The Biggest Fairs in Virginia

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.

The State Fair of Virginia set an attendance milestone in 2023, reaching full capacity on its closing Saturday for the first time in the event's history — 210,000 fairgoers over the run. Held each September/October at Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, the 10-day fair draws visitors from across the state for livestock competitions, a midway, and concerts.

Described by local press as Virginia's largest county fair, the Prince William County Fair has run since 1949 at the county fairgrounds near Manassas. The nine-day August event draws over 60,000 visitors annually from across Northern Virginia and the D.C. metro, with a full carnival midway, rodeo, demolition derby, and 4-H livestock program.

Dating back to 1911, the Chesterfield County Fair runs nine days each August at the county fairgrounds and is identified locally as the fourth-largest fair in Virginia. Organizers project roughly 70,000 visitors across the run for its rodeo, livestock shows, and agricultural exhibits.

Established in 1936 and run by Loudoun 4-H, the Loudoun County Fair is held each July at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds in Leesburg as the club's primary annual fundraiser, with proceeds going back into the fairgrounds. The 2022 fair drew 20,000 attendees — smaller than the other fairs on this list, but one of the region's longest-running.