State Fair of Virginia
Fall festival · Doswell · Virginia
Virginia's state fair takes over Meadow Event Park in Doswell for about ten days each fall with livestock judging, a giant vegetable weigh-off, a carnival midway, and 4-H and FFA kids showing off a year of work. It is county fair energy scaled up to an entire state.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Ten days at Meadow Event Park; fair hours generally 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Dates from the official announcement, checked August 20, 2026. Always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: October 25–October 29
Color builds from October 18 · mostly bare by November 19
Sampled at State Fair of Virginia’s own coordinates and elevation (27 m) rather than a regional average.
16 weather points cover Virginia, and the model shifts their answer 4 days earlier, which is what it takes to match 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. Against Virginia's own climatology, the 2026 weather puts the peak 6 days earlier. How the forecast works
When to go to State Fair of Virginia
Good color holds through about November 5, giving you roughly 18 days from the first turn to past peak. Against Virginia overall, that is 5 days later.
Figure about 21 mi from Richmond.
State Fair of Virginia on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Virginia, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Virginia
Leaves & views
Farms & harvest
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When is State Fair of Virginia open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Sep 25 – Oct 4. Ten days at Meadow Event Park; fair hours generally 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does State Fair of Virginia peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 25–October 29 (best estimate October 27). Color starts around October 18 and is mostly bare by November 19.
- How do I get to State Fair of Virginia?
- State Fair of Virginia is in Doswell. The closest city is Richmond, about 21 mi away. It's part of Virginia's fall lineup.
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