State Fair of Virginia gearing up for its ‘home grown’ theme

The State Fair of Virginia’s theme is “Where Home Grown Happens” and runs Sept. 27-Oct. 6.

The event celebrates the best of what’s grown, made and raised in Virginia and features a variety of homegrown food, entertainment and shopping.

“We’re excited to bring the theme ‘Where Homegrown Happens’ to life,” said Marlene Jolliffe, the fair’s executive director. “Our goal is to maintain long-held traditions, but also add new programming each year.”

New this year

• Lively lawnmower racing in the Thrill Pit on opening Saturday, Sept. 28
• Chainsaw carver Chad Gainey crafting one-of-a-kind sculptures
• The Strolling Piano playing roving tunes
• Doc Belmont’s Magnificent Magical Medicine Show

Returning fair favorites

• Famed speedy swine of Rosaire’s Royal Racers
• Triple Crown Circus’ awe-inspiring performances including the human cannonball
• Ultimate Stunt Show performing edge-of-your-seat BMX feats inside the “Globe of Death”
• Revenge Roughstock Company will return with two nights of professional barrel racing and bronc and bull riding Sept. 30 and Oct. 1

Concerts

• Taylor Swift tribute band Let’s Sing Taylor on Sept. 27
• Rising country musician Cooper Alan on Sept. 28
• Brencore Allstars Band with Motown hits on Sept. 29
• Country-Americana vocalist Will Overman will perform Sept. 30
• Caribbean Bomba and Plana Orchestra with Latin music on Oct. 1
• Rock band Hinder on Oct. 2
• “King of the Twist” Chubby Checker on Oct. 3
• Lee Roy Parnell & Great Southern on Oct. 4
• Bluegrass musician Dan Tyminski with the Virginia Opry on Oct. 5
• Award-winning country band Lonestar on Oct. 6

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and are included in the cost of fair admission. This year’s concert series will be held under a tent providing 9,500 square feet of covered space, and fairgoers may bring their own lawn chairs.

Agriculture

• Milking demonstrations
• Young MacDonald’s Farm tent
• Rockin’ A Ranch Petting Zoo
• Greenlee Draft Horse Hitch
• Livestock exhibits

New this year are Alpaca Days on Sept. 28 and 29. Fairgoers can learn about different breeds of alpacas, watch spinning demonstrations, feel soft alpaca fleece and shop for alpaca products.

Don’t forget the unbelievably large fruits and vegetables. Visitors can see whether the produce will break state fair records during the giant veggie weigh-off at noon on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Tickets and information

Online ticket sales begin Sept. 1.

For ticket and entertainment information, visit StateFairVa.org.

The State Fair is held each fall at its permanent home at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County.