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 45-60 minute drive from Richmond. Everyone deserves a fun and rowdy fair day, but there's a bit of planning involved first.

Who's down for a day-trip to Doswell? | Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Virginia

Know before you go:

We’re here to help streamline the information for you so you can snag your tickets and get straight to the good ol' times. Plus, keep an eye out for my top picks + a few faves from NOVAtoday’s newsletter editor, Ava Wojnowski.

Cost

Ready to go? 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. Check out the rest of the possible discounts you can get here.

Parking

Free parking is available at Meadow Event Park, located at 13048 Meadow Farm Rd.

Prefer closer access? Premium parking for $22.50 is offered at 13191 Dawn Blvd., also within Meadow Event Park.

Events + entertainment

Throw a dart at the fairgrounds map, and it’s bound to land on something entertaining. Literally speaking, the state fair scheduled 300+ hours of family entertainment over its nine-day run.

Catch a concert on the main stage, stroll through the animal barns, watch showcase competitions, visit giant vegetables, and join the stands for plenty of free family fun.

Stop by the Horticulture Pavilion to see the fair's winning agricultural anomalies. | Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Virginia

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 Horticulture 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.”

Food

From giant turkey legs and donut burgers to apple dumplings, crisps + cobblers, you can count on finding something sweet or savory around every corner. Take a look at the full fair food map.

Editors' picks

We threw out a lot of ideas, and the fair can be a bit overstimulating at times. If you need some decision-making inspiration, heed our humble advice:

Elise’s pick: Growing up in the Midwest, the fair was always the most anticipated spectacle of the year. I’m kicking it old school and tapping 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.