One of Northern Virginia’s biggest summer traditions is almost here as the Loudoun County Fair returns next week with five days of entertainment, family activities, and agricultural celebrations.
Visitors can expect everything from a bustling carnival and exhilarating extreme bull riding to quirky eating competitions, livestock shows, racing pigs, lumberjack performances, and plenty of classic fair food.
Whether you’re planning a family outing or looking for an exciting summer event near Washington, D.C., this year’s fair offers something for every age throughout the week.
Here’s everything you need to know before heading to the fairgrounds.
When and where is the Loudoun County Fair taking place?
The 2026 Loudoun County Fair runs from Tuesday, July 21st, through Saturday, July 25th, at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds in Leesburg, Virginia.
The event begins with livestock weigh-ins on Monday evening before opening to the public the following morning.
Throughout the week, guests can explore the Blue Ribbon Showcase, agricultural exhibits, entertainment stages, and animal barns while enjoying activities scheduled from morning into the evening.
The carnival opens each afternoon or morning depending on the day, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to enjoy rides alongside the fair’s many attractions.
What to expect if you go
There’s no shortage of entertainment packed into this year’s schedule, making it easy to spend an entire day at the fair.
Some of the biggest highlights include:
- 🎡 Carnival rides and midway games
- 🤠 Bull Riding on Thursday and Friday nights
- 🐂 Kids’ Rodeo on Thursday evening and a rodeo pre-show before Friday night’s bull riding
- 🍉 Watermelon Eating Contest
- 🍪 Oreo Stacking Contest
- 🪓 Lumberjack Show
- 🐖 Cook’s Racing Pigs
- 🪄 Magic Show
- 🎵 Live music performances throughout the week
- 🐄 Livestock competitions, horse demonstrations, dairy exhibits, and animal shows
Beyond the headline attractions, visitors will also find everything from rabbit hopping competitions and cow pie bingo to clogging performances, hypnotist shows, guided barnyard tours, STEM demonstrations, and agricultural showcases that celebrate Loudoun County’s farming heritage.
Is it free to attend?
Admission to the Loudoun County Fair is not generally free, with tickets required for most visitors.
- Parking – $5 cash only or pay online (Good for the whole week)
- Adult tickets (Ages 13+) – $16.50 per day (Tickets purchased at the gate increase to $20 at 5 pm) OR $44 for the week
- Kids tickets (Ages 6-12) – $5.75 per day OR $16.50 for the week
However, the fair does offer free admission for children ages 12 and under and adults 62 and older until 4 pm on Wednesday, July 22nd, as part of its annual Kids’ and Senior Day celebration.
Separate admission is also required for carnival rides, which typically operate using ride wristbands or tickets.
Visitors planning to spend the day enjoying both the midway and the fair’s attractions should consider purchasing tickets in advance to help streamline entry.
With five days packed full of rides, competitions, live entertainment, agricultural exhibits, and plenty of fair food, the Loudoun County Fair remains one of Northern Virginia’s signature summer traditions.
