Pulaski County Fair in Arkansas Schedule

The Pulaski County Fair in Arkansas has a distinctly metropolitan-riverfront character that sets it apart from the agricultural county fairs held across more rural parts of the state. The modern event takes place in North Little Rock at Riverfront Park, directly along the Arkansas River and within the Little Rock metropolitan area. Pulaski County is Arkansas’s most populous county and contains the state’s capital city, Little Rock, along with North Little Rock, Jacksonville, Sherwood, Maumelle, and surrounding communities. The fair therefore serves a much larger and more urban-suburban population than a traditional small-town county fair.

Agriculture has not disappeared from Pulaski County simply because the county contains a major metropolitan area. The county still has hundreds of farms, substantial cropland and pasture, and a mixture of crop and livestock production. The 2022 agricultural census recorded 398 farms covering about 72,088 acres, with crops accounting for 57 percent of agricultural sales and livestock, poultry, and related products accounting for 43 percent. That agricultural presence provides an important connection to the state’s rural economy even though the modern fair emphasizes rides, food, entertainment, vendors, and family recreation.

The current Pulaski County Fair is also relatively young in its present form. The 2026 event is its sixth annual edition, creating a new tradition around the Arkansas River in North Little Rock. At the same time, Pulaski County has a much older fair history that stretches back more than a century and eventually became connected with the Arkansas State Fair. Understanding both traditions is important because the modern Riverfront Park event and the historic county fair are related by name and place but are not the same operation.

Fair Overview and Fast Facts

The 2026 Pulaski County Fair is scheduled for May 15 through May 24 at North Little Rock Riverfront Park, 120 Riverfront Park Drive, North Little Rock, Arkansas. The ten-day calendar includes nine operating days because the fair is closed on Monday, May 18.

The 2026 schedule begins on Friday, May 15, with gates open from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours are 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The fair is closed Monday. From Tuesday through Thursday, the hours are 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., followed by another Friday and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. respectively. The final Sunday, May 24, runs from noon until 9:00 p.m.

General gate admission is $5 for adults, while children age 10 and under are admitted free. Admission to the grounds is separate from the cost of carnival rides. Ride wristbands are available at different prices depending on the day, with the 2026 schedule listing $30 wristbands for Saturday and Sunday and $25 wristbands for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. A $22 early-bird wristband is also offered before opening day through the North Little Rock Welcome Center.

The fair is presented by Oaklawn Hot Springs and takes place in cooperation with North Little Rock’s Riverfront Park and Parks & Recreation system. A portion of fair proceeds supports North Little Rock Parks & Recreation, giving the event a direct connection to recreational services in the host city.

The fairgrounds are handicap accessible. The Riverfront Park setting also makes the event notably different from a traditional rural fairground because visitors arrive at a developed riverside public park rather than an isolated agricultural exposition complex.

History and Origins

The history of organized fairs in Pulaski County is much older than the current Riverfront Park event. The Pulaski County Fair Association was incorporated in 1913, establishing an organized county fair tradition in the Little Rock area more than a century ago.

One of the early locations was Forest Park in Little Rock’s Hillcrest area. The park became an important recreational destination and eventually became too small for the growing Pulaski County Fair. In 1916, the fair moved to Fair Park, the area now associated with War Memorial Park. Historical records from the period describe the fair as a significant local attraction rather than simply a small agricultural gathering.

That early Pulaski County Fair reflected the agricultural economy of central Arkansas at the time. Farm products, livestock, horticultural exhibits, household production, and commercial displays provided residents with opportunities to compete and demonstrate the county’s productive capacity. The fair also benefited from the expanding population and transportation network around Little Rock.

The older county fair eventually developed into the Arkansas State Fair tradition. The present Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show began in 1938 and has its own organization and modern fairgrounds, so it should not be confused with the current Pulaski County Fair at Riverfront Park.

The modern Pulaski County Fair represents a newer chapter. Its creation brought the county-fair name back to a public event in North Little Rock, but its programming reflects the contemporary metropolitan character of Pulaski County. Instead of being centered primarily on livestock barns and crop judging, the modern fair emphasizes carnival rides, food, live music, vendors, family attractions, and entertainment along the Arkansas River.

