Pike County Alabama Fairgrounds Events

The Pike County Fairgrounds sit on U.S. Highway 231 South, just outside Troy, the county seat. The Troy Shrine Club lists its address as 3700 Highway 231 South, Troy, AL 36081. A 1999 local news story put the fairgrounds “on Highway 231 south of Troy,” and the location hasn’t changed. Locals sometimes call it the Shriners’ fairgrounds, and recent news coverage uses that name too.

Who runs it

This is not a county-government fair, and that surprises many people searching for one. The Troy Shrine Club sponsors the Pike County Fair and operates the fairgrounds. The Extension office and a county fair board are not the organizers. Fair proceeds go to the Shrine’s work, and a 1999 story described the money as supporting the club’s general fund and the Shrine Temple. The club’s president has also said the money goes toward Shriners hospitals. The club has said the fair is a clean, family-oriented event, with Troy police patrolling the grounds and no firearms, drugs, or alcohol allowed. That statement was made some years ago, so confirm the current rules with the club.

Acreage and a full facility map aren’t published anywhere I could find, so I’m not giving a number. The grounds include an exhibit hall, a cattle barn, a midway area, and a free-entertainment pavilion.

Why it matters locally

Pike County is a small county with a Troy University campus, a few small towns like Brundidge, and a farming history that is mostly family-scale rather than plantation-scale. That makes a week-long fair a big event. A 1999 estimate from the fair manager put the fair’s economic impact at about $350,000 for the county. That is an old figure, but it shows how long the fair has been part of local life.

Upcoming Events at Pike County Fairgrounds

The main event: the Pike County Fair

The fair is held in early October. Recent years follow a clear pattern of Tuesday through Saturday in the first full week of the month:

• 2025: October 7–11
• 2026: October 6–10
• 2027: not announced yet. If the pattern holds, expect Tuesday–Saturday, October 5–9, but treat that as a guess until the Shrine Club confirms it.

Dates have moved before. In 2014 the fair opened on September 30 and ran through October 4, so early fall is the constant rather than a specific week.

Other events nearby

The Shrine Club’s fair is the one big annual event at the fairgrounds itself. Most other livestock and arena events happen at Cattlemen’s Park (see below), which is a short drive down the same highway. I couldn’t find a published rental policy or a regular schedule of gun shows, flea markets, or swap meets at the Shrine fairgrounds, so I’m not listing any.

How to find the current schedule

The fair’s website is pikecountyfair.net, and the Troy Shrine Club keeps a Facebook page. The club’s phone number is 334-566-3273 and its email is [email protected]. The site’s contact page said “stay tuned” at the time of writing, which is typical in the off-season. Each year’s lineup has also been previewed in the Troy Messenger in the weeks before the fair.

The Pike County Fair Itself

Dates and hours

Gates opened at 6 p.m. on weeknights in 2025 and 2026. The 2026 Saturday gate opened at 5 p.m., and everything wound down around 10 p.m. Entries for exhibits are taken the weekend before opening, not during the fair (see the exhibitor section).

Rides and the midway

The rides are run by a traveling carnival operator hired by the Shrine Club, and the operator has changed over the years. The 2026 fair used the James Gang of Andalusia, with a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, Rocket Bullet, Lift Off, and other rides. In 2014 the promoter was Modern Midway. Unlimited-ride armbands have been a standard offer, and the club has run presale and special-night deals. In 2026, armbands were $20 for all rides, with Tuesday and Thursday specials at $15. In 2025, Tuesday and Thursday were $15 family nights and the other nights were $20.

Food

The carnival vendors sell what you’d expect: funnel cakes, cotton candy, candy apples, and popcorn. The Shriners run their own concession booth with hamburgers, hot dogs, and parched peanuts. Parched peanuts are a South Alabama staple, and it’s the one booth that is more than standard midway food.

