Are you ready for bizarre foods, Beerfest, live music, farm animals, midway rides, and more?
The 121st Kentucky State Fair is back Aug. 14-24 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville. This year theme is "All Things Kentucky All in One Place."
“The Kentucky State Fair is the greatest part of the summer season, and we’re on a mission to pack in and celebrate everything Kentuckians love most about the Commonwealth," David S. Beck, president & CEO of Kentucky Venues, previously said.
Daily admission is $12 and parking is $10. Parking for the Kentucky State Fair will be in Parking Lot A at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Visit kystatefair.org/tickets for details.
From live music and mouth-watering food to thrilling rides, family-friendly entertainment, and livestock competitions, here are 10 things to do at the 2025 Kentucky State Fair:
Did we miss your favorite event? Send a note to Gege Reed at [email protected].
Thrill Ville at the Kentucky State Fair
WHAT: At least 50 rides, including thrill, family, and the iconic Astro Ferris Wheel, are coming to town in August. Height and age restrictions/requirements vary by ride. Inclement weather can affect the operating hours. No refunds will be provided.
WHEN: Aug. 14-24. Open 3-10 p.m. Aug. 14, 18-21; 3-11 p.m. Aug. 15 and 22; 1-11 p.m. Aug. 16 and 23; 1-10 p.m. Aug. 17 and 24.
COST: One-day unlimited ride wristbands are available for $30 online and at participating Kroger locations through Aug. 13. One-day unlimited ride wristbands go up to $35 on Aug. 14 and are sold on Ticketmaster, at the fair, and through Kissel Entertainment.
Texas Roadhouse Free Concert Series at the Kentucky State Fair
All concerts begin at 8 p.m. with gates opening at 6:30 p.m. and take place in Lot L adjacent to Kentucky Kingdom and Broadbent Arena. Here is the 2025 Texas Roadhouse Concert Series lineup:
Thursday, Aug. 14: Sawyer Brown, Home Free
Friday, Aug. 15: Sister Sledge featuring Sledgendary, C&C Music Factory
Saturday, Aug. 16: Blue Oyster Cult, Great Southern
Sunday, Aug. 17: Roots & Boots with Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye and Sammy Kershaw
Monday, Aug. 18: We the Kingdom, Level Ground
Tuesday, Aug. 19: Happy Together Tour featuring The Turtles, Jay and the Americans, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, The Vogues, The Cowsills
Wednesday, Aug. 20: Parmalee and Drew Baldridge
Thursday, Aug. 21: Grand Funk Railroad, Frankie Ballard
Friday, Aug. 22: Theory of a Deadman, Wyld Ryde
Saturday, Aug. 23: Old 60, Avery Anna
More: Grand Funk Railroad heads to town. Here are all the 2025 free Kentucky State Fair concerts
World's Championship Horse Show
WHAT: The world’s most prestigious Saddlebred show is held in conjunction with the Kentucky State Fair and crowns world champion Saddlebreds, Hackney Ponies and Road Horses in different divisions. The show attracts spectators and competitors from across the world and includes over 2,000 horses competing for more than $1.5 million in awards. Horses compete in divisions including Three-Gaited, Five-Gaited, Fine Harness, Saddlebred Pleasure, Saddle Seat Equitation, Hackney/Harness Ponies, Roadster, In-Hand, and American Saddlebred. Each division includes several classes for amateurs, ladies, amateur ladies, and junior exhibitors, as well as younger horses and ponies.
WHERE: Freedom Hall, 937 Phillips Lane
WHEN: Aug. 16-23. For a complete schedule visit wchorseshow.com.
COST: Starts at $8; free Aug. 17 (noon), Aug. 18-20, 22-23 (9 a.m.). Price does not include fair admission and parking. Tickets may be purchased at the Kentucky Exposition Center ticket office and online at kystatefair.org/tickets.