For readers comparing Arkansas county fair traditions, the Prairie County Arkansas Fair Schedule offers a useful contrast to the Pulaski County Arkansas Fair Schedule, with Prairie County reflecting the agricultural character of the Grand Prairie through its rural community activities, livestock programs, youth participation, and traditional fair events. Looking at both schedules helps visitors understand how Arkansas fairs vary between a predominantly agricultural county like Prairie County and the larger metropolitan setting of Pulaski County.

Agricultural Competitions and Livestock Shows

Agriculture remains part of Pulaski County’s identity, although agricultural competition is not the primary focus of the modern Riverfront Park fair. The county’s farms produce both crops and livestock, with agricultural sales divided relatively evenly between crop production and livestock, poultry, and related products.

The county’s 2022 agricultural profile recorded approximately 38,331 acres of cropland and 13,150 acres of pastureland. Irrigated farmland accounted for more than 11,000 acres, reflecting the importance of productive agricultural land even within a county dominated by Little Rock’s metropolitan development.

The modern Pulaski County Fair does not currently operate a large traditional livestock-show program comparable with the county 4-H fairs found in more rural Arkansas counties. Visitors looking specifically for cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbit, and youth livestock judging should distinguish the Riverfront Park fair from Arkansas county 4-H fairs and from the Arkansas State Fair’s livestock program.

Historically, however, agricultural competitions were central to Pulaski County’s older fair tradition. The movement from those agricultural exhibitions toward a contemporary carnival-centered event reflects the transformation of Pulaski County itself. Much of the county’s population now lives in Little Rock, North Little Rock, and other developed communities, while farming continues in the remaining rural areas.

The agricultural story therefore remains visible more through the county’s economic background and Arkansas’s wider farm culture than through the modern fair’s daily competition schedule.

Fair Schedule Structure

The Pulaski County Fair’s schedule is organized around a repeated rhythm of afternoon and evening operating periods rather than a traditional livestock-show calendar. Opening weekend receives the longest hours, with the fair operating from noon until 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday after Friday’s 5:00 p.m. opening.

Monday is deliberately kept closed in the 2026 schedule. The fair resumes Tuesday evening with a shorter 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. operating window. Wednesday and Thursday follow the same evening pattern, making those nights particularly suitable for visitors who want to attend after work or school without committing to a full weekend afternoon.

Friday and Saturday return to the longer 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and noon to 11:00 p.m. schedules. The final Sunday closes earlier at 9:00 p.m.

The schedule is therefore built around the attractions that define the current fair: carnival rides, games, food, vendors, petting-zoo activities, and live music. Rather than assigning different days to cattle shows, horse shows, poultry judging, and agricultural auctions, the modern event keeps the entertainment infrastructure operating throughout the fair’s open days.

The 2026 program also includes live music in the beer garden on selected Friday, Saturday, and Sunday dates. These performances add an evening entertainment component that is especially suited to the North Little Rock riverfront setting.

Entertainment, Rides, and Midway

The carnival midway is the centerpiece of the modern Pulaski County Fair. P.B.J. Happee Days Shows provides the carnival operation, bringing a collection of rides and games to North Little Rock Riverfront Park.

The ride program is designed for the metropolitan family audience surrounding Little Rock and North Little Rock. Children and adults can use the midway, while ride wristbands provide unlimited access during the applicable operating period. Visitors who do not plan to ride can instead pay the lower general gate admission and concentrate on food, entertainment, vendors, and the petting zoo.

The fair also features games and novelty attractions throughout the midway. This gives the event a more entertainment-oriented atmosphere than agricultural county fairs in rural Arkansas, where livestock barns and exhibit halls often dominate the visitor experience.

The petting zoo is another major family attraction. The 2026 program includes camel and pony rides alongside animal experiences, giving young children an attraction separate from the carnival rides.

Food is a major component of the fair experience. Visitors can expect familiar midway foods such as funnel cakes, popcorn, corn dogs, fried Oreos, snow cones, and other concession favorites. The fair’s location in the Little Rock metropolitan area also makes it possible for visitors to combine the fair with the much broader restaurant and entertainment options available in North Little Rock and Little Rock.

Live music takes place in the beer garden on selected nights. The 2026 lineup includes performances by Laura Caroline, Joey Fanstar, Christine Demeo, Cory & Maggie, Wild Bill Willie & Sweet Revenge, and Bree Ogden. The beer garden is an adult-oriented area, so families should distinguish that part of the fair from the general children’s attractions.

Open Class and Amateur Competitions

Open-class agricultural and household competitions are not the dominant feature of the modern Pulaski County Fair. The current Riverfront Park program is structured primarily around carnival entertainment, food, vendors, music, games, and family attractions.

