Marshall County Alabama Fair Schedule

The Marshall County Alabama Fair is one of the established annual county fairs in northeast Alabama, serving communities across the Sand Mountain and Lake Guntersville region. The 68th Annual Marshall County Fair was held September 8–12, 2026, at the Boaz Fairgrounds, 1441 U.S. Highway 431 in Boaz. The fair was presented by Jimmy Harris VFW Post 6837 and featured carnival rides, fair food, games, indoor exhibits, livestock exhibits, and family entertainment. The 2026 fair opened to the public at 6:00 p.m. each evening, with general admission of $5, free admission for children five and under, and $25 unlimited ride armbands. The fairgrounds cover approximately 10 acres and include an exhibit building and a large livestock barn, making the event more than a carnival-style gathering: agriculture, youth programs, community displays, and local competition remain important parts of the fair.

Fair Overview and Fast Facts

Marshall County is located in northeast Alabama, with Guntersville serving as the county seat and Boaz, Albertville, Arab, Grant, Douglas, and Union Grove among its other important communities. The county’s location between the Tennessee River and the Sand Mountain plateau has shaped its agricultural, commercial, and recreational identity.

The Marshall County Fair is held in Boaz rather than at the county courthouse or in Guntersville. Its location on U.S. Highway 431 places the fairgrounds along an important north-south transportation route through the county. The 2026 fairgrounds consisted of a fenced 10-acre property with an exhibit building and a large livestock barn.

The 2026 edition was the 68th Annual Marshall County Fair, demonstrating the event’s long-running place in the county’s community calendar. Jimmy Harris VFW Post 6837 owns and operates the Marshall County Fair Board, and the fair is also associated with the Alabama Agriculture Center Board of Fairs.

Fair information	2026 details
Fair	68th Annual Marshall County Fair
County	Marshall County, Alabama
Main fair city	Boaz
Fairgrounds	1441 U.S. Highway 431, Boaz
Dates	September 8–12, 2026
Opening time	6:00 PM nightly
Closing	Saturday, September 12, 2026
General admission	$5
Children 5 and under	Free
Ride armband	$25
Carnival	James Gang Amusements
Organizer	Jimmy Harris VFW Post 6837 / Marshall County Fair Board
Livestock exhibits	Yes
Indoor exhibits	Yes
2027 dates	Not yet confirmed

History and Origins

Marshall County has a much older agricultural fair tradition than the current 68-year numbering might suggest. Historical records show a Marshall and Agricultural and Industrial Fair Association operating in Guntersville during the early twentieth century. A 1915 Alabama fair listing scheduled the Guntersville fair for October 12–16, placing it among the state’s organized county and regional fairs.

The importance of the fair to Guntersville was also remembered in local historical accounts. During the early twentieth century, the Marshall County Fair was described as one of the most important annual events in the community. Residents from throughout the county came to display products, see new inventions, and enjoy the entertainment associated with fair week.

The modern fair has a different home and organizational structure. Today’s Marshall County Fair is held in Boaz and is operated through the Jimmy Harris VFW Post 6837 Fair Board. The 2026 fair book identifies the event as the 68th annual fair, showing the continuity of the modern tradition.

This combination of historical and modern records makes Marshall County unusual among Alabama counties. The county’s fair culture has included agricultural exhibitions, community displays, entertainment, and demonstrations for generations, even though the location and organization have changed over time.

Readers researching the Marion County Alabama Fair Schedule can also continue exploring Alabama’s long-standing county fair traditions through the Marshall County Alabama Fair Schedule. While Marion County’s historical fair tradition is centered around Hamilton and the agricultural communities of northwestern Alabama, Marshall County’s fair is associated with Boaz and the Sand Mountain region, where agriculture, livestock, youth programs, community exhibits, carnival rides, and local entertainment remain important parts of the annual event. Exploring both schedules provides a broader look at how county fairs reflect the agricultural heritage and community traditions of different parts of Alabama.

Agricultural Competitions and Livestock Shows

Agriculture remains one of the central parts of the Marshall County Fair. The 2026 fair book included livestock exhibits as well as agricultural and community displays, while the fairgrounds themselves contain a large livestock barn specifically suited to agricultural competitions.

