Duval County Florida Fair Schedule

Introduction

The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair is one of Northeast Florida’s best-known annual public events, bringing agricultural exhibitions, livestock shows, competitions, amusement rides, food vendors, and entertainment to Jacksonville. Although Duval County is predominantly urban and suburban, the fair preserves an important connection with the agricultural traditions of Northeast Florida. It offers residents a chance to see livestock, learn about agriculture, explore competitive exhibitions, and enjoy entertainment without travelling to a rural county.

Jacksonville’s scale and diverse population distinguish the fair from smaller county events. The city serves as a major employment, transportation, commercial, and cultural centre, while surrounding parts of Northeast Florida include agricultural communities and livestock operations. The fair brings these different interests together through animal exhibitions, youth projects, horticulture, crafts, culinary competitions, music, and carnival attractions.

The 71st Annual Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair is scheduled for November 5–15, 2026. A major change for 2026 is its move to a new location on Jacksonville’s Westside, at the Jacksonville Festival & Fairgrounds, 13601 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32221. The new venue provides a much larger site for rides, performances, exhibition halls, livestock facilities, and parking.

Visitors planning for 2027 should use the confirmed 2026 dates as a reference only. The next year’s calendar, ticket prices, concert lineup, and daily opening times should be treated as unconfirmed until the fair organization publishes them.

Fair Overview and Fast Facts

The 71st Annual Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair is scheduled for November 5–15, 2026, at 13601 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32221. The fair’s new home is an 82-plus-acre site designed to accommodate a larger midway, livestock exhibitions, commercial vendors, exhibitions, and entertainment.

The announced gate schedule varies by day. Thursday, November 5, opens at 5 p.m.; Friday, November 6, at 3 p.m.; Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, at noon; Monday and Tuesday, November 9–10, at 5 p.m.; Wednesday, November 11, at noon; Thursday, November 12, at 5 p.m.; Friday, November 13, at 3 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, November 14–15, at noon. These are gate-opening times, not guarantees that every concert, ride, or exhibition starts at the same time.

Published regular general admission prices are $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6–12, and $10 for seniors aged 65 and older. Children aged five and under are admitted free. Advance ticket offers may be available for a limited period, so visitors should check the current terms before purchasing. Ride passes and individual ride tickets are separate from ordinary admission unless a specific package states otherwise.

The new site includes more than 5,000 parking spaces, a 40,000-square-foot indoor venue and exhibition hall, a 10,000-capacity amphitheater, and a purpose-built agricultural barn. The fair organization has also described improvements intended to help traffic flow and access around the property.

Visitors should check the current parking policy and accessible parking instructions before travelling. People attending a concert should also check whether their concert ticket includes fair admission or requires a separate general admission ticket. The ticket conditions for the specific performance should govern.

History and Origins

The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair has a long history in Northeast Florida, and the 2026 edition is its 71st annual event. For decades, the fair was associated with downtown Jacksonville. Its move to the Westside in 2026 marks a major change in venue and the physical scale of the event.

The new site allows the fair to bring several kinds of activity together in purpose-designed spaces. The JAX Amphitheater provides a venue for major music performances, while Duval Hall accommodates indoor performances and exhibitions. A new agricultural barn provides space for livestock shows, and the wider grounds offer room for the carnival midway, food vendors, and outdoor entertainment.

The fair’s agricultural purpose remains important despite Jacksonville’s urban character. Livestock exhibitions and agricultural competitions provide a connection to the region’s farming communities and offer young people opportunities to demonstrate their skills. Art, horticulture, science, culinary, textiles, woodworking, and other competitions broaden participation beyond livestock.

The 2026 move is also relevant to visitors who remember attending the fair downtown. The new Normandy Boulevard address should be used for navigation, and old directions to the previous location should not be followed. Parking, entrances, traffic patterns, and the layout of the grounds are different considerations at the new site.


Exploring the Dixie County Florida Fair Schedule alongside the Duval County Florida Fair Schedule gives visitors an opportunity to compare local celebrations across two distinct parts of Florida. Dixie County offers a rural atmosphere shaped by the traditions of the Nature Coast, while Duval County reflects the larger urban culture and diverse entertainment options of the Jacksonville area. By reviewing both schedules, families can look for announced fair dates, agricultural exhibits, livestock activities, carnival rides, food vendors, and community entertainment where available. Comparing these fairs also helps visitors plan seasonal outings and discover how local heritage and community interests shape fair experiences throughout Florida.

Agricultural Competitions and Livestock Shows

Agricultural exhibitions remain a central part of the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair. The 2026 fair programme includes livestock exhibitions and shows in the new agricultural barn, giving visitors an opportunity to observe animals and learn about the work involved in raising them.

