The State Fair of Virginia will take place from Friday, Sept. 26, to Sunday, Oct. 5. The fairgrounds are located in Doswell, which is about a 1.5-hour drive from downtown Arlington. Here’s your guide to the fair, along with some of my top picks — and a few favorites from RICtoday’s newsletter editor, Elise Steele.
Know before you go
Planning for a big event like this can be hectic. We’re here to help streamline the information for you so you can snag your tickets and have some fun with friends and family. Here are the basics of what you should know going into the fair.
Cost
Planning a trip to the Virginia State Fair? Here’s a quick breakdown of ticket prices:
- Adult General Admission: $11.50
- Children (Ages 5-12): $10.50
- Family Four-Pack: $40
Make sure to grab the best deal for your group and enjoy the fair. Check out the rest of the possible discounts you can get.
Parking
Free parking is available at Meadow Event Park, located at 13048 Meadow Farm Rd.
Prefer closer access? Premium parking for $22.50 is also offered at 13191 Dawn Blvd, also within Meadow Event Park.
Lodging
Looking for a place to stay near the fair so you don’t have to make the long drive? Check out these Airbnbs + Hipcamp sites:
- Ruther Glen Home
- 3 guests, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Halfway between Fredericksburg and Richmond
- Backyard available
- Cozy Cottage with Hot Tub
- 5 guests, 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Sunroom patio
- Hot tub + backyard with firepit
- Doswell Comfort
- 10 guests, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
- Screened-in sun porch
- Large yard + pet friendly
- Refined Rural Retreat
- Price: $196 a night
- Lodge in Ashland
- There’s a wooded lawn, walking trails, and a fire pit
- Bonny Biggin Farm
- Price: $24/night
- For both tents and RVs
- Pets are allowed
- Fire pit
- Riverdale Farms
- Price: $60/night
- For both tents and RVs
- Swim, canoe, kayak, or fish at the nearby river
- Fire pit
Events + entertainment
Throw a dart at the fairgrounds map, and it’s bound to land on something entertaining. Literally speaking, the State Fair has planned over 300 hours of family entertainment over its nine-day run.
You can catch a concert on the main stage (Grammy Award-winning Diamond Rio will close the season on Sunday, Oct. 5), stroll through the animal barns, watch showcase competitions, visit giant vegetables, and join the stands for plenty of free family fun.
A few highlights:
Giant Veggie Weigh-Off | Saturday, Sept. 27 | 12 p.m. | Blue Ribbon Tent | Free with admission | See which monstrous pumpkins, tomatoes, and gourds take the gold — following the competition, visit the reigning champs at the Horiculture Pavilion.
Revenge Roughstock Rodeo | Monday, Sept. 29 + Tuesday, Sept. 30 | 6 p.m. | Meadow Event Park | Free with admission | A Virginia-based rodeo company keeps things wild for two nights of bulls, barrels, and bucking broncos.
Diamond Rio | Sunday, Oct. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Main Stage | Free with admission | This Grammy Award-winning band will close out the season with chart-toppers like “Meet in the Middle” and “One More Day.”
Not to mention, you can always entertain yourself with fair food. From giant turkey legs to apple dumplings, crisps + cobblers, you can count on something sweet or savory around every corner.
Editor’s picks
Elise’s pick:
Growing up in the Midwest, the fair was always the most anticipated spectacle of the year. I’d choose to kick it old school and tap into my rural roots — tractor pulls, blacksmith competitions, and rodeos (all free with admission). I don’t think I’ll be hopping on any rides, but one look at the Zipper, and the nostalgic nausea will come right back.
Ava’s pick:
I’m in it for the veggies — not to eat, but to see. At the state fair, you’ll find impressive entries like the largest pumpkin and watermelon. Can’t make it to the fair, but still want to see the largest pumpkin? The winning pumpkin will even be on display at the Virginia State Capitol throughout the fall.