Entertainment

Entertainment is free with admission and happens at the grounds pavilion. In 2026 the nightly lineup was:

• Tuesday: Pastor Valentine
• Wednesday: Riley Austin
• Thursday: Jenna Renae Adair
• Friday: The Brown Brothers
• Saturday: Shane Owens

Regional country and gospel acts have long been the pattern. A 1999 program included Southern gospel singing, a Troy State jazz band, the Shrine brass band, and a Nashville country group, and 2025 was similar. Special nights have included senior nights, a military night with discounts for people who show ID at the gate, and in the past a Students Day and Agriculture Appreciation Night.

Admission

Prices change from year to year:

• 2025: adults $10, ages 6–11 $5, five and under free. Senior rates were reduced for ages 62 and over on opening night.
• 2026: adults and ages 12 and up $10, five and under free. One Troy Messenger preview listed ages 6–11 at $15. That is a big jump from $5, so it may be a typo. Confirm before you go.

A 2023 report said the gate ticket covers parking, the midway, and live entertainment. Rides and games cost extra.

Visitors exploring Pike County Alabama Fairgrounds Events can also discover the community activities and local gatherings featured through Pickens County Alabama Fairgrounds Events. Both areas offer opportunities to enjoy seasonal festivals, agricultural exhibitions, livestock shows, family-friendly entertainment, and community celebrations. Exploring events in Pike County alongside those in Pickens County helps visitors discover more local traditions, connect with residents, and plan enjoyable outings throughout Alabama.

Exhibits and competitions

The exhibit hall is a big part of the fair for locals. Categories have included crafts, paintings, baked and canned goods, photography, and food preservation, with prize money offered to individuals, clubs, and organizations. Local TV reported that about nine schools and roughly 350 art students entered work in one recent year, so student art is a real feature. The cattle barn has historically held cattle, horses, mules, pigs, rabbits, and poultry, per a 2014 account.

Facilities and Grounds

What’s confirmed

• An exhibit hall, used for entries and community displays
• A cattle barn
• A pavilion for the nightly free entertainment
• A midway area for the carnival
• Free parking, according to a 2023 report tied to gate admission

What I couldn’t verify

I found nothing published on seating capacity at the fairgrounds, RV or camping hookups, ADA parking and pathways, ATM or first-aid locations, or stall rental. Call the Shrine Club at 334-566-3273 before relying on any of these.

Cattlemen’s Park, next door

Pike County Cattlemen’s Park is at 4100 Highway 231 South, a few hundred yards from the fairgrounds address. It is a separate facility run by the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association, and it is the better answer for anyone searching for a rodeo arena or livestock show venue.

• A covered arena that seats about 3,000 for rodeo and livestock events and 5,000 for concerts, according to Alabama’s tourism listing
• A 40-horse barn
• An expo building with a snack bar, restrooms, and a large banquet hall
• Six bucking chutes and a timed-event end with three holding pens

The association was organized in 1951, bought the park property in 1992, held its first rodeo there in 1993, and held its first rodeo in the new arena in May 1998. Membership has stayed above 350 since 1970. The Cattlemen’s Foundation, formed in 1991, directs money from the rodeo, concessions, and facility rentals back into youth programs and facility improvements.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Entering competitive exhibits

Exhibit entries are accepted in person at the fairgrounds the weekend before opening. In 2025 that meant Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. The Shrine Club has said fair books (the premium book) go out ahead of time and can be picked up at South Alabama Electric or the Pike County Water Authority. That was posted without a date, so ask the club if the locations have changed.

Commercial vendors

I couldn’t find a public vendor application, booth fee, or deadline. Midway food and ride vendors come through the carnival promoter. For a booth in the exhibit hall or elsewhere on the grounds, contact the Troy Shrine Club directly.

Fair office contact

Troy Shrine Club, 3700 Highway 231 South, Troy, AL 36081. Phone: 334-566-3273. Email: [email protected]. Website: pikecountyfair.net.

Getting to Pike County Fairgrounds

Highway 231 is the main north-south route through Pike County, and U.S. Highway 29 is the main east-west route. The fairgrounds are south of Troy on 231, so you can reach them from downtown Troy by heading south and watching for the Shrine Club signs. From Montgomery, it is roughly an hour south on 231. From Dothan, it’s roughly an hour north on 231. Both are approximate, so check a map for your own route.

