Home State Fair readying for 10 a.m. opening on Sept. 26
Local

State Fair readying for 10 a.m. opening on Sept. 26

Contributors

state-fairThe tents are already going up, and other preparations are accelerating as the State Fair of Virginia readies for its 10-day run that will begin Sept. 26 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. The fair will open at 10 a.m. each morning through Oct. 5, and the Midway Madness by Virginia Lottery and Virginia529 Kidway will open each morning at 11.

A detailed scheduling feature on the fair website at StateFairVa.org and the related mobile site lets fairgoers plan out a day at the fair and even email it to friends or share it via social media.

Parking at The Meadow Event Park is free, and parking lot trams will be running in Lots A and C to help customers get to and from their vehicles. Look for Ford Tram Stops designated with small tents and flags. Fair officials advise guests to note the numbered sign nearest their vehicles so they can find their way back easily. “The parking area at The Meadow is a sizeable one, and we also recommend that guests take a cell phone photo of the sign nearest their vehicles before they enter the fair,” said Greg Hicks, vice president of communications.

In the portion of the fair on the north side of state Route 30, customers can use guest service carts to shuttle between stops on a circular route.

Box office, ticket window and building/exhibit hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays and Monday through Thursday. Rides will operate for at least one hour after the box office closes.

By the time the fair opens on Sept. 26, all rides will have undergone three separate safety inspections—by midway contractor Degeller Attractions, by Caroline County and by an independent, state-certified inspector who will continue to inspect them daily throughout the fair’s 10-day run.

General admission includes access to all concerts, performances, exhibits and demonstrations but does not include rides. Ride tickets and single-day unlimited-ride wristbands will be available for purchase at Ride Ticket Booths in the Midway and Kidway areas. Requirements for rides and some attractions include height, weight and whether a child must be accompanied by an adult. Those requirements will be displayed at each ride and attraction, as well as at the Midway Customer Service booth.

Guests will be able to rent wheelchairs, motorized scooters and single and double strollers outside the Ticket Plaza on a first-come, first served basis. Chair rentals and a personal chair check station will be available near the Festival Stage, and guests are welcome to bring blankets as well to enjoy musical performances from the lawn in the Harvest Landing area. Customers who enter the fair and then want to leave and return later on the same day can do so, provided they obtain a valid hand stamp before exiting.

Handwashing stations will be strategically located throughout the property. The State Fair recommends washing hands after leaving an animal or Midway area and before eating or drinking.

This year’s State Fair of Virginia will open Sept. 26 and run through Oct. 5. Information is available at StateFairVa.org.

General admission includes access to all concerts, performances, exhibits and demonstrations but does not include rides. Ride tickets and single-day Unlimited Ride Wristbands will be available for purchase at Ride Ticket Booths in the Midway and Kidway areas. Requirements for rides and some attractions include height, weight and whether a child must be accompanied by an adult. Those requirements will be displayed at each ride and attraction, as well as at the Midway Customer Service booth.

Ride tickets are $1 each or $20 for 25. Individual rides require two to six tickets.

A single-day Unlimited Ride Wristband will be available for $21 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and $15 Monday through Thursday.

Visit StateFairVa.org/tickets for all available discounts and ticket options and to purchase tickets online. Single-day admission tickets are available at BB&T locations in the Richmond, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg and Petersburg areas; Martin’s Food Markets in the Richmond, Ashland, Tri-Cities and Williamsburg areas; Call Federal Credit Union branches; and the Caroline County Visitor Center.

Parking at The Meadow Event Park is free.

The State Fair of Virginia is held each fall at its permanent home at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. The fair’s mission is to increase agricultural and natural resource awareness and interest through educational programs, exhibitions and competitions in a fun, family-friendly setting.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.