The fair’s agricultural focus extends beyond animals. Community exhibits are designed to represent life in the home, farm, garden, school, and local community. Agricultural equipment can also be displayed for educational and promotional purposes.

Livestock participation requires its own registration and eligibility rules. The 2026 fair provided animal entry forms and livestock-show information ahead of fair week. Because livestock classes and entry requirements can vary by year, participants planning for a future fair should use the current year’s entry forms rather than relying on previous classifications.

Fair Schedule Structure

The 2026 Marshall County Fair ran for five evenings, from Tuesday, September 8, through Saturday, September 12. The official fair book stated that the gates opened at 6:00 p.m. each night and that the fair closed at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, although the board reserved the right to change times and dates if circumstances required.

The main public schedule can be summarized as follows:

Date	Day	Public hours	Main fair features
September 8, 2026	Tuesday	6:00 PM onward	Opening night, midway, food, games, exhibits
September 9, 2026	Wednesday	6:00 PM onward	Midway, food, exhibits, livestock and family activities
September 10, 2026	Thursday	6:00 PM onward	Midway, food, exhibits and entertainment
September 11, 2026	Friday	6:00 PM onward	Midway, food, exhibits and family entertainment
September 12, 2026	Saturday	6:00 PM to closing	Final evening and fair activities
September 13, 2026	Sunday	1:00–5:00 PM	Exhibit pickup and payment of premiums

The public fair was not the only part of fair week. Exhibitors had to enter most individual and booth exhibits before the fair opened. Individual and booth entries were accepted September 4–5 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., while judging was scheduled for Sunday, September 6. Exhibits were then displayed during the public fair.

Entertainment, Rides, and Midway

The 2026 Marshall County Fair included a traditional midway operated by James Gang Amusements. Carnival rides were one of the principal attractions alongside fair food, games, indoor exhibits, livestock displays, and family entertainment.

Admission to the fair was separate from the unlimited ride option. General admission was $5 per person, children five and under entered free, and unlimited ride armbands were advertised at $25. First responders, active-duty military members, and military veterans with valid credentials could receive up to four complimentary admission tickets per family.

This arrangement allowed visitors who primarily wanted to see the exhibits and livestock to pay the gate admission without purchasing a ride package, while families planning to spend substantial time on the midway could purchase an armband.

Open Class and Amateur Competitions

The Marshall County Fair has a substantial individual-exhibit program. The 2026 fair book allowed members of the general public to compete, with categories covering food preservation, culinary work, clothing, needlework, and other forms of home and creative production.

Food preservation categories included canned fruits, vegetables, preserves, jams, jellies, pickles, sauces, honey, dried fruit, and other preserved products. Culinary entries included cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, muffins, breads, rolls, fudge, and other homemade foods.

Clothing and needlework competitions provided additional opportunities for residents to enter handmade work. Adult apparel, children’s clothing, embroidery, crocheted items, knitted items, bedspreads, tablecloths, pillows, and similar projects were included in the fair’s competition structure.

The rules required entries to be original and generally produced after the specified starting date. Commercially manufactured items were not accepted in individual competition, and entries that had previously won a premium at a Marshall County Fair were also excluded.

Community Exhibits and Agricultural Displays

One of the distinctive features of the Marshall County Fair is its community-exhibit program. Community groups can create displays representing home life, farming, gardens, schools, clubs, churches, youth activities, and other aspects of community life.

The 2026 rules specified 8-by-8-foot exhibit spaces and judged community exhibits on factors including quality, variety, educational value, appearance, arrangement, and originality. Cash awards were provided for the leading community exhibits.

Agricultural equipment also has a place at the fair. Businesses displaying tractors or agricultural equipment could display up to five pieces without an entry fee, although those displays were educational and promotional rather than competitive.

This gives the fair a broader agricultural character than a simple carnival. Visitors can see the connection between farming, education, local organizations, and community life within the same exhibit area.

Demolition Derby, Tractor Pulls, and Motorsport Events

The 2026 Marshall County Fair information confirms carnival rides, livestock exhibits, indoor exhibits, games, food, and family entertainment, but a demolition derby or tractor pull was not identified as part of the published 2026 fair program.

