Winston County Alabama Fairgrounds Events

Winston County covers about 614 square miles in the Appalachian foothills of northwest Alabama. The county seat is Double Springs, roughly 35 miles west of Cullman. Other population centers include Haleyville, Addison, Lynn, Natural Bridge and Arley. The 2020 census counted 23,540 residents.

Much of the county is national forest. Double Springs sits inside the William Bankhead National Forest, which holds the Sipsey Wilderness, the state’s first national wilderness area, and the town is about four miles from Lewis Smith Lake. That terrain matters for a fair page. Hilly, wooded land with a lot of public forest is not the open flat acreage that usually hosts a county fairground with a half-mile track and a grandstand.

What we could and could not confirm

• Confirmed: Double Springs is the county seat. The county was created in 1850 as Hancock County and renamed Winston in 1858. The county seat moved to Double Springs in 1883.
• Not confirmed: A fairgrounds address, acreage, a fair association or agricultural society that runs a county fair, a facility rental contact, or an official fairgrounds website.

If a Winston County fair or fairgrounds exists that we missed, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Winston County office is the most likely keeper of that information, because extension offices coordinate 4-H programs and youth exhibits in Alabama. The Farmers Federation county organization is the other good lead.

Why the farming connection still matters

Farming was the main occupation here until the early twentieth century, and Double Springs grew first on cotton. The county’s agricultural roots are real even without a fairground. They show up now in youth livestock projects, 4-H, FFA, and the county’s participation in regional fairs.

Upcoming Events at Winston County Fairgrounds

We cannot list upcoming events at a Winston County fairgrounds because we cannot verify that one hosts a public calendar. What we can say is where Winston County residents find fair-type events:

• Frontier Days in Double Springs. Held the first Saturday of each June at Double Springs Elementary School, it celebrates the town’s early history. It is a community festival rather than a fair, but it is the closest thing to a county heritage day that we could verify.
• Regional and state fairs. 4-H members from Winston, Franklin and Colbert counties have competed together at the North Alabama State Fair in Muscle Shoals, including in rabbit shows. The 2026 North Alabama State Fair ran September 14–20.
• The Alabama National Fair in Montgomery. The 2026 fair runs October 8–18 and features livestock shows, exhibit halls and a midway. The Alabama Farmers Federation sponsors youth beef, dairy, goat, sheep and swine shows there.

How to find current events

1. Call or visit the Winston County Extension office and ask whether any county fair, youth livestock show or 4-H exhibition is scheduled for the year.
2. Check the Winston County Commission’s courthouse office in Double Springs. The courthouse stands on Addison Road and was built in 1894.
3. Look at the Alabama 4-H state calendar on the Alabama Extension website. The 2026–2027 calendar lists the State 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl and Skillathon on January 22–23, 2027 in Auburn and the State 4-H Horse Show on May 21–23, 2027 in Montgomery.

Renting facilities

We found no public rental information for a Winston County fairgrounds. Churches, schools and civic groups in Double Springs and Haleyville host most local gatherings. If you need a venue for a livestock sale, swap meet or craft fair, ask the Extension office and the county commission what public buildings are available.

The County Fair Itself

There is no confirmed annual “Winston County Fair” in the sources we reviewed, so we are not going to describe a midway, a grandstand lineup or a ride wristband price. Anyone who publishes those details for this county without a source is guessing.

What Winston County families can reliably find at nearby fairs:

• Livestock divisions: beef cattle, dairy, goats, sheep and swine, with showmanship contests, at fairs like the Alabama National Fair.
• Exhibit halls: photography, art, baking, canning, quilting, horticulture and handicrafts at larger Alabama fairs.
• Midway and food: at regional fairs, a traveling carnival company usually runs the rides, so ride counts and wristband pricing come from the fair’s own site and change each year.

Needs local verification: whether any Winston County community, school or church runs an annual harvest festival with exhibits or a youth show.

Visitors exploring Winston County Alabama Fairgrounds Events can also discover local fairs and community gatherings through Wilcox County Alabama Fairgrounds Events. Both counties provide opportunities to enjoy agricultural exhibitions, livestock shows, seasonal festivals, family-friendly entertainment, and celebrations that showcase Alabama’s local traditions. Exploring events in Winston and Wilcox counties allows families and travelers to discover new experiences, enjoy regional festivities, and plan memorable outings while staying updated on upcoming fairs and community activities throughout Alabama.

Facilities and Grounds

We found no verifiable description of a Winston County fairgrounds, which means no confirmed barns, grandstand capacity, RV hookups or accessibility features. Instead, here is what visitors to the area can use:

• Camping: the William Bankhead National Forest offers camping, boating and fishing. Check the U.S. Forest Service for current campground status and fees.
• Lake access: Lewis Smith Lake is about four miles from Double Springs and draws a lot of seasonal visitors.
• Airports: the county has two, Double Springs-Winston County Airport and Posey Field in Kinlock Spring, for anyone flying in privately.