The fair also provides competitive exhibition areas for agriculture, horticulture, science, art, culinary work, fibres and textiles, and woodworking. The exact classes, submission rules, and judging timetables should be checked in the current exhibitor information.

Livestock judging varies by species and class. Judges may assess conformation, condition, breed characteristics, preparation, and suitability for the relevant category. Showmanship focuses on the exhibitor’s ability to handle and present an animal safely, follow instructions, and demonstrate knowledge of its care.

Youth agricultural projects involve sustained work before fair week. Participants may need to keep records, prepare animals, meet identification and health requirements, and follow check-in instructions. The rules for each livestock division should be reviewed carefully because animal arrival times and judging sessions may differ.

Visitors who want to see livestock should check the daily schedule rather than assume that all animals will be on display throughout the entire fair. Competitions, animal movement, and barn access can follow specific timetables.

Fair Schedule Structure

The 2026 fair runs for 11 days, from November 5 through November 15. The daily gate-opening times vary, with weekday evenings providing opportunities for after-work visits and earlier weekend openings allowing more time to explore the grounds.

Opening night begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 5. Friday, November 6, opens at 3 p.m. and is listed as Senior Day. The weekend of November 7–8 opens at noon, while Monday and Tuesday return to 5 p.m. openings. Wednesday, November 11, opens at noon and is marked for Veterans Day. Thursday opens at 5 p.m., Friday, November 13, opens at 3 p.m. and is another Senior Day, and the final weekend opens at noon.

The daily schedule includes concerts, stage entertainment, grounds acts, exhibitions, livestock activities, and midway attractions. These activities do not all begin when the gates open. Visitors planning to attend a specific performance should check the individual event time and ticket conditions.

Agricultural exhibitors should use the competition schedule for check-in and judging rather than rely on the general gate timetable. Some activities may have registration requirements or deadlines before the public event begins.

The 2027 schedule has not been established by the 2026 calendar. Visitors should wait for the next official announcement before assuming the same dates, gate hours, performers, or special days will return.

Entertainment, Rides, and Midway

The 2026 Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair combines the carnival midway with a major live-entertainment programme. The new grounds include the JAX Amphitheater, Duval Hall, the 904 Soundstage, and outdoor performance areas. The layout is intended to accommodate national music acts, comedy, illusionists, hypnotists, family entertainment, food vendors, and amusement rides.

The announced 2026 concert lineup includes JJ Grey & Mofro on opening night, followed by other scheduled performers throughout the 11-day fair. Concert doors and showtimes vary by act, and a concert ticket may have separate conditions from general fair admission. Visitors should check the specific performance listing before purchasing tickets.

The midway features mechanical rides and attractions operated by Deggeller Attractions. Ride access can require a separate ride pass or individual ride tickets. Visitors should review height restrictions and the terms of any unlimited-ride pass, especially when planning for children.

The grounds also include food vendors and a marketplace. The food offering is designed to be part of the wider fair experience, while the exhibition halls provide activities beyond the midway. Visitors interested in agriculture or competitive exhibits should allow time to explore the indoor halls and barn before concentrating on rides and entertainment.

For 2027, the concert lineup, ride arrangements, and ticket packages should be treated as unconfirmed until the fair releases its updated programme.

Open Class and Amateur Competitions

The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair offers a wide range of competitive exhibitions beyond livestock. The 2026 fair’s exhibition programme includes art, culinary, horticulture, science, fibres and textiles, woodworking, and agricultural displays.

These competitions allow participants to present creative work, practical skills, and educational projects. They also give visitors an opportunity to see the results of work completed by individuals and community groups outside a traditional livestock show.

Each division has its own entry requirements. Exhibitors should consult the current rules for submission deadlines, eligible categories, item preparation, labeling, delivery locations, and collection arrangements. Some competitions may have age divisions or special standards that do not apply to other categories.

Judging depends on the nature of the entry. Art and photography may be assessed for technique, composition, and presentation, while culinary entries may be evaluated according to category-specific standards. Woodworking, textiles, and crafts may place emphasis on workmanship, construction, finish, and adherence to the competition rules.

The fair’s new indoor exhibition space provides a central setting for many of these activities. Visitors should check the daily schedule to determine when displays are open and whether any competition or presentation has a separate time.

Demolition Derby, Tractor Pulls, and Motorsport Events

The 2026 Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair includes a rodeo programme, but a demolition derby or tractor pull should not be assumed to be part of the event unless listed in the official schedule. Rodeo competitions are different from motorsport events and have their own ticketing, safety, and timing arrangements.