That distinction is important because motorsport events are sometimes associated with county fairs elsewhere in Alabama and across the United States. They should not automatically be added to the Marshall County schedule without a specific announcement.

The fair’s agricultural-equipment displays provide an opportunity to see tractors and other farm machinery, but an agricultural equipment exhibit should not be confused with a competitive tractor pull.

4-H and FFA Youth Programs

Youth agricultural education is directly incorporated into the Marshall County Fair. The 2026 fair book included dedicated sections for both Future Farmers of America and 4-H clubs.

FFA booths were open to Marshall County high schools and were designed to display work related to fields, orchards, gardens, animal products, mechanics, carpentry, and other areas taught through FFA programs.

Marshall County 4-H clubs also had their own exhibit section. The rules called for displays involving fields, orchards, gardens, animal products, domestic arts, and handicrafts, with the work in the exhibits required to have been made or produced in Marshall County.

These programs make the fair an educational event as well as a recreational one. Young participants can demonstrate practical agricultural and community skills to visitors while competing for recognition.

Fairgrounds Facilities and Layout

The Marshall County Fairgrounds are located at 1441 U.S. Highway 431 South in Boaz. The 2026 fair book describes the property as approximately 10 acres of fenced grounds containing an exhibit building and a large livestock barn.

The exhibit building provides space for community, school, youth, individual, and other displays, while the livestock barn supports the animal side of the fair. The fenced property also provides space for the carnival and other outdoor activities.

The grounds are used for more than the annual fair. The fair book notes that the property is available for commercial and community activities during the rest of the year, and the organizers continue to improve the facilities because of continuing demand.

Getting There: Directions and Logistics

The fairgrounds are positioned directly on U.S. Highway 431 South in Boaz, making the venue accessible from communities across Marshall County and surrounding northeast Alabama.

Visitors approaching from Guntersville can travel toward the Boaz area along the U.S. 431 corridor. Those coming from Albertville, Arab, Douglas, or surrounding Sand Mountain communities can also use the region’s established highway network to reach Boaz.

Because the fairgrounds are located on a major highway rather than in a remote agricultural field, the venue is relatively straightforward to identify. Visitors should nevertheless allow extra travel time during fair evenings because increased traffic and pedestrian activity can occur around the fairgrounds.

Admission, Ride Armbands, and Visitor Costs

The 2026 admission structure was straightforward. General admission was $5 per person, while children five years old and younger were admitted free. First responders, active-duty military personnel, and military veterans with appropriate credentials could receive up to four complimentary admission tickets per family.

Unlimited ride armbands were listed at $25 for Tuesday through Saturday, with the fair book noting that armband prices were subject to change.

Because admission and ride costs can change from year to year, the 2026 prices should not automatically be used as the 2027 rate.

Volunteer and Vendor Opportunities

The Marshall County Fair depends heavily on local participation. The fair board provides opportunities for community groups, schools, youth organizations, churches, nonprofits, agricultural organizations, and individual exhibitors to participate.

The 2026 rules provided free indoor booth entry for individuals, civic groups, nonprofit organizations, and church exhibits, while commercial businesses selling items were subject to fees established by the fair directors. Booth spaces were generally 8 by 8 feet, with indoor space limited and allocated on a first-come basis.

Community organizations also had dedicated exhibit categories, while FFA, 4-H, FCCLA, Scouts, schools, and other youth groups could compete with educational displays.

The fair therefore offers participation opportunities beyond simply attending as a visitor. Residents can exhibit products, prepare community displays, enter creative work, participate in livestock programs, or volunteer with fair activities.

Economic and Community Impact

The Marshall County Fair contributes to the local community by bringing together agricultural producers, families, youth organizations, schools, vendors, entertainers, and visitors.

The fair’s agricultural exhibits provide a public platform for local knowledge and production. Its community displays show the work of schools, churches, clubs, youth organizations, and civic groups. The midway and food vendors create another layer of economic activity during the five-night event.

The fair also supports the preservation of local agricultural knowledge. Competitions involving gardening, food preservation, cooking, clothing, needlework, livestock, farm equipment, and youth agricultural education connect older rural traditions with newer generations.

