Historic Ride
The earliest version of an Arkansas State Fair took place three years after the Civil War ended. In 1868, the Arkansas State Agricultural and Mechanical Association organized the event at the end of Little Rock’s Center Street (now Center and 17th). The fair moved in 1876 to Arch Street.
In 1881, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, the new State Fair Association of Arkansas staged a fair on 110 acres along East 9th Street. Fairs took place sporadically at several sites during the next half-century. The first in the current series, initially called the Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show, was held in 1938 in North Little Rock.
In 1942, the fair was moved to Pine Bluff after a fire destroyed the North Little Rock buildings. The demands of World War II forced cancellation in 1944 and 1945. Then the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce offered the present Roosevelt Road property, which gradually grew to the present 135 acres.
The fair has taken place annually in Little Rock since 1946, except for cancellation due to the COVID pandemic in 2020. Attendance in recent years has averaged well above 500,000.
Arkansas State Fair adds no-cost attractions
This month’s 86th Arkansas State Fair has good news for value-minded visitors at a time when so many prices are continuing to climb.
“We are taking the fair in a new direction this year, with a greater focus on free attractions and entertainment for our visitors,” says General Manager Tiffany Wilkerson. “As part of this change, we will no longer have ticketed shows in Barton Coliseum. And the Hiland Dairy Fun Zone will offer an expanded lineup of exciting free attractions.”
In another boon for fair-goers, prices for admission, parking and midway-ride day bands remain the same as last year.
This fair is bringing back the free SeaLion Splash, while adding two new no-charge attractions, the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show and the HoopYou dancers. The free outdoor music stage will host local and regional acts.
“Our goal is to provide more free entertainment and other attractions throughout the grounds,” says Wilkerson. “That will give families and other guests more chances to enjoy the fair without additional show costs.”
She suggests that first-time visitors “plan spending the whole day at the fair. While many people come mainly to experience the rides or enjoy the creative fair foods, there is so much more to see and do.”
She encourages guests “to visit our website at arkansasstatefair.com before coming and take some time to plan their day. Be sure to check out the many free attractions, walk through the Arvest Bank’s Hall of Industry and the Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Arts & Crafts Building. Visit the livestock barns to experience the fair’s agricultural side.”
For a number of years after its advent in 1938, the fair was called the Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show. Livestock competitions are still important, with judging daily from Oct. 12 to Oct. 25 in Barton Coliseum and three barns. There are various categories for cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry.
Food finds
The Arts & Crafts Building hosts an array of cooking and creative-arts events with various sponsors. The food competitions range from desserts to sweet potatoes to peanut butter to hamburger steaks to hot-dog eating. Painting, photography and creative writing are among the arts categories.
Fairground concessions serve up a cornucopia of foods and beverages. “I usually keep my own tasting simple,” says Wilkerson, “because you can never go wrong at the fair with a corn dog or a funnel cake. But we are always looking for something new and exciting to offer.”
New fare for 2026 will include “hot honey mac-and-cheese, maple bacon mac-and-cheese, peach cobbler in a cone with bourbon caramel sauce, and funnel cake bacon fries. We had great feedback on the grilled cheese we introduced last year, so we are excited to have it returning.”
Ticket thrills
The midway is adding two rides to its thrills and chills. The newcomers are the Super Miami and the Downdraft, joining old favorites like the Outlaw Roller Coaster, the Tilt-a-Whirl and the more sedate Tea Cups.
The fair has good-value promotions every day. The most popular, says Wilkerson, is Lunch at the Fair. It provides free parking and admission from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday “to provide an affordable and convenient way for families and groups to enjoy the fair during weekday lunch hours.”
An Oct. 19 deal lets youngsters age 6 and under enjoy Kiddie Rides for free from 9 to 11 a.m., before regular opening time, with free parking and admission for adults bringing them. Oct 21 is Ladies Night Out, providing free admission starting at 6 p.m. for women 21 and up. On Oct. 22, college students with a valid school ID are admitted free from 6 p.m. to closing.
The fair’s youth curfew will be imposed again this month. All fair attendees under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult after 6 p.m.
“Our goal every year is to create a safe, welcoming and enjoyable environment for everyone who attends,” Wilkerson says. “We have tremendous support from both local and state law enforcement. I also want our guests to know that experiencing the fairgrounds at night is one of the best parts of the fair.”
Another security rule allows bringing into the fairgrounds only clear plastic bags no larger than 12x6x12, one-gallon clear freezer bags and small clutch bags.
As busy as Wilkerson is during the fair, “I try to stroll the fairgrounds every day. But my favorite place to be is at the front gates. There is something special about watching families walk through with excitement. Seeing them smiling makes all the hard work worthwhile.”