If you are planning an event that needs barns, an arena or a large exhibit hall, ask the Extension office which buildings in the county have been used for youth livestock activities.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Becoming a vendor

With no confirmed county fair, there is no vendor application to link. For a nearby fair, each one publishes its own process, usually a vendor form with booth size, fee, electricity needs and proof of any required licenses. Contact the fair office early, because popular spots fill before the premium book is final.

Entering exhibits

Competitive exhibits and livestock entries for a fair run through that fair’s premium book, which lists classes, rules, entry deadlines and fees. For a youth in Winston County, the practical route is through 4-H or an FFA chapter, whose advisors know the entry process and health paperwork for the shows they attend.

Who to contact

The Winston County Extension office is the best first call. We are not printing a phone number here because we did not verify one. Look up the current number on the Alabama Cooperative Extension System website.

Getting to Winston County

Reaching Double Springs

Double Springs sits where U.S. 278 and Alabama 195 meet, and State Highway 195 was built through the original spring site in the 1940s. From Cullman, Double Springs is about 35 miles to the west. Winston County borders Lawrence County to the north, Cullman County to the east, Walker County to the south, Marion County to the west and Franklin County to the northwest.

Public transportation

We found no shuttle or public transit service tied to fair events in Winston County. Plan on driving. Rideshare coverage in rural northwest Alabama is thin, so do not count on it for a late return.

4-H and FFA in Winston County

Extension’s role

Alabama 4-H is run through the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and each county office coordinates local clubs and sends youth to district and state events. Winston County has an Extension office that handles this.

Where Winston County youth compete

Winston County 4-H members have shown at the North Alabama State Fair in Muscle Shoals, and Alabama youth across the state exhibit at fall fairs and the Alabama National Fair. The state calendar for 2026–2027 includes livestock quiz bowl, skillathon and horse show dates.

FFA

FFA chapters operate through the county’s high schools. We did not verify which Winston County high schools run active chapters or livestock programs, so ask the school agriculture teachers directly.

Junior livestock auctions

Youth livestock auctions are typically tied to a specific fair or show and are run by that event. We found no Winston County auction. At fairs that hold one, local businesses and individuals bid on youth-raised animals and the proceeds go back to the exhibitor. Rules vary, so confirm with the specific fair.

Special Events Beyond a County Fair

• Frontier Days in Double Springs, first Saturday in June.
• Free State of Winston heritage tourism. The county leans on its Civil War Unionist identity. Leaders met at Looney’s Tavern in Double Springs and considered an independent Republic of Winston. A statue at the courthouse and the Dual Destiny Monument reflect that history.
• Outdoor recreation events around the Bankhead National Forest and Smith Lake, which vary by season and organizer.

We found no gun shows, rodeos, motocross or concert schedules tied to a Winston County fairground.

History of Winston County Fairgrounds

We could not find a documented history of a Winston County fairgrounds, so we are not going to make one up. The county’s documented history is rich in other ways. It was organized in 1850, renamed in 1858, lost its eastern portion when Cullman County was created, and moved its seat to Double Springs in 1883 to be closer to the center. Cotton carried the early economy, and Double Springs went through a slump in the 1950s and 1960s.

If you know of a past Winston County fair, the county’s library or archives, the Winston County Extension office and long-time residents are the places to dig. Local history books such as The Heritage of Winston County, Alabama and Free State of Winston are worth checking.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Winston County Fair in 2026–2027?
We could not confirm that Winston County holds an annual county fair. Check with the Winston County Extension office. Nearby options include the Alabama National Fair in Montgomery, which runs October 8–18, 2026, and the North Alabama State Fair in Muscle Shoals, which ran September 14–20, 2026. Dates for 2027 are normally announced by each fair later.

What time does Winston County Fairgrounds open?
There are no verified gate hours because we could not confirm a Winston County fairgrounds. For any fair you plan to attend, use that fair’s official site for daily hours.

Is there camping at Winston County Fairgrounds?
No fairgrounds camping is confirmed. The William Bankhead National Forest, which surrounds Double Springs, offers camping. Check the U.S. Forest Service for current sites and fees.

How do I enter livestock in a fair from Winston County?
Contact your 4-H leader or FFA advisor, or the Winston County Extension office. Each fair publishes a premium book with entry deadlines, species classes and health requirements. Youth often show at fairs such as the Alabama National Fair or the North Alabama State Fair.

Are dogs allowed at Winston County Fairgrounds?
Not applicable until a fairgrounds is confirmed. Many fairs restrict pets to protect livestock, so check the policy of any fair you attend. Service animals are generally handled under separate accessibility rules.

Where do I park at Winston County Fairgrounds?
There is no verified parking information. For nearby fairs, parking details are on each fair’s website.

Who do I contact to rent Winston County Fairgrounds?
Start with the Winston County Extension office and the Winston County Commission in Double Springs to ask what public venues are available.

How much does it cost to get into the Winston County Fair?
We cannot give a price because no Winston County fair gate could be confirmed. Do not trust any page that lists one without citing the fair’s own site.

Where is the Winston County seat?
Double Springs, about 35 miles west of Cullman.

Does Winston County have a 4-H program?
Yes, through the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Winston County office. Contact it for current clubs, meeting times and show opportunities.