There's a reason good country songs talk about falling in love at the county fair - here in Wilson County we are lucky enough to call ours the Tennessee State Fair! With record breaking attendance in 2022, there is sure to be something exciting and different every single day from August 17-26th. This year's theme is "The Year of the Corn," and with so much to see and do, you'll need more than one day to visit.
Starting things off, everyone is invited to the Grand Opening of the 2023 Fair, August 17 at 6:00pm at the flagpole behind the Farm Bureau Expo Center with the fair’s opening parade following at 7pm. Bonus, the first night at the 2023 Fair entry is half price.
Experience one of 100 livestock shows, 15 stages of entertainment, over 150 activities and events, 60 midway rides, more than 100 concessionaires and100 vendors booths, Historic Fiddlers Grove demonstrators, racing pigs, K-9’s in flight, cat and dog shows, Travel Tennessee, Best of Tennessee competitions, ag education, Pick Tennessee Experience, Eudora Farms, numerous exhibits, or even a hypnotist.
Many new competitions open to state and Wilson County residents are planned including grain art, corn eating contest, state honey show, corn everything digital photo contest, husband calling, mom calling and more.
Looking to get hands on? How about taking a class or perusing the competition submissions?
Along with competition favorites like jams, jellies, cookies, cakes, salsas, apple pie and banana pudding, new competitions added this year, open to Wilson County residents only, include Grain Art, baking classes in a miscellaneous gluten-free baked goods and gingerbread cookies category.
Make sure to search the demonstrations link under "schedule" on the website, you'll find classes including regenerative agriculture, cooking with hemp, garden cut floral arranging, Tennessee tree identification, cooking with dairy and more. New classes in Adult Family and Consumer Sciences Current Trends include Gnomes, rock painting, cork art, resin art, finger weaving, paint by number, acrylic paint pour art, coloring page, and grain and seed art. Plus a new youth only class to create grain and seed art.
Get a little fancy. Celebrate Tennessee farm to fork in style with a seasonal dinner on August 21at 6:00pm. Teaming up with Edible Nashville Magazine and Edible chef, Skyler Bush, you will enjoy the sights and sounds of the fair, while dining on the four course meal featuring local farm raised produce and meats, along with artisan breads and beverages. This a one of a kind experience will sell out so grab a ticket before they're gone.
Don't miss out on the heart pounding excitement of the Truck & Tractor Pull August 4th and Aug 5th, plus monster truck shows, antique tractor pulling, rodeo, demolition derby events throughout the fair's tenure.
Of course, there is no shortage of music all day every day at the fair. A must see, Grammy, ACM, and CMA award winning band Little Texas, performing on Monday, August 21st at the Entertainment Pavilion, with the C-Dock Boyz kicking off a night of great music starting at 5:30pm at the James E. Ward Ag Center. Also performing School of Rock, Fredonia Bluegrass Band, Fredonia Bluegrass Band, Point of Grace, Tim Graves & Farm Hands and dozens more.
For the latest updates, presale tickets, schedules and submission info, visit wilsoncountytnstatefair.com
We’ll see YOU at the Fair!
Starting things off, everyone is invited to the Grand Opening Celebration of the 2023 Fair, August 17 beginning at 6:00pm, half price entry that night!