Albemarle County Fair

One of the highlights of the year in central Virginia is the Albemarle County Fair, which is scheduled every year in late July or early August. The 2021 fair takes place July 30 and 31.

The three-day event features farm animals, agriculture, baked goods, pageant queens, 4-H events, and entertainment for the whole family.

Entertainment

The fair always features music and entertainment. Carnival rides are provided by Rosedale Attractions and Shows, Inc.

Charlottesville-Albemarle 4-H Program

Every year, the Charlottesville-Albemarle 4-H Program is a part of the fair.

The 4-H program allows youth and adolescents to practice responsibility and being a concientious citizen.

The program hosts a livestock and agricultural competition at the fair each year.

Contests and Pageants

Contests and pageants are scheduled at the fair throughout the weekend.

Contests include flower design, home arts, fine arts and photography, decorated cakes, a hot dog eating contest, and a tractor pull.

A water balloon toss, a wheelbarrow race, a pie eating contest, and a bubblegum blowing contest are also part of the festivities.

The Miss Albemarle County Fair pageant is also part of the fair. The pageant’s three divisions include the Tiny Miss, the Little Miss, and the Pre-Teen Miss.

Applications are available on the county fair’s website.

Food

From traditional fair foods like fried dough and sweet lemonade to fresh fruits and vegetables straight from local farms, the Albemarle County Fair has a food for every taste bud.

In more recent years, the focus of the fair has been on celebrating fresh and local agriculture.

Fairgoers can enjoy snowcones, funnel cakes, donuts, and pizza, as well as seafood, greek salad, thai chicken, and fresh vegetables.

For produce enthusiasts, the fair features a Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head contest, vegetable contests, judged on size, shape, and uniformity, and an I Garden to Grow Contest, judging pumpkins and cucumbers.

History

In the 1800s, agricultural fairs in Central Virginia helped famers, with their families, to celebrate their harvests and purchase the newest and most exciting farm equipment.

In the early 1900s, fairs slowly became more entertainment based, with the incorporation of games, carnival rides, and pageants.

The first Albemarle County Fair took place in 1982, supported financially by a group of volunteers who loaned enough money to support the fair.

For years, the fair was held at North Garden, located about eleven miles south of Charlottesville.

More recently, the fair has been held at Ash-Lawn Highland, home of the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe.

Sponsors

Albemarle County Fair Inc. is a non-profit corporation and is sponsored by several partners in the community.

With so much activity and enough fun for the whole family, it is easy to see why the county fair is one of the most anticipated events in Albemarle County.