The Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair ran Aug. 13-22, 2026, in Lebanon. Adult gate $17, children 6-12 $7.25, free parking. 2027 dates not yet posted.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates, prices, hours and rules come from the fair’s own site, wilsoncountytnstatefair.com, run by Wilson County Promotions, Inc. Fair office: 615-443-2626.

The Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair is the county’s biggest event of the year: 10 days each August at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon, about nine miles east of Mount Juliet. The 2026 fair ran Thursday, Aug. 13, to Saturday, Aug. 22. The fair calls it the “Best 10 Days of the Year” on its home page.

The 2027 dates have not been announced. The 2025 fair ran Aug. 14-23 and the 2026 fair Aug. 13-22, both from a Thursday to the second Saturday after it. We update this page at the same address when the fair posts the new dates.

Know before you go

  • When (2026): Thursday, Aug. 13, to Saturday, Aug. 22
  • Where: James E. Ward Agricultural Center, 945 E. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon
  • Gate (2026): adults $17, children 6 to 12 $7.25, children 5 and under free
  • Parking: free general parking; preferred parking $10 a car
  • Bags: clear bag policy; metal detectors at every gate
  • Questions: Wilson County Promotions, 615-443-2626, office@wilsoncountyfair.net

Hours

The fair posts the same daily pattern on its General Info page:

Gates open Admission gates close Carnival
Monday to Thursday 4 p.m. 9 p.m. 4 to 11 p.m.
Friday 4 p.m. 10 p.m. 4 p.m. to midnight
Saturday 10 a.m. 10 p.m. 10 a.m. to midnight
Sunday noon 9 p.m. noon to 11 p.m.

The fair says hours may be adjusted for the safety of guests and staff.

Tickets and armbands

Prices below are the 2026 prices from the fair’s Tickets and Deals page. Expect the 2027 prices there before the fair opens.

Gate admission (good for any day of the fair):

  • Adults: $17
  • Children 6 to 12: $7.25
  • Children 5 and under: free
  • Season ticket: $50 for gate admission on all 10 days (no rides)

Special days in 2026:

  • Tuesday is Senior Day: $10 admission for ages 60 and older.
  • Ford Day, Saturday, Aug. 22: $2 off adult gate admission with a Ford keychain or a Ford hat.

Carnival armbands are sold at the fair, not online:

  • Monday to Thursday: $33
  • Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays: $38
  • Saturday matinee armbands are sold from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are good until 5 p.m. After 2 p.m. on Saturdays, only individual ride tickets are sold.
  • The Euro Slide, the TN Lift sky ride and the Lightening ride are not included in an armband.
  • The only armbands honored on any day are those bought ahead online in a Mega Ticket, which in 2026 had to be bought by 11:59 p.m. on the day before opening.

There are no refunds or rain checks: the fair says events are held subject to the weather.

Parking and shuttles

All of this comes from the fair’s Parking and Directions page for 2026.

  • General parking is free every day in the open lots around the fairgrounds. No pass is needed; follow the signs and the parking crew.
  • Preferred parking in the lots closest to the gates is $10 a car, a day. Turn on your flashers as you approach and the crew will route you in.
  • Accessible parking is at the Wilson County Exposition Center lot. Turn on your flashers as you arrive.
  • Trams were new in 2026, running from marked tram stops in the parking lots to the ticket gates.
  • Free shuttle buses ran daily, 3 to 11 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. Sunday, from two lots in Lebanon: the Cumberland University football parking lot, 415 Harding Drive, and First Baptist Church and the Wilson County Courthouse, 209 E. Main St.
  • Rideshare and drop-off: set the destination to Gate 1, 925 E. Baddour Parkway.

Parking gates close 30 minutes before the admission gates. On weeknights that means 8:30 p.m.; on Fridays and Saturdays, 9:30 p.m.

Bags, security and rules

From the fair’s Fair Rules and Safety page:

  • Clear bag policy. Allowed: clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches; a one-gallon clear freezer bag; and small clutch bags no larger than about 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Medical items and diaper bags (with a baby) are allowed after inspection and tagging.
  • Metal detectors at the admission gates, and every bag is searched.
  • No weapons, concealed or open carry, even with a permit.
  • Strollers can be searched along with bags and other items.
  • No outside food or drink.
  • No drones. The fair says citations will be issued.

Security is handled by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and the Lebanon Police Department.

What is at the fair

The fair’s site lists the main parts of the 10 days:

  • The midway, with kiddie rides, major rides and “spectacular” rides, on its Midway Rides page.
  • Stages and entertainment, including Fiddlers Grove, on its Entertainment page.
  • Competitions: Wilson County and Tennessee state competitions, 4-H and FFA, livestock shows and motorsports, listed under Competitions.
  • Fair food, with vendors on its Fair Food page.

The full day-by-day schedule goes up on the fair’s event calendar each summer.

What this means for you

  • Next fair: mid-August 2027 is the pattern, but the dates are not posted yet. Sign up for the fair’s email updates on its home page to hear first.
  • Save on rides: the only armband good on any day is the advance Mega Ticket, sold online until the night before opening.
  • Go early on Saturday for the matinee armband (sold 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
  • Pack a clear bag and leave food, drinks and weapons at home.
  • Skip the traffic with the free shuttle from downtown Lebanon or Cumberland University.

For what is on in Mount Juliet this month, see things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Wilson County Fair?

The 2026 Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair ran Thursday, Aug. 13, to Saturday, Aug. 22, at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon. The 2025 fair ran Aug. 14-23. Dates for 2027 had not been posted as of Oct. 17, 2026.

How much are Wilson County Fair tickets?

In 2026, daily gate admission was $17 for adults, $7.25 for children 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and under. A season ticket for all 10 days was $50, and seniors 60 and older paid $10 on Tuesday. Gate admission does not include rides.

How much is a carnival armband at the Wilson County Fair?

In 2026, armbands were $33 Monday to Thursday and $38 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. They are not sold online except as part of a Mega Ticket bought in advance.

Is parking free at the Wilson County Fair?

Yes. General parking around the fairgrounds was free every day in 2026, with preferred parking near the gates at $10 a car. Free shuttles ran from Cumberland University and from downtown Lebanon.

Can I bring a bag or a stroller to the Wilson County Fair?

The fair has a clear bag policy: clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag or a small clutch. Diaper bags are allowed with a baby after inspection, and strollers can be searched at the gate.