Salem Fair

What Sets It Apart

Billed as America's Largest Free-Gate Fair, the Salem Fair charges no admission and runs 12 days each July at the Salem Civic Center complex in the Roanoke Valley. Organizers say the fair sees up to 350,000 people attend annually, drawing crowds from across western Virginia for its carnival midway, concerts, and agricultural exhibits — regularly cited as the largest fair in the state by both attendance and duration.

Fair Highlights

Expect over 50 carnival rides including major thrill rides, nightly grandstand entertainment, hundreds of food vendors, games, and the energetic atmosphere of one of the East Coast's premier outdoor fair events.

A Closer Look

The Salem Fair is Virginia's largest outdoor fair and one of the largest outdoor fairs in the country, a twelve-day July celebration in the independent city of Salem that draws nearly half a million visitors to its massive midway and entertainment lineup each year. The fair has been running since 1988, building a following across the surrounding area.

Planning Your Visit

Salem sits in the Roanoke Valley surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains — the Roanoke region's greenways, Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Trail access, and the Virginia Museum of Transportation are all nearby.

Nearby County Fairs