds host the Malvern Rodeo. I found no published schedule of gun shows, flea markets, or motocross events at this site, so I’m not listing any.
Seasonal Pattern
Fall is the anchor, with the fair and rodeo in September. The Merry Market adds an early-December event. I could not confirm a spring or winter schedule beyond that.
Finding the Current Schedule
The association’s website is the authoritative source, and its Facebook page posts updates like vendor calls. You can also reach the association at PO Box 1012 in Malvern or by the email listed on its site.
Renting the Grounds
Yes. Private events, meetings, reunions, and gatherings can use the Education Building, Barn Area, and grounds. I could not find a rate sheet, so contact the association.
The Hot Spring County Fair
Dates
The association’s website listed the 2026 annual fair as September 20–26, and an aggregator listed September 19–26, which includes the poultry testing day. Past years show the fair in September, and the rodeo has been held separately that month. I could not confirm 2027 dates. Expect September and watch the association’s website.
Poultry Testing
All poultry exhibitors must have their birds tested before the fair. For 2026, testing was held at the fairgrounds on Saturday, September 19. If you’re showing poultry, check the testing date early.
Livestock and Exhibits
The association describes the fair as a week of livestock shows, exhibits, competitions, food, and family fun. I could not find a class list or premium book online, so ask the association or the county Extension office for the current fair book.
Malvern Rodeo
The Malvern Round Up Club presents an annual rodeo at the fairgrounds. The 71st edition was held Friday and Saturday, September 6–7, 2024, which would make 2026 the 73rd, though I could not confirm that count or the 2026 dates. The 2024 details:
- Co-sanctioned by the Arkansas Rodeo Association, the Louisiana Rodeo Cowboys Association, and the International Professional Rodeo Association
- Events included bareback, saddle bronc, calf roping, break-away roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, bull riding, junior barrels, and team roping
- Events began at 8 p.m.
- Tickets were $5 in advance or $8 at the gate, and children 10 and under got in free
Check the Malvern Round Up Club and the fair’s page for the current year.
Visitors interested in Hot Spring County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events can also explore community gatherings through Hempstead County Arkansas Fairgrounds Events. Both counties provide opportunities to discover local traditions, enjoy seasonal activities, and experience community celebrations across Arkansas.
Midway and Admission
I could not confirm a carnival company, ride pricing, or the fair’s gate admission. Check the association’s website.
Facilities and Grounds
Documented:
- An Education Building
- A Barn Area
- A rodeo arena, used for the Malvern Rodeo
- Open grounds
- About 17 acres, per the association’s filing
Not confirmed: building counts, arena capacity, stall rental procedures, camping and RV hookups, ADA parking and pathways, first aid, ATMs, and parking capacity.
Vendor and Exhibitor Information
Commercial Vendors
The Merry Market is the clearest current vendor opportunity. The fairgrounds’ Facebook page called for vendors and food trucks for December 4–5, 2026. For vendors at the fair itself, I found no application or booth fee, so contact the association.
Competitive Exhibits
Entries go through the association and the county’s youth programs. I could not find the 2026 entry deadlines, so ask for the fair book. Poultry exhibitors must complete testing before the fair.
Contacts
- Hot Spring County Livestock Exhibition and Fair Association, PO Box 1012, Malvern, AR 72104
- A phone number of (501) 337-5125 appears on a business directory listing for the association, so confirm before calling
Getting to Hot Spring County Fairgrounds
Malvern is on Interstate 30, southwest of Little Rock and south of Hot Springs, and US Highway 270 also runs through the county. From downtown Malvern, take Collie Road to number 1303. I found no public transit or shuttle service, and rideshare in Malvern is limited, so arrange rides ahead.
4-H and FFA at the Fairgrounds
I could not find a Hot Spring County 4-H club count, an FFA chapter list, or published rules for a junior livestock sale. The association’s mission centers on giving local kids a place to show animals, so ask the county Extension office in Malvern and your school’s ag teacher for the current entry process, health requirements, and any premium sale details.
Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair
- The Malvern Rodeo, a September tradition
- The Merry Market, in December
- Private events, reunions, and meetings in the Education Building and Barn Area
Malvern’s Brickfest, held in early summer, is a city festival, and I found no evidence it uses the fairgrounds.
History of Hot Spring County Fairgrounds
The association is a nonprofit and has been organized since at least the 2010s, based on its federal registration. The county itself was formed in 1829. The rodeo’s 71st edition in 2024 means it started around 1953. I could not find a founding date for the fair, when the Collie Road site was acquired, attendance figures, or any record of cancellations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Hot Spring County Fair in 2026 and 2027?
The association listed the 2026 fair as September 20–26, with poultry testing on September 19. I could not confirm 2027 dates.
What time does Hot Spring County Fairgrounds open?
No daily hours are published. The rodeo started at 8 p.m. in 2024. Check the association’s page for the schedule.
Is there camping at Hot Spring County Fairgrounds?
I found no published camping information. Ask the association.
How do I enter livestock in the Hot Spring County Fair?
Contact the association or the county Extension office for the fair book and deadlines. Poultry exhibitors must have birds tested before the fair.
Are dogs allowed at the fairgrounds?
No pet policy is published. Call ahead, because livestock are on site.
Where do I park?
Parking details are not published. The address is 1303 Collie Road, Malvern.
Who do I contact to rent the fairgrounds?
Contact the Hot Spring County Livestock Exhibition and Fair Association at PO Box 1012, Malvern, or through its website.
How much does it cost to get into the fair?
I could not find a published admission price. The 2024 rodeo was $5 in advance or $8 at the gate, with children 10 and under free.
How do I become a vendor?
For the Merry Market, respond to the vendor call on the fairgrounds’ Facebook page. For the fair, contact the association.
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