More: The World's Championship Horse Show at Kentucky State Fair brings top riders to Louisville
Beerfest
WHAT: Beerfest at the Kentucky State Fair features beer from about a dozen craft breweries, live music, food, games and a souvenir glass. Performers during Beerfest: Journey to the Heart, Petty Theft and Zeno Jones. Breweries: Against the Grain, Atrium Brewing, Awry Brewing, Butcher Town Brewing Company, Dreaming Creek Brewery, Gallant Fox Brewing, Good Buddies, Goodwood, Gravely Brewing, Holsopple Brewing, Hometown Craft House, Hop Atomica, Lemons Hill, Mile Wide Beer, Monnik Beer, Noble Funk Brewing, Pivot Brewing Company, Tap on Main Brewing, Ten20 Brewery, VBC Tap Room, West Sixth, White Squirrel and Wise Bird Cider. For ages 21 and older. Must show ID.
WHERE: Hitching Post
WHEN: Aug. 23, 1-4 p.m.
COST: $30 in advance online until Aug. 22; price increases to $35 at the door. VIP and bourbon tasting add-on options available. Price does not include fair admission.
Free entertainment at the Kentucky State Fair
WHAT: Here are some of the free shows and entertainment at the Kentucky State Fair:
BMX Pros Stunt Show: BMX bike stunt show (Lot A)
Duckling Slide: Baby ducks going down a slide (South Wing A)
Lady Houdini: Escape artist (West Hall)
Live Milking Demonstrations: (South Wing A)
Miller's Border Collies: Trained dogs execute herding techniques on command in the Show Ring (West Wing)
Strong & Amazing Aerial Stunt Show: Hope you don't mind looking up for this aerial stunt show. (West lawn)
Twin Stunts: Motorcycle stunt show (Lot L)
North Wing: Visit the lobby to see demonstrations and crafts, checkout competitive entries like homemade beer and wine and canned items and shop equine-related vendors.
South Wing A: All things agriculture, Visit 4-H's Cloverville, FFA exhibits, AgLand, and Discovery Farm.
South Wing B: See all things that make Kentucky, Kentucky. Visit Rescue Ridge and Safety Town, Kentucky Remembers: Vietnam War, Pride of the Counties, Main Street Kentucky, and Health Horizons.
South Wing C: Shop 'til you drop, see hundreds of vendors with souvenirs and trinkets to local products and customizable crafts.
West Hall: View entries like a gourd bigger than your entire body, cornucopias, sunflower seed art, golden honey, and so much more to see what took home the coveted blue ribbon.
East Hall: Competitive entries, brose through antiques, culinary, textiles, photography, hobbies and more.
More: Here are the past 5 'Your Favorite Cake' winners, recipes from the Kentucky State Fair
Food & music tents at the Kentucky State Fair
WHAT: Grab some food and a seat and enjoy live music at The BIG Tent, an outdoor family entertainment space and the popular Budweiser Tent.
BIG Tent: Blacktop Rodeo, Corridor 64, Exit 105, Friday Night Special, Hank Rose Project, Hound Street Saints, Kentucky Blue, Leather and Lace, Naked Garden, Shotgun Serenade, Sound Decisions, Sound Machine, Throwback Thursday, KC ZZ Top, (just outside South Wing C).
Budweiser Tent: The Bottle Trees, Dance Hall Hooligans, Hartshaker, Jeni Carr Trio, Les Masters Band, Lexie & The Chillbillies, The Mad Taxpayers, Most Wanted, No Compromise, Radiotronic, Red Thurzday, Roses & Rattlesnakes, Savannah Dean, Soul Circus, Soul Kitchen, The Selloutz, Top Shelf, The Wilson Brothers. (West Lawn).
WHERE: The BIG Tent ( (Just outside South Wing C); Budweiser Tent (West Lawn)
WHEN: Aug. 14-24
Farm to Fair Cooking Stage at the Kentucky State Fair
WHAT: Demonstrations by chefs, caterers, and bakers from across the Commonwealth and live cooking demonstrations and competitions.
