Wilson County Fair guide: Tennessee State Fair welcomes walking tacos and racing pigs
The second combined Wilson County Fair – Tennessee State Fair had a full year to prepare, which organizers believe will be noticeable – starting Aug. 18.
Chicken on a stick. Corn on the cob. Birthing barns for pigs, mules, horses, cattle, and goats.
An antique car show, tractor pull, dirt bike race, and dog show. Music and plenty of rides for all ages.
Oh, don't forget the petting zoo, pig races, and funnel cake.
“We are going to be Tennessee’s largest classroom as we educate on every aspect of agriculture and life,” said Wilson County Promotions President Randall Clemons.
Here's a guide to two weeks of family fun in Wilson County.
When does the Wilson County Fair – Tennessee State Fair open?
When: Aug. 18-27
Where: James E. Ward Agricultural Center, 945 E. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon
Theme: 95 Reasons to Celebrate Tennessee to spotlight each county in the state
Agricultural commodity: Year of Hay
Wilson County Fair performers
Highway 96 will perform with the Cedar Creek Boys opening at 7 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 21, and at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 22. The fair will have 10 stages of entertainment with jazz, bluegrass and country performers.
Among other shows are popular ventriloquist David Turner who will perform two shows on weekday evenings and three shows on weekend days. Hypnotists Richard Barker will perform Aug. 18-21 and Corrie J., on Aug. 23-27. Doodles the Clown and Torres Circus will also perform.
Wave Swinger makes fair debut
Reithoffer Shows will continue to operate the carnival with 60 kiddie, major and super spectacular-level rides planned.
The Wave Swinger, a 39-foot tall, super spectacular ride that holds 48 adults and 16 children, will make its debut at the Wilson County Fair - Tennessee State Fair.
The Zipper, Spiderman, kiddie Monster Trucks, Mine Craft Funhouse, and Sky Flyer are also new.
The Stinger, which turns 360 degrees around the center pivot point axle, returns.
Zero Gravity and Euro Slide are also among rides in this year's lineup.
Individual ride tickets are $1.50. Rides require different amounts of tickets. There are also armbands that allow for unlimited rides:
$20: Sunday, Aug. 21-25.
$25 on both Fridays and Saturdays.
An opening night special is $1 per ride with at least a purchase of a $10 sheet of tickets.
The Euro Slide is not included with the armbands but is $5 per ride or three for $10.
How much do Wilson County Fair – Tennessee State Fair tickets cost?
Tickets to the fair are on sale online and at Wilson County Fair – Tennessee State Fair office. Season and Mega Tickets are available at local banks. Prices include:
Regular daily admission: Adults – $12. Children ages 6-12 – $6. 5-under – free. Opening day is half-price.
Mega Tickets: One gate admission and ride armband for one day is $30 (must be purchased by Aug. 17). The Euro Slide must be purchased as a separate ticket.
Season tickets – $45.
Attraction and event highlights
Antique Car Show: 1 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 21. Entries are taken at 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; $15 per vehicle. Awards at 4 p.m.
Antique & Farm Stock Tractor Pull: 3 p.m., Monday, Aug. 21, Motor Sports Arena.
Demolition derbies: 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 26, and 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 at the Motor Sports Arena. A lawn-mower demolition derby will be held during intermissions.
Four-wheeler and dirt bike races: 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 22, at the Motor Sports Arena.
Dog show: 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 22, Livestock Arena (dog tent).
Livestock shows will be held daily with more than 100 scheduled throughout the fair.
Popular fair foods
Chicken on a stick, corn on the cob, walking tacos, funnel cakes, barbecue and an assortment of fried offerings (Oreos) highlight a list of about 90 food concession items.
Apple pie, pecan pie and banana pudding contests on Sunday, Aug. 21, are among cooking and baking competitions throughout the fair.
Birthing Barn
The popular onsite and internet attraction will include pigs, mules, horses, cattle and goats that were bred with a projection to give birth during the fair.
