- 1State Fair of TexasDallas, Texas
The State Fair of Texas is both the longest and largest state fair in the country, running 24 straight days at Fair Park with no closures. It drew over 2 million visitors in 2025, and has run at the same fairgrounds since 1886.
- 2Southwestern Exposition & Livestock ShowFort Worth, Texas
Dating to 1896, this is the oldest continuously running livestock show in the country. Its 23-day run also hosts what's billed as the longest-running rodeo in the US, with 28 separate performances packed into the schedule.
- 3OC FairCosta Mesa, California
The OC Fair draws well over a million visitors each summer at the OC Fair & Event Center, but like most large California county fairs it doesn't run daily — it's dark on Mondays and Tuesdays, spreading its 23 open days across a full calendar month.
- 4Houston Livestock Show and RodeoHouston, Texas
Founded in 1931 during the Depression as the Houston Fat Stock Show, this is now the largest livestock show and rodeo in the world, drawing more than 2 million fans. Its 2026 edition added an extra day, growing from a historic 20-day run to 21.
- 5Miami-Dade County Fair & ExpositionMiami, Florida
Also known as "The Youth Fair," this event has run at Tamiami Park since 1972 (with roots to 1952) and draws 500,000+ visitors, ranking among the top fairs in North America. Its 2027 run — the 75th edition — is dark for two weekday pairs, for 21 actual open days.
- 6Washington State FairPuyallup, Washington
Washington's largest fair has grown well past the "17 days of fun" tagline it adopted after a 1978 expansion — that number is outdated marketing, not its current schedule. Today it runs 20 open days (closed Tuesdays) across a 24-day September window at its original Puyallup fairgrounds.
- 7Arizona State FairPhoenix, Arizona
One of the oldest fairs in the West, dating to 1884, the Arizona State Fair has shifted to a weekend-only schedule — Thursday through Sunday — stretching its 20 open days across a full five-week calendar window rather than running consecutively.
- 8San Diego County FairDel Mar, California
Held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds since 1936, this is one of the largest fairs in the country by attendance, regularly drawing well over a million visitors across its 20 open days each summer, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
- 9San Antonio Stock Show & RodeoSan Antonio, Texas
A San Antonio tradition since 1949, this event combines a full PRCA rodeo with a stock show and concert series at the Frost Bank Center/Freeman Coliseum complex, running every day of its 18-day span.
- 10Alameda County FairPleasanton, California
Running since 1912, the Alameda County Fair is one of the Bay Area’s largest annual events, with a demolition derby, pig races, and a concert series spread across four consecutive long weekends (Wednesday–Sunday) rather than a continuous run.
- 11Los Angeles County FairPomona, California
First held in 1922 on a former beet field, the LA County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in the country. It now runs Thursday through Sunday (plus Memorial Day) rather than daily, for 17 total fair days.
- 12South Florida FairWest Palm Beach, Florida
A South Florida institution since 1912, the fair runs every day of its 17-day January-into-February span, leaning into a different rotating theme each year during the region’s dry winter season.
- 13Eastern States Exposition (Big E)West Springfield, Massachusetts
The largest fair in the Northeast, the Big E is unusual for uniting all six New England states under one roof, each with its own historic-replica building. It draws over 1.5 million visitors across its 17-day run with no closures.
- 14California State FairSacramento, California
2026 marks the last time the California State Fair runs in its traditional midsummer slot at Cal Expo before permanently shifting to fall dates the following year. Known for its California-grown food and wine showcases, it runs daily with no closures.
- 15Indiana State FairIndianapolis, Indiana
One of the oldest state fairs in the country, dating to 1852, the Indiana State Fair is held at its historic fairgrounds and closes only on Mondays, for 15 open days across its August run.
- 16Alaska State FairPalmer, Alaska
Famous for record-setting giant vegetables — Alaska’s long summer daylight produces cabbages over 100 pounds — this is the state’s largest annual event, closing Tuesdays and Wednesdays for a total of 14 open days near the base of the Chugach Mountains.
- 17New York State FairSyracuse, New York
One of the oldest state fairs in the nation, dating to 1841, this fair runs daily for its full 13-day span at the Empire Expo Center, known for its butter sculpture display and dense concentration of agricultural competitions.
- 18Riverside County Fair & National Date FestivalIndio, California
Held since 1921 in California’s date-growing heartland, this fair pairs a full agricultural exposition with an Arabian Nights-themed pageant celebrating the local date and citrus harvest. For 2026 it shifted to three long weekends rather than a continuous run.
- 19California Mid-Winter Fair & FiestaImperial, California
A century-old agricultural fair for California's low-desert Imperial Valley, this event moved to a three-weekend schedule for 2026 — a deliberate pivot away from low-attendance weekdays, according to the fair's own CEO — for roughly 13 total open days.
- 20San Joaquin County FairStockton, California
In 2026 this fair made news by moving from its traditional late-spring dates to December — both to escape Central Valley heat and to expand from its historic 3-day format into a much longer 12-day run.
* The Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta’s open-day count is corroborated but not directly quoted by an official primary source — treat it as a well-sourced estimate rather than an exact confirmed figure.