The Western Kentucky State Fair, now in its 73rd year in Hopkinsville, will run from June 21 to 29 at the fairgrounds off Richard Street.
Along with carnival rides and games on the midway, the fair’s main events include beauty pageants, tractor pulls, 4-H and FFA livestock contests, a petty zoo, the garden and home goods competitions, the demolition derby and live music.
Food is always a big draw at the fair, and several local clubs and organizations sell concessions in the area between the midway and grandstand. Traditionally, some of the offerings include barbecue, hamburgers, hot dogs, steak and pork chop sandwiches, ice cream, cotton candy and funnel cakes.
General admission is $3, and some events have an additional entrance fee. Parking is $5. Several residents in the neighborhood surrounding the fairgrounds also offer limited parking in their driveways and lawns. Those parking fees vary depending on distance from the fairgrounds.
Drew Exposition, the midway operator, sells arm bands for unlimited rides each day; prices range from $25 to $30.
Updates are posted throughout fair week on the WKSF Facebook page, and additional information is available by emailing the fair board at info@westernkentuckystatefair.org.
The full schedule of fair events is available here. Here are some highlights:
Friday, June 21
- 5 p.m. — rides open, midway
- 6 p.m. — petting zoo, livestock pavilion
- 6:30 p.m. — Western dance with Country Twang band, convention center
Saturday, June 22
- 10 a.m. — infant, baby and tiny tot pageants begin, convention center
- 5 p.m. — rides open, midway
- 7 p.m. — demolition derby, grandstand
- 7:30 p.m. — Miss WKSF pageant, convention center
Sunday, June 23
- 1 p.m. — youth pageants begin, convention center
- 2-5 p.m. — free gate admission with a church bulletin
- 3-5 p.m. — free rides with church bulletin
- 3 p.m. — antique tractor pulls, grandstand
Monday, June 24
- 5 p.m. — rides open, midway
- 7 p.m. — Ms. Plus Pageant
Tuesday, June 25
- 5-6 p.m. — Pennyrile Electric members with a coupon get free gate admission
- 6 p.m. — Little Roy and Lizzy Show, convention center
- 6 p.m. 4-H/FFA rabbit & poultry show
Wednesday, June 26
- 4 p.m. — gates open; free admission for military, dependents, veterans and first-responders with ID
- 5 p.m. — rides open; $10 unlimited ride arm bands for military and first-responders
Thursday, June 27
- 4:30-6 p.m. — free gate admission for Christian County Farm Bureau members
- 7 p.m. — farm and altered farm tractor and truck pulls, grandstand
Friday, June 28
- 7 p.m. — corn hole games, convention center
- 7 p.m. — Mid-South Truck & Tractor Pulls, grandstand
Saturday, June 29
- 7 p.m. — UCW wrestling, convention center
- 7 p.m. — Mid-South Truck & Tractor Pulls, grandstand
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.