The Birthing Barn is organized by Tim Edwards and Jennifer Apala of Edwards Feeds in Lebanon. The livestream that has gained millions of views around the world will continue 24 hours a day. Livestreams will include The Birthing Barn on YouTube, and Agricultural Learning Center – Lebanon TN – Wilson County's Facebook page and others.
Travel Tennessee and other exhibits
The Turner Evans building will have a painting on the floor of the state with each county laid out. Each county will also have an exhibit that showcases the area.
A new 4-H and Future Farmers of America building will open for statewide exhibits from the organizations. And a new building to house perishable items for state exhibits will also be utilized.
The 2021 first place and best of show winners from county fairs throughout the state in approved categories will take place in the Farm Bureau Expo Building.
Hay, representing this year’s theme, will hail from across the state as well.
A new Made in Tennessee building won’t be available for this year’s fair, but is expected to be ready for 2023.
Tennessee FFA Ham Breakfast
A signature state fair event drew about 1,200 and raised about $125,000 the first year in Wilson County.
The FFA Ham Breakfast benefits its chapters at schools across Tennessee. The breakfast maxed out at around 500 in Nashville, organizers said.
This year’s FFA Ham Breakfast is at 8 a.m., Monday, Aug. 22, at the Farm Bureau Expo Center.
State Comptroller of the Treasury Jason Mumpower is the honorary breakfast chair. Gov. Bill Lee is scheduled to attend the breakfast.
For more information, call 931-372-6050 or email tnffafoundation@tnffa.org.
Security
Metal detectors at each gate will be in place as a new safety enhancement.
The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office will have personnel on the grounds with staff assigned to a mobile command watching surveillance cameras at all times.
Multiple county, city and state agencies will also be involved, including the Lebanon Police Department.
No guns or weapons are allowed.
Photo booths at each gate are encouraged for parents and guardians to help law enforcement and workers in case small children are separated.
Clear bags are recommended –no bigger than 12-by-6-by-12 inches.
Parking
Preferred parking at the Ward Agricultural Center is $10. There is also free parking at the fairgrounds and free satellite parking daily with shuttles traveling back and forth from 4 to 11 p.m. Satellite pickup locations include:
Cumberland University football field, 415 Harding Drive, Lebanon
Wilson County Courthouse at 228 E. Main St., Lebanon
First Baptist Church, 227 East Main Street, Lebanon
City ballpark lots, 416 Baird Circle, Lebanon
More paved crossroads and cameras are designed to speed up traffic flow. TDOT will have overpass cameras on Interstate 40 to give parking staff lead time on volume expectations.
Fiddlers Grove Historical Village
The village within the Ward Agricultural Center will have different demonstrations such as cast Iron cooking, gourd art, blacksmithing, quilting and basket weaving. There will also be storytelling and several of the music stages are within Fiddlers Grove. The General Store will be open, selling fried baloney and Coke floats.
Popular daily attractions
The Poultry and Rabbit Barn is a draw daily.
The Family Fun Zone includes the Petting Zoo. Circle C Pig Races will be held several times a day. The AgVenture Barn will include a Tennessee agriculture commodities exhibit and activities such as the Corn Maze.
More time to prepare in 2022
The first Wilson County Fair – Tennessee State Fair in 2021 had just a few months to prepare for the merger after it was approved. The fair was also hit with rain eight of the 10 days with COVID-19 as a backdrop.
The traditional Wilson County Fair, which has been known for years as one of the strongest county fairs in the nation, wasn’t held in 2020 because of the pandemic.
The merger brought the state fair out of a messy situation in Nashville because of redevelopment at The Fairgrounds Nashville.
“It can’t be overstated how important the certainty and stable platform is in helping the state fair build,” U.S. Congressman John Rose, who previously chaired the Tennessee State Fair Association and has served on the Tennessee State Fair and Exposition Commission, said after last year’s fair.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wilson County Fair - Tennessee State Fair: A guide to all the events