I found nothing on shuttle service or rideshare drop-off zones, and I’d assume neither is organized. Parking is free according to a 2023 report, and local reports don’t describe overflow arrangements.

4-H and FFA at Pike County Fairgrounds

I couldn’t confirm a formal junior livestock auction, a 4-H livestock show schedule at the Shrine fairgrounds, or participation by specific FFA chapters, so this section is limited on purpose.

What is confirmed: the Pike County Cattlemen’s Foundation supports 4-H, junior cattlemen, junior high and high school rodeo, and other youth groups. The Pike County Junior Cattlemen’s Association has co-hosted an open youth cattle show at Cattlemen’s Park (the Memorial Day Blowout in 2021, for exhibitors up to age 21). The county’s Alabama Cooperative Extension office handles 4-H and other youth programs; its listed contact on a recent event is Abby Peters, 334-566-0985. That office does not run the fair, so contact it for 4-H questions and the Shrine Club for fair entry.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

Most of the year-round arena activity is at Cattlemen’s Park, which has hosted:

• The Pike County Cattlemen’s Rodeo, which a rodeo events list showed in late August in past years
• Barrel races and ranch rodeos
• The Trojan Stampede, a Troy University rodeo team event held in the fall, per the university
• Youth cattle shows such as the Memorial Day Blowout

The park is also the home arena of the Troy University rodeo team. Check the Cattlemen’s Association and the Alabama tourism listing for current dates, since ticket-aggregator sites showed no listings for 2026–27.

History of Pike County Fairgrounds

Pike County was created on December 17, 1821, from parts of Henry and Montgomery counties. Troy is the county seat.

The fair’s own history is a bit tangled because local sources count it differently. A 1999 story called it a 47-year tradition, which points to about 1952. A 2014 article called it the 69th annual fair, and an older TV report called it the 66th year. A 2023 story said the Troy Shrine Club had sponsored the fair for 55 years. I’d tell readers it runs back to the late 1940s or early 1950s and leave the exact start year to the Shrine Club.

An archived flier in the Alabama Department of Archives and History shows a Pike County Fair in Troy held in early November, so the schedule has shifted over the decades. I could not find reliable reporting on whether the fair was canceled during the pandemic years or on any record attendance, so I’m not making claims about either.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Pike County Fair in 2026–2027?

The 2026 fair ran October 6–10. The 2027 dates haven’t been announced. Recent fairs ran Tuesday through Saturday in early October, and the Shrine Club announces dates on pikecountyfair.net and Facebook.

What time does the Pike County Fairgrounds open for the fair?

Gates opened at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday in 2026, with entertainment running until about 10 p.m.

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

In 2025, adults paid $10, ages 6–11 paid $5, and children five and under were free. In 2026, adults paid $10 and young children were free, but one preview listed ages 6–11 at $15, so confirm that figure. Ride armbands were $20, or $15 on the special nights.

Is there camping at the Pike County Fairgrounds?

I couldn’t find a published camping or RV policy. Call the Troy Shrine Club at 334-566-3273.

How do I enter exhibits in the Pike County Fair?

Pick up the fair book (check South Alabama Electric or Pike County Water Authority, or ask the club) and bring entries to the fairgrounds the weekend before opening. In 2025, entry times were Saturday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 1–5 p.m.

How do I enter livestock?

The fair has a cattle barn, but I found no public livestock entry procedure. Ask the Shrine Club. For cattle shows outside the fair, contact the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association.

Are dogs allowed at the Pike County Fairgrounds?

No policy is published. Ask the Shrine Club before bringing a pet.

Where do I park?

Parking is free with gate admission, according to a 2023 report. No overflow map is published.

Who do I contact to rent the fairgrounds?

Call the Troy Shrine Club at 334-566-3273. For arena or banquet hall rental, the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association manages Cattlemen’s Park at 4100 Highway 231 South.

Where can I see a rodeo near the fairgrounds?

Pike County Cattlemen’s Park, about a quarter mile down Highway 231 from the fairgrounds, hosts the Pike County Cattlemen’s Rodeo and other arena events.