That difference is important for residents searching for opportunities to exhibit quilts, canned foods, baked goods, photography, woodworking, horticulture, or livestock. Pulaski County residents have historically had access to agricultural and creative competitions through the county’s older fair tradition, 4-H programming, and the Arkansas State Fair, but those programs should not automatically be attributed to the current Riverfront Park event.

The modern fair does provide opportunities for local artists, merchants, and makers through its vendor area. Non-food vendors have included handcrafted jewelry, leather goods, home and outdoor décor, apparel, fragrance, wood and metal crafts, candles, handmade bath products, and other locally produced merchandise.

This vendor component has effectively become one of the modern fair’s principal forms of community participation. Instead of residents entering a jar of preserves or a prize-winning garden display, local entrepreneurs can use the event to introduce products directly to the large metropolitan audience that visits Riverfront Park.

Demolition Derby, Tractor Pulls, and Motorsport Events

A demolition derby or tractor pull is not a confirmed feature of the current Pulaski County Fair program at North Little Rock Riverfront Park. The fair’s present entertainment model is centered on the carnival midway, family attractions, vendors, food, and live music.

That distinction matters because demolition derbies and tractor pulls are common at many Arkansas county fairs, particularly those operating from permanent rural fairgrounds with large agricultural arenas. Pulaski County’s current fair takes place in a riverside urban park, where the event layout is designed around carnival attractions rather than a motorsport arena.

Motorsport enthusiasts in Pulaski County have other regional events available to them, but visitors should not arrive at the Riverfront Park fair expecting a demolition derby simply because another Arkansas county fair offers one.

The fair’s emphasis on rides and live entertainment gives it a different evening atmosphere. Instead of spending the night watching modified farm tractors compete in a pull or derby cars collide in an arena, visitors generally move between the illuminated midway, food concessions, games, petting zoo, vendors, and scheduled music.

4-H and FFA Youth Programs

The modern Pulaski County Fair does not function primarily as a county 4-H livestock fair, and this is one of the most significant differences between it and many rural Arkansas county fairs.

Pulaski County’s 4-H and agricultural education programs remain important within the county, especially in communities outside the densely developed portions of Little Rock and North Little Rock. Young people involved in livestock, gardening, food production, animal science, and other agricultural projects can participate in county and state-level programs, but the Riverfront Park fair is not the main annual livestock-show culmination for those programs.

Historically, the connection between the county fair and agricultural youth was much stronger. County fairs traditionally gave young people opportunities to show animals, crops, horticultural products, cooking, sewing, crafts, and other projects. The transformation of Pulaski County into Arkansas’s largest metropolitan county has shifted many of those educational activities into specialized 4-H events and larger agricultural shows.

For families looking for a youth agricultural auction, livestock showmanship competition, or detailed 4-H project judging, the appropriate event may therefore be a Pulaski County 4-H program or the Arkansas State Fair rather than the modern Pulaski County Fair at Riverfront Park.

Fairgrounds Facilities and Layout

North Little Rock Riverfront Park provides a very different physical environment from the traditional fairgrounds found in rural Arkansas counties. The park sits beside the Arkansas River and provides an open urban recreational setting rather than a dedicated livestock exposition campus.

The fair transforms sections of the park into a temporary carnival and festival environment. The midway occupies the principal attraction area, while food vendors, novelty vendors, the petting zoo, live entertainment, and beer garden create separate activity zones.

The main entrance is at the west side near Willow Street and Riverfront Park Drive, across from the Wyndham Hotel area. A second entrance is available from the east side near Submarine House and Riverfront Drive.

The park’s location beside the Arkansas River gives visitors open surroundings and a distinctive skyline and waterfront atmosphere. It also means that visitors should be prepared for outdoor conditions rather than expecting an enclosed climate-controlled exhibition center.

The fair confirms that its grounds are handicap accessible. Visitors requiring specific accommodations can contact the fair organizers before attending. Because the fair uses temporary attractions and structures within a public park, visitors with mobility needs may still benefit from planning their route and choosing an entrance in advance.

The current fair does not advertise traditional fairground RV camping as part of the event. Visitors traveling from outside the metropolitan area should therefore arrange accommodation or camping separately.

Getting There: Directions and Logistics

The Pulaski County Fair is held at North Little Rock Riverfront Park at 120 Riverfront Park Drive. The location places the event directly on the North Little Rock riverfront, across the Arkansas River from downtown Little Rock.

