A Closer Look at Six Days of Rockingham County Fair Fun
A Summer Tradition Returns
For six days, the Rockingham County Fairgrounds came alive with the sights, sounds and traditions that make fair week a special part of summer in the Shenandoah Valley. From August 10-15, visitors gathered for agricultural exhibits and livestock activities, carnival rides, live entertainment, fair food and events in the Pepsi Grandstand.
There was plenty to see throughout the week, whether visitors came to support a 4-H or FFA exhibitor, catch a favorite performer, enjoy a fair food tradition or simply spend an evening walking the grounds. Together, those pieces made up another busy week at one of Rockingham County's longstanding summer traditions.
Showcasing the Work Behind the Exhibits
Agriculture remains at the center of the Rockingham County Fair, and this year's exhibits and livestock activities gave visitors a chance to see the work that goes into preparing for fair week. Livestock shows, agricultural exhibits and 4-H and FFA activities put the focus on the skills, dedication and knowledge of local exhibitors.
The competitive exhibits also offered plenty of variety, with participants showcasing what they had grown, raised, created and accomplished. The impact of that work extended beyond the fairgrounds, too. This year's animal sale raised more than $1.3 million, highlighting the tremendous support behind the young exhibitors and the agricultural community that makes fair week possible.
For visitors, it was an opportunity to see a different side of the county's agricultural community and the many people who contribute to it.
Rides, Food and Entertainment Around Every Corner
The midway brought plenty of familiar fair excitement, with carnival rides running throughout the week alongside free entertainment for visitors of all ages. This year's lineup included Hollywood Racing Pigs, Fast Furious Corgi Races, Circus Incredible, magic and illusion shows, Coyote Clem and Grampy's Petting Zoo.
Fair food added another familiar part of the experience. Whether it was a meal between activities or a favorite treat picked up before heading home, food is part of what makes a trip to the fair feel like a trip to the fair.
Big Nights in the Pepsi Grandstand
The Pepsi Grandstand offered a full schedule of evening events, with something different taking the stage or the arena each night. The 2026 lineup included concerts from Flatland Cavalry and Clay Walker, a farm tractor pull, the Begoon Brothers rodeo, the Sarge & Sons Demo Derby and the Interstate Pullers Truck and Tractor Pull.
The variety kept the grandstand busy throughout the week, bringing music, rodeo action, and traditional fair competition together in one lineup.
One More Fair Week in the Books
The 2026 Rockingham County Fair gave us six days filled with familiar traditions and plenty of new memories to take home. It brought neighbors, families, exhibitors, performers and fairgoers together for another summer celebration that felt uniquely Rockingham County. The fair may be finished for now, but the stories, photos and memories from this year's week will last until we get to do it all again next summer.
