About Johnston County Fair

The Johnston County Fair in Smithfield celebrates a Triangle-area county known for its ham shops — Johnston County is the self-proclaimed Ham Capital of the World, with numerous country ham purveyors lining US-301 — alongside its tobacco, cotton, and sweet potato farming heritage in the piedmont and coastal plain transition zone.

What to Expect

Expect livestock shows, 4-H and FFA competitions, ham and pork exhibits, sweet potato and tobacco displays, carnival rides, and a well-attended fair in one of the Triangle's fastest-growing counties.

Visitor Tips

Smithfield's outlet shopping corridor and its ham shops on US-301 are regional institutions. The Ava Gardner Museum honors the Johnston County-born Hollywood star, and the county's location on I-95 makes it a gateway between the Research Triangle and the coast.

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