The fair is especially accessible to residents of Little Rock and North Little Rock because it sits within the central metropolitan area rather than outside the urban core. Visitors coming from farther away can approach the park through the Little Rock–North Little Rock highway network and then follow local streets toward Riverfront Park.

The west entrance is located near Willow Street and Riverfront Park Drive, while the east entrance is reached from Riverfront Drive near the Submarine House area. Visitors should follow the current event signage and parking instructions because traffic patterns can be adjusted during major fair days.

Parking arrangements can become more important during Friday and weekend evenings because the fair’s peak attendance coincides with the busiest periods for the surrounding riverfront area. Visitors should allow extra time to park before the gates close at 10:00 or 11:00 p.m., depending on the day.

Because the fair is located within North Little Rock rather than in an isolated rural area, visitors have numerous nearby hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, and other services available before and after their fair visit.

Volunteer and Vendor Opportunities

The modern Pulaski County Fair actively encourages local participation from businesses, entertainers, artists, food vendors, community organizations, and volunteers. The event’s vendor area is particularly important because the fair attracts visitors from throughout the Little Rock metropolitan region.

Non-food vendors can apply for booth space in 10-by-10-foot or 10-by-20-foot spaces. The 2026 published rates are $300 for a 10-by-10 space and $450 for a 10-by-20 space for the full fair period. Electricity is provided at no additional charge, while tent, table, and chair additions can be arranged separately.

Food vendors have a separate agreement process. Vendors are expected to complete setup before the gates open, remain open during scheduled fair hours unless an exception has been approved, and handle their own sales-tax responsibilities.

The application process involves submitting an application, review by the fair team for product fit and uniqueness, confirmation if approved, and payment before the fair. The 2026 vendor information requires payment seven days before the event after approval.

Volunteers, musicians, performers, sponsors, and other participants can also submit their information to the fair organizers. The fair is therefore not limited to commercial carnival operators; it creates opportunities for Arkansas artists, small businesses, community organizations, and local residents to participate in the event.

Economic and Community Impact

The Pulaski County Fair operates in Arkansas’s largest and most economically diverse county, which gives its economic impact a different character from a small agricultural county fair. The event brings visitors to North Little Rock’s riverfront and creates spending opportunities for carnival operators, food vendors, local merchants, performers, artists, and nearby businesses.

The fair’s proceeds also have a direct local connection. A portion of the event’s proceeds supports North Little Rock Parks & Recreation, meaning the event contributes to recreational services in the same community that hosts it.

The surrounding metropolitan economy provides another layer of impact. Visitors arriving for the fair can purchase meals, fuel, hotel rooms, and other services in North Little Rock and Little Rock. Vendors also gain access to a concentrated audience that includes families, tourists, residents, and visitors from surrounding central Arkansas communities.

Agriculture remains part of the county’s economic identity even though it is no longer the dominant visual theme of the fair. Pulaski County’s farms still generate millions of dollars in annual agricultural sales, with both crop and livestock production represented. The modern fair places that rural economy within a much broader metropolitan culture.

The fair also contributes to North Little Rock’s riverfront identity. The Arkansas River setting gives the event a recognizable local character that differs from a fair held at a rural agricultural exposition center. For many families, the attraction is not a livestock barn or farm demonstration but an evening beside the river surrounded by rides, lights, food, music, and community activity.

Comparing Pulaski County Fair to Nearby Fairs

The Pulaski County Fair is unusual within Arkansas because it operates inside the state’s largest metropolitan county and uses North Little Rock Riverfront Park as its venue. Nearby rural county fairs generally place greater emphasis on livestock, youth agricultural projects, exhibits, tractor events, and local farm families.

The Arkansas State Fair is the most important comparison because of its historical connection to Pulaski County. The modern Arkansas State Fair is held at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds in Little Rock and has a much larger statewide livestock, agricultural, commercial, entertainment, and midway program. Its current October schedule gives Arkansas residents another major fair opportunity later in the year.

The modern Pulaski County Fair is smaller and more recreational in character. Its nine operating days are built around carnival rides, food, games, vendors, a petting zoo, live music, and the riverfront setting. The Arkansas State Fair, by contrast, functions as a statewide agricultural and entertainment exposition.

