Fairs are a fun family outing at any time of year, but fall fairs are a great way to celebrate the season! You don’t have to worry about the summer heat as the months cool down, and fall harvests bring all sorts of tasty treats to the fairgrounds. If you’re looking for fall fairs to explore, here are some great options this year.
The Best Fall Fairs for Families
Although, technically, fall doesn’t begin until September 22, many people consider Labor Day weekend the end of summer. September 1st is also known as meteorological fall, and most of us begin the fall season then. Here are several fairs that help you bid farewell to summer and welcome fall.
Alaska State Fair
The Alaska State Fair takes place in Palmer and will be from August 16 – September 2, 2024. You can see a lumberjack show, try tasty Alaskan seafood, and experience the bounty of this wild state. Of course, the fair also has live music, carnival games, livestock and agricultural exhibits, and much more. Kids will enjoy the Age of the Dinosaurs exhibit where they can learn about the dinos that once roamed Alaska.
Dates: August 16-September 2, 2024.
General Admission Tickets: General admission for kids ages 6-12 is $9 and for adults is $16. Tickets for concerts and other events are also available, and prices vary depending on the event.
Location: Palmer, Alaska.
Where to Camp: Camping is available at the fairgrounds and you can pay by the day, for the week, or for the duration of the fair. There are no hookups at the campground. You can also find lots of other campgrounds near Palmer as well.
Click here to see RVshare rentals near Palmer, Alaska.
New York State Fair
The New York State Fair is in Syracuse and makes a beautiful spot to end your summer. The fair began in 1841 with agricultural, livestock, and craft displays and competitions. It now has carnival rides, live music, food, historic displays, a circus, a raptor display, and much more! And, of course, don’t miss the butter sculpture that celebrates the state’s dairy farms.
Dates: August 21 – September 2, 2024.
General Admission Tickets: Tickets to the fair are $6 for adults and free for children under 12 and seniors 65 and older.
Location: Syracuse, New York
Where to Camp: You can camp at the fairgrounds during the fair. There are no hookups available. You can also find lots of campgrounds near Syracuse where you can stay.
Click here to see RVshare rentals near Syracuse, New York.
Maryland State Fair
The Maryland State Fair captures those last days of summer as they fade into fall. You can enjoy carnival rides, delicious foods, competitions (including a Mullet Madness award for most fabulous 80s hair), exhibits, and much more.
Dates: August 22 – 25, August 29 – September 2, September 5 – 8, 2024.
General Admission Tickets: Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7 for children ages 6-11, and free for those 5 and under.
Location: Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
Where to Camp: There is no camping at the fairgrounds. You can look for campgrounds near Baltimore, which is about a 20-minute drive from the fairgrounds.
New Mexico State Fair
The New Mexico State Fair is, wisely, in September when hopefully the heat of summer has died down a bit. You’ll find live music, carnival rides, livestock exhibits, and a rodeo to celebrate New Mexico’s Western spirit.
Dates: September 5 – 15, 2024.
General Admission Tickets: Tickets to the fair are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 6-12 years old, and free for kids 5 and under. Ticket prices for concerts and other special events vary.
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Where to Camp: There are lots of campgrounds in Albuquerque where you can stay during the fair! American RV Resort is along Route 66, and the Route 66 RV Resort has upscale amenities and is next to the Route 66 Casino Hotel.
State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas takes place in Dallas in the fall. It’s the largest state fair in the U.S. by attendance, and the only state fair to include a full auto show. You can enjoy animal shows, parades, live music, carnival rides, arts & crafts, and much more. And you can enjoy culinary concoctions including corn dog ale, dessert nachos, and pickle-dilly sangria.
Dates: September 27 – October 20, 2024.
General Admission Tickets: Tickets to the fair are $24, but there are discount days, lower prices after 5 pm, and discounts for buying tickets ahead of time at Kroger stores.
Location: Dallas, Texas
Where to Camp: You can’t camp right at the State Fair of Texas. However, there are lots of campgrounds near Dallas where you can set up. Treetops RV Resort in Arlington is a shaded campground that’s 20 minutes from Dallas and has spacious sites and full hookups. The Dallas/Arlington KOA Holiday has full hookups, a pool, a playground, and a dog park.
Georgia National Fair
The Georgia National Fair has arts and crafts, livestock exhibits, carnival games and rides, and plenty of fair food. You can learn about the history of the state, and the many things Georgia is known for. You can also visit the baby barn to see brand-new calves and piglets, and hit the Georgia Grown Pavilion to get recipes, cooking tips, and more.
The fair will have several concerts and other special events as well.
Dates: October 3 – October 13, 2024.
General Admission Tickets: General Admission tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and free for kids ten and under who attend with a paying adult.
Location: Perry, Georgia
Where to Camp: Camping is available at the fairgrounds. There are electric hookups available. Campers need to make a reservation, and reservations usually fill up ahead of time. Campers can then sign up for a waitlist for the fair campground. You can also find lots of great campgrounds in Georgia where you can stay for the fair. Fair Harbor RV Park has 30 and 50 amp service, laundry, a fishing lake, and pull-thru sites. Twin Oaks RV Park has full hookups, a pool, and a jacuzzi for guests.
North Carolina State Fair
The North Carolina State Fair has concerts, livestock exhibits, arts & crafts, fair food, carnival games, and much more. The Village of Yesteryear has antique farm equipment and shows how early farmers lived. You can also see demonstration gardens which showcase a variety of plants and flowers.
Dates: October 17 – October 27, 2024
General Admission Tickets: General Admission tickets are $13 for adults, $5 for seniors 65 and older, $7 for kids 6-12 years old, and free for kids five and under.
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Where to Camp: You can’t camp on-site at the fairgrounds while the fair is going on. However, there are lots of campgrounds in Raleigh where you can camp. Raleigh Oaks RV Resort & Cottages has full hookups, two pools, a playground, a game area, and more. Coopers RV Park has full hookups, shaded campsites, and large patios.
You have lots of choices for fun fall fairs to explore in your RV! Along with those listed above, many of the fairs we share here happen in autumn as well. If you’re looking for even more fall destinations, these are some favorites of many RV travelers. And if you want to rent an RV to experience the fair, be sure to check out RVshare’s many offerings!
