Pickens County Alabama Fairgrounds Events

Pickens County, Alabama doesn’t have a dedicated fairgrounds or an annual county fair that I could confirm. Events here run on town squares, downtown streets, a city walking track, and a museum. This page covers what actually happens and who to call.

If you were looking for a fair with livestock barns and a midway, search results will often point you to Pickens County in Georgia or South Carolina instead. Those are different counties with their own fair histories. Check the state before you drive.

Where Events Happen in Pickens County

Pickens County covers about 890 square miles in west-central Alabama, with Aliceville and Reform as its incorporated cities and Carrollton as the county seat. Gordo is also one of the county’s notable population centers. U.S. 82 is the main east-west route, running just north of the county’s center.

Because the county is so spread out, each town runs its own events.

Annual Events Worth Planning Around

Mule Day / Chickenfest (Gordo, early June)

This is the closest thing the county has to a fair. It’s an annual street festival in downtown Gordo, held the first weekend of June, starting Friday night and ending Saturday after lunch. The 2026 edition ran June 5-6. It began in 1987, and 2026 was its 40th year.

Expect live entertainment, food trucks, arts and crafts, a car show, children’s games, homemade ice cream, and a 5K. On Saturday there’s a parade with horses, mule-drawn wagons, antique cars, and tractors. If it keeps the first-weekend pattern, 2027 would fall on June 4-5. That is my projection, so confirm with the Gordo Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dogwood Festival (Aliceville, April)

Aliceville’s Dogwood Festival has featured a rodeo, a softball tournament, helicopter rides, charity runs and walks, food, and games. The format changes. The 2025 festival was a 5K walk with food and craft vendors at the Aliceville City Hall walking track. Don’t assume a rodeo is on the schedule without checking with the City of Aliceville.

Willie King Freedom Creek Festival (Aliceville, May)

Aliceville hosts this blues festival each May, named for blues musician Willie King, who died in 2009.

Christmas in Carrollton

Carrollton has a December tradition around the courthouse square. In 2022, Bob Sellers and Friends held a free Christmas Homecoming concert on the Courthouse Square, and the mayor gave Christmas train rides that night. The Carrollton Christmas Parade was held December 12 in 2024. I couldn’t confirm 2026 dates for these, so check with the Town of Carrollton or the Pickens County Herald.

Visitors exploring Perry County Alabama Fairgrounds Events can also discover exciting community gatherings and local activities through Pickens County Alabama Fairgrounds Events. Both counties offer opportunities to experience Alabama’s rural charm, seasonal festivals, agricultural exhibitions, and family-friendly entertainment. By exploring events in Pickens County alongside those in Perry County, visitors can find more ways to enjoy local traditions, support community organizations, and plan memorable outings throughout Alabama.

4-H, Livestock, and Extension

The Pickens County Extension Office is the main contact for anything agricultural. It is at 155 Reform Street, Room 300, in the Service Center Building, Carrollton, AL 35447, phone (205) 367-8148. It has hosted cattle programming such as a Beef System Short Course. I found no county junior livestock show or auction. If you’re an exhibitor, ask the office whether Pickens County youth show at district or regional events.

Vendors and Exhibitors

There’s no single fair office taking vendor applications. For vendor space, contact the host: the Gordo Area Chamber for Mule Day, and the City of Aliceville for the Dogwood Festival and Freedom Creek Festival.

Getting Around

Use U.S. 82 as your main route. Aliceville is about 36 miles west of Tuscaloosa. Look up each event’s exact location, since they’re all in different towns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Pickens County Fairgrounds in Alabama?
I couldn’t confirm a dedicated fairgrounds. Events use town squares, downtown streets, and municipal sites.

When is the Pickens County Fair in 2026-2027?
I found no active annual county fair. The closest event is Gordo’s Mule Day, usually the first weekend of June.

Is there a rodeo in Pickens County?
Aliceville’s Dogwood Festival has included one. The lineup varies, so confirm with the city.

How do I enter livestock or 4-H projects?
Call the Extension Office at (205) 367-8148 and ask about current shows.

Is there camping at a Pickens County fairground?
I found no fairground camping. Ask each event host about parking and lodging.

Are dogs allowed at Pickens County events?
Policies are set by each host and I found none published, so ask the organizer.

Who do I contact about renting a facility?
Start with the Town of Carrollton, the City of Aliceville, or the county commission, depending on where you want to hold your event.

Where do I find current event dates?
The Pickens County Herald is a weekly paper at 215 Reform Street in Carrollton, and town and chamber social pages carry updates.