For Boaz and the surrounding Sand Mountain communities, the fair therefore serves both as an annual entertainment event and as a public showcase of local community life.

Comparing Marshall County Alabama Fair to Nearby Fairs

Marshall County’s fair is part of the broader network of Alabama county fairs, but its location and character give it a distinct northeast Alabama identity. The event serves communities around Boaz, Albertville, Guntersville, Arab, and the surrounding Sand Mountain region.

Nearby Alabama counties also host annual fairs, including Jackson County’s fair in Scottsboro and DeKalb County’s fair in Fort Payne. These fairs share common features such as carnival rides, agricultural displays, livestock, food, and community participation, but their schedules, admission policies, organizers, and individual attractions differ.

The Marshall County Fair’s combination of a long-running annual tradition, a dedicated livestock barn, indoor community exhibits, FFA and 4-H displays, individual competitions, and a James Gang Amusements midway makes it particularly representative of the traditional agricultural-fair format in northeast Alabama.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the dates and hours of the Marshall County Alabama Fair?

The 68th Annual Marshall County Fair was held September 8–12, 2026. Gates opened at 6:00 p.m. each evening, and the fair was scheduled to close at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday.

Where is the Marshall County Fair held?

The fair is held at the Boaz Fairgrounds at 1441 U.S. Highway 431 South, Boaz, Alabama 35957.

How much does it cost?

For 2026, general admission was $5 per person. Children five and under were free. Unlimited ride armbands were listed at $25. Eligible first responders, active-duty military personnel, and military veterans could receive complimentary admission tickets with valid credentials.

Is there free parking?

The 2026 fair book confirms the fairground location and public conveniences but does not establish a specific free-parking policy. Visitors should follow the parking directions provided by fair staff during the event.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

The fair offers food vendors and concessions, while the published fair rules specifically prohibit alcoholic beverages on the fairgrounds and perimeter. A general outside-food policy was not clearly established in the 2026 fair book, so visitors should check the current year’s rules before bringing outside food or drinks.

How do I enter an item in competition?

The 2026 fair allowed general-public competition. Most individual and booth entries were accepted September 4–5 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with judging scheduled for September 6. Categories included food preservation, culinary work, clothing, needlework, and other exhibits.

Is it appropriate for young children?

Yes, the fair is structured as a family-oriented community event with carnival rides, games, food, exhibits, livestock, and family entertainment. Children five and under also received free admission in 2026.

Are pets allowed?

The 2026 fair information reviewed does not provide a general pet-admission policy. Visitors should check the current fair rules before bringing a pet. Service-animal access is governed by applicable accessibility requirements.

Does the Marshall County Fair have a demolition derby?

A demolition derby was not identified in the published 2026 Marshall County Fair program. Visitors should not assume that a derby is scheduled unless the fair board announces one for a particular year.

Who organizes the Marshall County Fair?

Jimmy Harris VFW Post 6837 owns and operates the Marshall County Fair Board. James Blake was listed as the 2026 Fair Manager.

Is camping available?

The 2026 fair book does not establish an on-site camping program at the Boaz Fairgrounds. Visitors who need overnight accommodation should make separate arrangements in the Boaz, Albertville, Guntersville, or surrounding area.

What happens if the fair is cancelled due to weather?

The fair board reserves the right to change dates and times when circumstances require changes. The 2026 rules also allow the board to adjust prize payments if circumstances beyond its control require activities to be curtailed. Visitors should check the fair board’s current announcements for any weather-related changes.

Planning for the Marshall County Fair

The Marshall County Alabama Fair Schedule is built around a five-night September event in Boaz, combining the traditional elements of an Alabama county fair with a strong local agricultural and educational component. The 2026 fair demonstrated this clearly through its livestock barn, community exhibits, FFA and 4-H displays, individual competitions, homemade food and craft categories, carnival midway, and family entertainment.

For future visitors, the most important details to watch are the release of the annual fair book, the opening of livestock and exhibit registration, the new admission and ride prices, and the final daily entertainment schedule. The 2026 fair provided a detailed structure for exhibitors and visitors, but future dates and prices should always be confirmed when the next annual fair program is released.