Residents can also compare the Pulaski County event with county fairs in surrounding central Arkansas communities. Those fairs tend to have stronger agricultural and youth-show identities, while Pulaski County’s modern fair reflects the urban-suburban population surrounding Little Rock and North Little Rock.

For a family looking for rides, food, live music, and a convenient metropolitan location, the Pulaski County Fair provides a straightforward local option. For visitors specifically seeking livestock judging, crop exhibits, youth auctions, tractor pulls, or traditional county-fair competitions, neighboring rural fairs or the Arkansas State Fair may offer a more agriculture-centered experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the dates and hours of the Pulaski County Fair?

The 2026 Pulaski County Fair runs from May 15 through May 24 at North Little Rock Riverfront Park. The fair opens Friday, May 15, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., operates from noon to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and is closed Monday. Tuesday through Thursday hours are 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the second Friday runs from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the second Saturday from noon to 11:00 p.m., and the final Sunday from noon to 9:00 p.m.

Where is the Pulaski County Fair held?

The fair is held at North Little Rock Riverfront Park at 120 Riverfront Park Drive, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114. The park overlooks the Arkansas River and is directly connected to North Little Rock’s riverfront recreational area.

How much does it cost to attend the Pulaski County Fair?

General admission in 2026 is $5 for adults, while children age 10 and under enter free. Carnival rides require additional payment. Unlimited ride wristbands cost $30 on Saturday and Sunday and $25 on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. An early-bird wristband is available for $22 before opening day.

Is there free parking at the Pulaski County Fair?

The fair’s published information does not establish one universal free-parking arrangement for every visitor and every day. Because the event is held within North Little Rock Riverfront Park, visitors should follow the event’s current parking signs and instructions rather than assuming that all spaces around the riverfront are free.

Can I bring my own food and drinks into the Pulaski County Fair?

The fair provides extensive food and beverage concessions, including traditional carnival foods and adult beverages in the designated beer garden. The published visitor information does not establish a blanket permission for bringing outside food and drinks into all areas, so visitors should check the current event rules before bringing their own food or beverages.

How do I enter an item in competition at the Pulaski County Fair?

The current Pulaski County Fair at Riverfront Park is not primarily organized around traditional open-class agricultural and household competitions. Residents interested in livestock, 4-H projects, horticulture, baking, crafts, photography, or similar competitive exhibits should look at the appropriate Pulaski County 4-H programs or Arkansas State Fair competitions rather than assuming those categories are part of the Riverfront Park fair.

Is the Pulaski County Fair appropriate for young children?

Yes. The fair has several attractions specifically suited to children, including carnival rides, games, a petting zoo, camel and pony rides, food, and family-oriented entertainment. Children age 10 and under also receive free general admission. Parents should remember that some rides have their own height requirements and that the beer garden is an adult-oriented area.

Are pets allowed at the Pulaski County Fair?

Visitors should not assume that ordinary household pets are permitted throughout the fair. The fair itself provides a petting zoo and animal attractions, but these are controlled attractions rather than permission for visitors to bring their own animals. Service animals should be handled according to applicable accessibility requirements, while anyone considering bringing another animal should confirm the current event policy beforehand.

Does the Pulaski County Fair have a demolition derby?

The modern Pulaski County Fair at North Little Rock Riverfront Park does not list a demolition derby as part of its 2026 schedule. The event’s principal attractions are the carnival midway, rides, games, food, vendors, petting zoo, live music, and beer garden.

Who organizes the Pulaski County Fair?

The modern Pulaski County Fair is presented as a North Little Rock community event and is presented by Oaklawn Hot Springs. It operates at North Little Rock Riverfront Park, with a portion of proceeds supporting North Little Rock Parks & Recreation. The event also works with carnival operators, vendors, performers, sponsors, and community participants.

Is there camping available at the Pulaski County Fair fairgrounds?

The modern Pulaski County Fair does not advertise public RV or tent camping as part of the Riverfront Park event. Visitors traveling from outside central Arkansas should arrange a hotel, campground, or other accommodation separately rather than expecting fairgrounds camping.

What happens if the fair is cancelled due to weather?

The Pulaski County Fair is advertised as a rain-or-shine event, and its published ticket policy states that there are no refunds because of weather or other conditions. Individual attractions or performances can still be affected by unsafe weather, so visitors should check current fair announcements before traveling during severe storms. Because the fair is held outdoors beside the Arkansas River, weather conditions can directly affect rides, vendor areas, and live entertainment even when the overall fair remains scheduled to operate.