WHERE: State-of-the-art Farm to Fair cooking stage (South Wing A Lobby)
Health Horizons at the Kentucky State Fair
WHAT: Learn more about your health with free health screenings, flu shots, vaccination, and interactive exhibits from Kentucky’s medical community.
WHERE: South Wing B
Special discount days at the 2025 Kentucky State Fair
WHAT: There are four days where you can get reduced or free entry to the Kentucky State Fair:
Sunday, Aug. 17: Military Sunday at the State Fair. Active, retired military, veterans and their families receive free admission with military ID. There is a limit of four free tickets and parking is not included. Thrill Ville wristbands will be discounted 20% off and available on-site only. Limit of four wristbands per valid military ID.
Monday, Aug. 18: $5 Monday at the Kentucky State Fair. Admission is $5 per person and includes parking.
Tuesday, Aug. 19: Senior Day: Free admission for fairgoers ages 55 and older. Parking is not included. Special activities will be planned throughout the day.
Wednesday, Aug. 20: Sensory Awareness Day. In partnership with Kissel Entertainment, FEAT of Louisville, Home of the Innocents, and Kentucky Autism Training Center, free admission and Thrill Ville tickets will be given to fairgoers with sensory processing differences. From 10 a.m. until noon, Thrill Ville will operate with minimal lights and music to create an enjoyable fair experience for those with sensory sensitivities. Limited tickets are available.
More: What's 'The Best Thing I Ate' in Louisville in 2025? See our top recommendations
Check out the animals at the Kentucky State Fair
WHAT: Want to see dairy cattle, dairy goats or swine? What about the lambs, sheep, Boer goats and mules and jacks? These and more are making their appearance at the Kentucky State Fair.
WHEN:
Dairy cattle, dairy goats (Aug. 14-17, West Wing)
Poultry, pigeons and rabbits (Aug. 14-17, Pavilion)
Junior Dairy Cattle (Aug. 14, 15, Broadbent Arena)
Junior Dairy Goat (Aug. 14, Pavilion)
Ayrshire, Guernsey (Aug. 16, Broadbent Arena)
Dairy Goat (Aug. 16, Pavilion)
Brown Swiss, Milking Shorthorn, Red & White Heifers (Aug. 16, Broadbent Arena)
Jersey, Holstein, Red & White Cows (Aug. 17, Broadbent Arena)
Pony Pull (Aug. 17, Broadbent Arena)
Mules and Jacks (Aug. 18, Broadbent Arena)
Junior Goat, Junior Wether Dam, Novice Goat (Aug. 18, West Hall)
Junior Market Goat (Aug. 19, West Hall)
Junior Sheep: (Aug. 19, Pavillion)
Swine: (Aug. 20, Pavilion)
Novice Lamb, Novice Market Lamb (Aug. 20, Pavilion)
Junior Market Beef (Aug. 20, Broadbent Arena)
Junior Market Lamb (Aug. 20, Pavilion)
Junior Market Hog (Aug. 21, Pavilion)
Junior Heifer (Aug. 21, Broadbent Arena)
Limousin, Shorthorn, Red Angus (Aug. 22, Broadbent Arena)
Market Hog (Aug. 23, Pavilion)
Angus, Charolais, Gelbvieh/Balancer, Chiangus (Aug. 23, Broadbent Arene)
Sheep (Aug. 23-24, Pavilion)
Santa Gertrudis (Aug. 23, Broadbent Arena)
Boer Goat (Aug. 23, West Hall)
Breeding Hog (Aug. 24, Pavilion)
Hereford, Simmental (Aug. 24, Broadbent Arena)
Supreme Open Heifer (Aug. 24, Freedom Hall)
Championship Horse Pull (Aug. 24, Broadbent Arena)
In other news: From fan favorite to actor Colman Domingo, 14 new bourbons, whiskies to try this month
Reach features clerk Gege Reed at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 2025 Kentucky State Fair things to do: midway rides, free concerts
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