Visitors interested in the 2026 rodeo should check the published event dates, seating information, and admission conditions. The fair’s general gate ticket and any special rodeo ticket may have different terms.

If a tractor pull or demolition derby is announced in a future year, participants should review the specific rules for vehicle classes, registration, inspections, safety equipment, and eligibility. Prize purses and participant fees should come from the event’s official regulations.

The 2027 motorsport programme has not been established by the confirmed 2026 fair dates. Visitors should wait for the next official entertainment announcement before making plans around a particular motorized attraction.

4-H and FFA Youth Programs

Youth agricultural education is an important part of the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair’s purpose. Livestock exhibitions give young people an opportunity to demonstrate animal care, preparation, recordkeeping, and showmanship skills.

The fair’s broader agricultural programming also provides educational opportunities through exhibitions and competitions. Students and young exhibitors can learn about agriculture alongside other subjects such as science, horticulture, culinary work, woodworking, and textiles.

Participants should confirm the current youth entry rules, age divisions, project requirements, animal identification standards, and check-in deadlines before fair week. These requirements can differ by category and should not be inferred from a previous year’s programme.

If a youth livestock sale or auction is included, the current exhibitor information should explain which animals are eligible, how buyers participate, and what payment arrangements apply. Such an event should not be assumed unless officially announced.

Families interested in participating should contact the relevant 4-H or FFA adviser and obtain the fair’s current rules. Early preparation is important because animal care and recordkeeping take place well before the public fair opens.

Fairgrounds Facilities and Layout

The Jacksonville Festival & Fairgrounds at 13601 Normandy Boulevard is the new home of the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair in 2026. The 82-plus-acre property provides more space than the previous downtown site and has been developed to accommodate a wide range of public activities.

The facilities include a 40,000-square-foot indoor venue and exhibition hall, a 10,000-capacity amphitheater, a purpose-built agricultural barn, expanded outdoor grounds, and more than 5,000 parking spaces. These features support concerts, livestock exhibitions, competitive displays, food vendors, marketplace stalls, and the midway.

The layout separates several kinds of activity into dedicated areas. Visitors attending a concert may need to enter the amphitheater area at a different time from people exploring the exhibition hall or agricultural barn. The daily programme and current grounds information should be used to plan the visit.

Accessible parking and routes should be checked with the organizer before arrival. Families should identify restrooms, meeting points, and suitable areas for breaks. The exact placement of temporary rides and booths may change as the fairgrounds are prepared for the event.

The new site also has traffic-management features intended to improve access. Visitors should follow the current parking instructions rather than rely on routes or parking habits associated with the fair’s former downtown location.

Getting There: Directions and Logistics

The 2026 Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair is held at 13601 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32221. Visitors should use this address for navigation because the fair has moved from its former downtown location to a new site on Jacksonville’s Westside.

The fairgrounds’ large parking capacity is intended to support the increased size of the event, but traffic can still vary according to the day, gate-opening time, concert programme, and expected attendance. Visitors attending a popular performance should allow additional time to reach the grounds, park, and enter the correct venue.

The organizers have described road and access improvements designed to manage traffic around the new site. Drivers should follow event signage and any temporary instructions rather than attempt to use an entrance intended for a different part of the grounds.

Public transportation and shuttle arrangements should be checked separately; visitors should not assume that a dedicated fair shuttle operates. People needing accessible parking should consult the current visitor information before leaving home.

Concertgoers should also review the ticket conditions and performance start time. A general admission ticket may provide access to the fairgrounds, while a special concert ticket may have its own entry arrangements.

Volunteer and Vendor Opportunities

The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair offers opportunities for vendors, exhibitors, commercial businesses, and community participants. The new site has space for food vendors, marketplace businesses, agricultural exhibitors, and other displays.

Vendor applications should be obtained from the fair organization. The application process may specify booth dimensions, fees, insurance, permits, electrical requirements, setup times, and operating hours. Food vendors should also confirm the health and safety requirements applicable to their operation.

Businesses should establish whether the space they are applying for is indoors or outdoors and what facilities are included. The requirements for a commercial booth may differ from those for a food concession or an agricultural exhibition.

Volunteer opportunities should be confirmed with the fair organization because roles and staffing needs can vary by year. Interested community members should ask about age requirements, training, shift times, and any advance registration.

Anyone planning to participate in 2027 should monitor the next application cycle rather than assume that 2026 spaces, fees, and deadlines will remain unchanged. Payment requests should be verified through authorized channels.

