(DOSWELL, Sept. 16, 2025)—To maximize memories made at the State Fair of Virginia, Sept. 26 through Oct. 5, it’s wise to plan ahead.
Purchasing tickets online locks in savings and convenience—both before and during the fair. Online tickets are discounted from the gate admission price, and buying advance tickets by Sept. 26 saves you even more. Held at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, the fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
“We don’t want our guests to miss a minute of the excitement, so we recommend planning ahead to save time and money and know what to expect before your visit,” said Marlene Jolliffe, the fair’s executive director. “With so many thrilling attractions, strolling performers, livestock exhibitions, arts displays and concerts included with the cost of admission, we want visitors to have the full State Fair experience!”
Find details online at StateFairVa.org.
The following tips can enhance your State Fair experience:
Tickets & Discounts
Buy tickets in advance to cash in on savings. Advance tickets are on sale through Sept. 25 at StateFairVa.org at $11.50 for adults 13 and up, and $10.50 for 5 years of age and older. They can be used any day during the fair. Children 4 and younger will be admitted free with a paid adult admission.
Guests can take advantage of other advance ticket deals online with family four-packs for $40 or a 10-day pass for $85.
General admission includes access to all concerts, performances, competitions, exhibits and demonstrations. For adults, tickets are $16 at the gate on weekdays, and $20 on weekends. For children ages 5-12, tickets are $12 on weekdays and $16 on weekends. Seniors 65 and older receive discounted admissions for $14 on weekdays and $16 on weekends. Farm Bureau members also receive discounted admission.
Military admission is $14 at the gate on weekdays, and $16 on weekends. The military discount is for active-duty service members, National Guard, Reserve and retirees with a current military ID or a Virginia DMV veteran's credentialed license or ID card. The discount applies to the service member plus one guest. It does not extend to any other members of their party, and is available at the gate only.
Rides are not included in fair admission. Unlimited ride wristbands are $27 when purchased in advance, and $31 online once the fair opens. Those purchased on site are $32 during the week and $35 on the weekends. Ride tickets and single-day unlimited ride wristbands will be available for purchase at ride ticket booths in the Midway and the Virginia 529 Kidway areas.
Avoid long waits and enjoy more rides this year with the new Fast Lane—the ultimate VIP experience on the Midway. Fast Lane lets guests bypass regular lines at rides and move straight to the front at designated yellow and black checkerboard spaces. Exclusive VIP lanyards and special wristbands for Fast Lane access are available for $15 at the credit and wristband stations.
To save at the gate, participate in the State Fair Cares program. Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sept. 26, Sept. 29-30 and Oct. 3, donate two school supplies, two canned food items or a pair of new winter gloves and get admission for just $9. During the same days and times, you can purchase an unlimited ride wristband for $20, and it’s good until 4 p.m.
Parking
General parking is free. Parking lot trams can help visitors get to and from their vehicles in parking Lots A and C. Look for “Tram Stops” designated with small tents and flags. Fair officials advise fairgoers to note the numbered sign nearest their vehicles so they can find them easily.
When parking, look at the nearest pole number, drop a pin on your phone for your location, and note if you are parked in the Love Clicks Parking area with red flags or in the Blue Ribbon Lot with blue flags.
The Meadow Event Park has ample disability parking for authorized users at Lots B and D. Display your decal so that parking attendants can direct you to the correct location.
Premium parking, accessible from Gate 2, is available behind the Farm Bureau Center at a cost of $22.50 per day and must be purchased in advance online.
Security
Guest safety is fair organizers’ No. 1 priority. That is why the State Fair is staffed by licensed security professionals, Virginia State Police and local law enforcement.
Bag checks will be conducted at the main ticket plaza, and guests must pass through security scanners as well. Additionally, walk-through scanners will be placed at an entry point near Harvest Landing and by the premium parking lot. The Meadow Event Park prohibits open or concealed carry of any weapons, including pocket knives. Alcohol is not permitted to be brought onto the property. However, beer and wine will be for sale and may be consumed inside the fair, except in the Midway and Kidway areas.
Fairgoers are welcome to bring non-glass containers of food or water, plus lawn chairs and blankets.
Pets are not allowed on the fairgrounds, with the exception of service animals as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
A first aid station is located off the Festival Loop adjacent to the Thrill Pit.
“Emergency medical responders will be onsite to respond to guest needs throughout the State Fair,” Jolliffe said.
Hours, rides and amenities
Ticket Plaza and building/exhibit hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Guests who wish to leave the fair for a short time before returning need to get a same-day hand stamp at the Ticket Plaza before exiting.
Amusement rides open at 11 a.m. and will operate for at least one hour after the Ticket Plaza closes at 9 p.m. Requirements for rides and some attractions include height, weight and whether a child must be accompanied by an adult. Those requirements will be displayed at each ride, at the Midway customer service booth and online at StateFairVa.org.
Private areas for nursing mothers are available in the Farm Bureau Center and in the Kidway by Virginia College Savings Plan area.
Guests are welcome to bring wheelchairs, motorized scooters or strollers, which also are available for daily rental fee outside the Ticket Plaza on a first-come, first-served basis. For details on more State Fair amenities, visit the FAQ page on StateFairVa.org.
Getting there
The Meadow is located at 13191 Dawn Blvd. in Doswell. From I-95, take exit 98, and travel 1½ miles east on state Route 30.
During peak times, consider using alternate routes—U.S. Route 301 to state Route 30, and travel about 3 miles west on Route 30; or take U.S. Route 1 to state Route 30, and travel about 2 miles east on Route 30.
The State Fair of Virginia is partnering with DRIVE SMART Virginia to remind you to buckle up and limit driver distractions to get home safely.
The 2025 State Fair of Virginia will run from Sept. 26 through Oct. 5 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. Since 2013, the State Fair has awarded over $1 million in scholarships to support youth education. In 2024, the fair was among 150 diverse events that drew more than 545,235 visitors to The Meadow. The venue had an overall regional economic impact of $41.5 million.
Reporters and Editors: You’ll find a photo library on our website for easy access to images to accompany your fair coverage. Visit StateFairVa.org/p/about/media. Media: Contact Jolliffe at 804-994-2802 or Kathy Dixon, VFBF communications, at 804-370-3055.