LEWISBURG, W.Va. — The State Fair of West Virginia will open Thursday for its 101st year, beginning a 10-day run of concerts, carnival rides, livestock competitions and agricultural exhibits that annually draw visitors to the Greenbrier Valley from across West Virginia and surrounding states.
The fair will run Aug. 13–22 at the State Fairgrounds in Lewisburg, with gates opening daily at 8 a.m. and carnival rides operating from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Organizers say the event remains one of West Virginia’s largest annual gatherings and generates an estimated $48 million in economic activity for the state.
This year’s fair combines the agricultural competitions that have long formed the foundation of the event with a Grandstand concert schedule that includes Dierks Bentley, Stone Temple Pilots, Trace Adkins, Sierra Ferrell, Gavin Adcock, Shenandoah and other nationally known performers.
Kelly Collins, CEO of the State Fair of West Virginia, said the goal of fair organizers continues to be providing entertainment for each member of families that attend while celebrating agriculture, education, and community.
“We’re excited to welcome everyone back for another incredible year at the State Fair of West Virginia,” Collins said.
“Each year, we strive to provide something for every member of the family while celebrating the agriculture, education, and community that are at the heart of our mission. We can’t wait to share this year’s entertainment, exhibits, competitions, and traditions with our guests.”
Concerts scheduled throughout the fair
Grandstand entertainment begins on opening night, Aug. 13, with the Buckin’ B Bull Ride, followed Aug. 14 by Vincent Mason and Avery Anna.
Trace Adkins will bring his 30th Anniversary Tour to the fair Aug. 15 with special guest Aaron Tippin. West Virginia-born singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell will perform Aug. 16 with the Brudi Brothers, followed by contemporary Christian performers CAIN and Leanna Crawford on Aug. 17.
Shenandoah is scheduled for Aug. 18, followed by Paul Wall and the Ying Yang Twins on Aug. 19. Country star Dierks Bentley will perform Aug. 20, Gavin Adcock on Aug. 21, and Stone Temple Pilots will close the Grandstand concert schedule Aug. 22.
The variety of performers gives the 2026 fair a lineup spanning country, rock, hip-hop and contemporary Christian music while continuing a long tradition of bringing nationally touring entertainers to Lewisburg during the annual event.
Agriculture remains at the heart of the fair
Despite the prominence of the midway and concerts, agriculture remains central to the state fair’s mission and programming.
The 2026 schedule includes livestock competitions, Junior 4-H and FFA livestock shows, horse shows and agricultural exhibits, bringing young exhibitors, farmers and agricultural organizations from throughout West Virginia to the fairgrounds.
Among the traditional events is the Draft Horse Pull, scheduled for Friday, Aug. 21. The competition is one of a series of events that reflect the fair’s origins as an agricultural exhibition rather than simply an entertainment festival.
The fair’s roots in the Greenbrier Valley extend much further back than its 101-year count. The first recorded agricultural fair in the valley was held in Lewisburg in 1854, when the Greenbrier Agricultural Society gathered livestock, produce, farm implements, and household goods for exhibition and judging.
The modern fair was chartered as the Greenbrier Valley Fair in 1921 and established on land between Lewisburg and Ronceverte that became the community of Fairlea, where the fairgrounds remain today.
In 1941, the West Virginia Legislature designated the event as the State Fair of West Virginia.
The fair was not held from 1942 through 1945 during World War II, and it was canceled again in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the fair’s most remarkable historical connections predates West Virginia itself. Traveller, the horse later ridden by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee during the Civil War, was raised in the Greenbrier Valley and won a blue ribbon at the Lewisburg fair as a yearling in 1858.
The episode connects today’s State Fair with an agricultural exhibition tradition in the valley that was already established before the Civil War and before West Virginia became a state in 1863.
Attractions return to the fairgrounds
Beyond the Grandstand and agricultural competitions, daily attractions this year include the Flores Circus Thrill Show, DockDogs, Granpa Crachet, the Oregon Trail Display, Hot Glass Academy and the Moogician.
Free entertainment will also be offered throughout the grounds, including performances on the fair’s free stage.
The midway will operate daily from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., adding carnival rides, games and the food concessions that have become another familiar part of the annual fair experience.
Several admission promotions are scheduled during the 10-day event. Tuesday, Aug. 18, will be dollar admission day, while children ages 10 and younger will be admitted free throughout the fair.
The fairgrounds are located near Lewisburg in Greenbrier County, in southeastern West Virginia. The location also places the event within the Greenbrier Valley, one of the state’s principal tourism regions, where Lewisburg and nearby communities typically experience an influx of visitors during the fair’s August run.
The 101st State Fair of West Virginia runs Thursday, Aug. 13, through Saturday, Aug. 22. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day, with schedules, admission information and individual Grandstand tickets available through the State Fair of West Virginia.