The 75th edition of the Western Kentucky State Fair will blend tradition, new attractions, and a celebration of local agriculture when the fair opens June 26 and runs through July 4 at the fairgrounds in Hopkinsville.
For Fair Board President Kent Boyd, the milestone anniversary is an opportunity to continue adapting to changing times while maintaining the events that have made the fair a regional attraction for generations.
click to download audioThe Western Kentucky State Fair traces its roots back to 1951, when it was called the Pennyroyal Fair. It was sponsored by Christian County Farm Bureau and the Jaycees and was located at the McConnell Tobacco Warehouse on West Seventh Street.
Over the decades, the fair has featured livestock competitions, pageants, tractor pulls, carnival rides, demolition derbies, concerts, and agricultural exhibits showcasing the farming heritage of Christian County and the region.
Boyd noted that this year’s fair schedule may boost participation in agricultural events because it falls about a week later than last year’s, which should better align with the farming calendar.
click to download audioBoyd said the fair will also continue its longstanding commitment to affordability. General admission remains $3, one of the lowest admission prices for a major fair in Kentucky.
Several special promotions will also offer free admission. On opening night, Friday, June 26th, admission is free for anyone wearing a Western Kentucky State Fair 75th Anniversary T-shirt, while Faith and Family Day on Sunday, June 28, offers free admission and free carnival rides until 5 p.m. with a church bulletin.
Military Appreciation Day on Wednesday, July 1, provides free admission for active-duty military personnel, veterans, dependents, and first responders with identification. Farm Bureau members and Pennyrile Electric members will also receive free admission on designated days.
The fair’s grandstand lineup remains anchored by some of its most popular attractions.
The demolition derby returns on the first Saturday night and remains one of the fair’s biggest draws. Boyd said attendance has become so strong that additional bleachers are being added to accommodate spectators.
click to download audioOther grandstand events include Arena Cross motorcycle racing, go-kart races, mini-outlaw tractor pulls, farm stock and altered farm tractor pulls, and the nationally recognized truck and tractor pulls that traditionally close out the fair on the final Friday and Saturday nights.
While the fair continues to add new attractions, Boyd said organizers have learned that consistency is often the key to success. However, some new additions this year include a 4×4 Truck Mud race on opening night.
click to download audioLivestock shows throughout the week will feature swine, goats, cattle, and other agricultural exhibits involving youth from across western Kentucky.
The fair’s pageant program also continues to attract strong participation. Events include the Tiny Tot, Baby, Teen, Miss, and Mrs. Western Kentucky State Fair pageants, along with the Ms. Plus competition.
Boyd said one of the biggest additions for 2026 will be the return of the popular Clydesdale horses, which will be housed in the livestock building throughout much of the week.
To accommodate the horses, the petting zoo will move across the street under a tent.
The fair is also introducing several new family-oriented attractions. A comedy show featuring Jeremiah Martin and Jake Hovis will take place in the convention center on Wednesday, July 1, while the increasingly popular hot dog eating contest returns on the same night after its debut last year. A cornhole tournament and wrestling event are also planned.
Boyd said they are also reviving an antique tractor parade, allowing vintage farm equipment to travel through the fairgrounds before the farm tractor pull competition on Thursday, July 2.
click to download audioBoyd said the parade is part of an effort to reconnect with the fair’s agricultural history while continuing to attract new generations of fairgoers.
The celebration will conclude on July 4 with City of Hopkinsville Day. Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight said city employees and residents will participate in special activities throughout the day, followed by entertainment at the gazebo and a fireworks display returning to the fairgrounds on July 4th as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration.
click to download audioWhile past fairs once featured major touring concert acts like Alabama, Kenny Rogers, Air Supply, Barbara Mandrell, and Randy Travis, Boyd said today’s economics make those performances difficult to sustain.
click to download audioInstead, the Western Kentucky State Fair continues to focus on local entertainment, agricultural traditions, motorsports, pageants, and carnival attractions that have become synonymous with summer in western Kentucky.
A full schedule of events can be FOUND HERE