Economic and Community Impact

The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair contributes to Jacksonville’s public-event calendar by bringing visitors to the Westside for agricultural exhibitions, entertainment, food, shopping, and concerts. The new site represents a significant expansion of the event’s physical capacity, with dedicated performance and exhibition facilities and a large parking area.

The fair also connects Jacksonville’s urban population with agricultural education and livestock traditions. Visitors can see animals, explore competitive exhibitions, and learn about agriculture, horticulture, and other practical subjects. These experiences provide an educational dimension beyond the midway and concert programme.

The event creates opportunities for food vendors, commercial exhibitors, performers, ride operators, and other service providers. Visitors may also spend money on transportation, meals, and other local services during their trip. The exact financial impact should not be stated without verified attendance and economic data.

The fair’s community role includes youth participation, public entertainment, and the continuation of a long-running regional tradition. Its move to the Westside changes the visitor experience, but its combination of agricultural activities and broad public entertainment remains central to its identity.

Comparing Duval County Fair to Nearby Fairs

The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair serves a large urban and suburban population while maintaining agricultural exhibitions and youth programming. Its new 2026 location gives it a larger event footprint than many smaller county fairs and allows it to host a broad programme of concerts, exhibitions, livestock shows, and midway attractions.

Readers comparing the Duval County Florida Fair Schedule with the Dixie County Florida Fair Schedule should recognize that the two searches refer to different regional contexts. Jacksonville’s Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair has confirmed dates of November 5–15, 2026, while a specific 2026–2027 Dixie County Fair schedule has not been confirmed here. The two should not be assumed to share the same calendar, ticketing arrangements, or programme.

The Jacksonville fair’s scale, dedicated amphitheater, indoor exhibition hall, agricultural barn, and large parking area distinguish its 2026 format. Visitors interested in smaller rural events should compare the actual dates and published activities of those events rather than assume that every Florida fair offers the same facilities.

For people planning to attend multiple fairs, checking each organizer’s calendar is the most reliable way to coordinate travel. The 2027 Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair dates and programme should be treated as unconfirmed until the next announcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the dates and hours of the Duval County Florida Fair?

The 71st Annual Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair is scheduled for November 5–15, 2026. Gate-opening times vary by day, from 5 p.m. on some weekdays to noon on weekends and selected special days. The 2027 dates and daily hours have not been confirmed here.

Where is the Duval County Florida Fair held?

The fair is held at the Jacksonville Festival & Fairgrounds, 13601 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32221. This is the new site for the 2026 fair, replacing the former downtown location.

How much does it cost to attend the Duval County Florida Fair?

Published regular general admission prices are $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6–12, and $10 for seniors aged 65 and older. Children aged five and under are free. Advance offers and ride packages may have different conditions, so visitors should check the current ticket terms.

Is there free parking at the Duval County Florida Fair?

The new fairgrounds provide more than 5,000 parking spaces. Visitors should check the current parking policy to establish whether fees apply and where accessible parking is located.

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

Outside food and beverage rules should be confirmed in the current visitor policy. Visitors should not assume that coolers, outside meals, or particular containers are permitted. Anyone needing an accommodation for medical or dietary reasons should contact the organizer before attending.

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

Consult the current exhibitor rules for agriculture, art, culinary work, horticulture, science, fibres and textiles, woodworking, and other available divisions. The rules should explain eligibility, deadlines, item preparation, delivery arrangements, and judging procedures.

Is the Duval County Florida Fair appropriate for young children?

The fair includes family entertainment, livestock exhibitions, food vendors, and amusement rides. Parents should check ride height restrictions, performance times, admission requirements, and facilities before planning their visit.

Are pets allowed at the Duval County Florida Fair?

Visitors should confirm the current pet policy before bringing an animal. Service-animal arrangements and any restrictions around livestock or performance areas should be checked with the fair organization.

Does the Duval County Florida Fair have a demolition derby?

A demolition derby should be treated as confirmed only if it appears in the current entertainment schedule. The 2026 programme includes a rodeo, but that does not establish that a demolition derby is scheduled.

Who organizes the Duval County Florida Fair?

The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair is the relevant annual agricultural fair serving Jacksonville and the surrounding Northeast Florida region. The fair organization manages its schedule, tickets, exhibitions, entertainment, and vendor arrangements.

Is there camping available at the Duval County Florida Fair fairgrounds?

Camping availability has not been confirmed here. Visitors planning to stay overnight should contact the fair organization to ask whether on-site camping is permitted and whether reservations or fees apply.

What happens if the Duval County Florida Fair is cancelled due to weather?

Visitors should follow official fair announcements for weather-related changes. Cancellation, postponement, refunds, and ticket exchanges depend on the applicable policy and circumstances. Check for updates before travelling during severe weather.