- 1Wilson County Fair & Tennessee State FairLebanon, Tennessee861,425 visitorsvia WKRN Nashville
The Wilson County Fair is simultaneously the Tennessee State Fair — a merger that took effect in 2021 and turned Lebanon's late-August fair into one of the most-attended events in the country. The 2024 edition drew 861,425 visitors, a new record, ranking among the top 10 fair attendances nationally. It runs 11 days each August at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon, about 30 miles east of Nashville.
- 2Williamson County FairFranklin, Tennessee~250,000 visitors (approx.)via williamsoncountyfair.org (official)
Founded in 2004, the Williamson County Fair has grown rapidly into one of the largest county fairs in the Southeast, drawing an estimated 250,000 visitors each August to the Williamson County Ag Expo Park in Franklin — about 30 minutes south of Nashville. Its growth mirrors Williamson County's broader expansion into one of the fastest-growing and highest-income counties in the state.
- 3Tennessee Valley FairKnoxville, Tennessee100,000+ visitors (approx.)via tnvalleyfair.org (official)
The Tennessee Valley Fair has run in Knoxville since 1919, making it one of the oldest fairs in the South. Held each September at Chilhowee Park on the east side of Knoxville, it draws over 100,000 visitors annually — its IAFE Division 2 classification places it in the 100,000–250,000 range — with livestock shows, a midway, carnival rides, and live entertainment filling a week-long run.