This year marks the 170th anniversary of the West Tennessee State Fair and for the first time, it will be held in Chester County. This year’s fair is going to be bigger and better than ever before. Whether the fair is an annual event for you or if you haven’t been in years, you will notice that things are done differently in a small town. There will be something for everyone to enjoy. The theme is An American Tradition and that sums up exactly what the organizers are planning to offer! While there will be the rides, food and games everyone expects to see at the fair, there will also be a return to the fair’s agricultural roots and family values.
The event will kick-off on Thursday, Oct. 16, with a Celebrity Cook-off at 2 p.m. Come by and cheer on your favorite local celebrity chef as they compete for bragging rights of their culinary skills. The actual opening ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. on that date. Because agriculture is the backbone of our fair this year, a Farmer’s Appreciation Breakfast will be held at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at the Fairgrounds.
Workers are putting the final touches on the new exhibition building which will house all of the traditional contests and exhibits. Agricultural exhibits include everything from eggs or honey to crops, horticulture, fruits and vegetables. We all know that Chester County has some of the best cooks around and they will have an opportunity to showcase their creations in the canning and culinary arts categories. Everyone is encouraged to dust off their favorite family recipes and enter such contests as bread, cakes, cookies, candy or pies with the possibility of being named Queen or King of the Kitchen.
The quilt exhibits are back this year! Whether it is your personal creation, one your quilting group has completed, or a vintage quilt you have had for over 50 years, there is a category for you. There are also contests in needlework and stitch and sew for all the seamstresses in our community. Hobbies, crafts, visual arts, photography and educational displays round out the list of exhibits. All of these categories have both adult and youth categories so there is something for every member of the family to enter. Non-perishable entries will be accepted at the fairground exhibition building from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.
Perishables can be checked in Monday, Oct. 13 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Judging will take place Tuesday, Oct. 14 and the exhibits will be open for viewing through the full ten days of the fair. Entries must be picked up from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26.
In addition to the contest exhibits, there will be a number of static exhibits highlighting Chester County and our agricultural heritage. Trucks, tractors, and farm equipment will be displayed throughout the fair. It is amazing all the things our county has to offer so everyone is encouraged to visit the Pick Chester County exhibit where local agriculture producers and farmers will be highlighted. The Jimmy Stanford Memorial Antique Tractor Show will take place on Saturday, Oct. 25. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and awards will be presented at 2 p.m.
What would a fair be without the thrills of a midway? The carnival rides and games will be provided by Fun Time Shows which has been named as the second cleanest carnival in the country. There will be about twenty rides ranging from fun rides for the kids to a 60-ft Ferris wheel and everything in between. Folks will definitely want to purchase an armband for unlimited access to all of the carnival rides. There should also be helicopter rides available if the weather cooperates.
It is impossible to attend the fair without sampling all that delicious fair food and this year’s event has more than you can eat! From corn dogs to funnel cakes, there will be food trucks of all shapes and sizes. Be on the lookout for The Fiesta Wagon to return. Many people had an opportunity to taste their amazing Mexican food at the BBQ Festival and know why they won the Best Food Vendor award at the Tennessee State Fair. Fairgoers are encouraged to let our local Future Farmers of America chapter help with the age-old question “What’s for Dinner?” The FFA will be offering the best pork chop or BBQ chicken plates you will find anywhere. This chapter has worked hard to help bring this fair to our county so please show your appreciation by participating in their fundraiser.
No county fair would be complete without livestock and this year’s West Tennessee State Fair will feature all kinds of livestock! On any given night you can expect to find some type of livestock event. If your passion is goats, sheep, cattle or chickens, you will find it all at the fair. On Monday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m., folks are invited to participate in the 4-H Chick Chain. This event provides an opportunity for local 4-H members to exhibit the chickens they have raised this year. Following the show, the chickens will be auctioned off with all proceeds going directly to the individual students.
While we are on the subject of livestock, no one will want to miss the Rodeo, which will take place on the first Friday and Saturday of the fair. Mustard Seed Cattle Company will be presenting Bucking by Faith. There will be roping, bull-riding and all of the typical rodeo events but in a family-friendly atmosphere. Attending the rodeo is included in the cost of gate admission.
The 2025 Miss West Tennessee State Fair Fairest of the Fair pageant will take place Saturday, Oct. 18 at Williams Auditorium in Chester County Middle School. There is a pageant for every age group ranging from newborn to 20 years of age. For information regarding specific pageants go to wtsfair.com/pageants for all of the details.
For those who prefer to take in a show while the rest of the family is riding the carnival rides, there will be several opportunities. Tuesday, Oct. 21 will be Freed-Hardeman University night on the Fairgrounds Stage. Thursday is Faith and Family Night with Tennessee Traditions playing at 6 p.m. and then Jeff and Sheri Easter will take the stage at 7 p.m. Local talent will be performing Friday, Oct. 24, and we all know how much talent there is in Chester County.
All entertainment is included in the cost of gate admission.
Saturday, Oct. 25 will bring Hub City Wrestling to the fair! Get ready for some exciting matches including Ava Brooks taking on Madi Bug Hanson. Admission for this event is included in the cost of gate admission.
The only thing better than helping out a good cause is having fun while you do it. The Carl Perkins Child Abuse Center will have a dunking booth at the fair. Take advantage of the opportunity to dunk your favorite local official or neighborhood celebrity. All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Carl Perkins center to support the amazing work they do for our community.
All precautions are being taken to ensure a safe, fun, family-friendly experience. A big thank-you goes out to the Henderson Police Department, Chester County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Department of Homeland Security and local Emergency Management/EMTs that will be onsite for the duration of the fair. There will also be round-the-clock security in place.
The fair will run from Oct. 16 through Oct. 25, 2026, at Henderson Fairgrounds located at 575 Fourth St. Weekdays the fair will open at 5 p.m. and close at 10 p.m. Saturday it will be open from 11 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. Gate admission is $5 and includes admission to all shows and exhibits. A season pass will be available for $25. This will allow an individual to come in and out of the gate any day/any time. Seniors will enjoy reduced gate admission on Sunday, Oct. 19 when they can get in for only $3. Armbands for unlimited carnival rides are available for $30 per day. Saturday will be split into two sessions so to ride all day, a person will need to purchase an armband for the afternoon, and another one for the evening. Many may find that the best value for rides is the season armband, which is available for $150 per person but allows unlimited rides for the full ten days of the fair.
The organizers of this year’s West Tennessee State Fair have put in countless hours of work to make sure this is a fair to remember. Come and enjoy homegrown entertainment for the whole county where you can experience nonstop fun, food and time with friends and family. Afterall, a county fair really is An American Tradition.
For more information visit wtsfair.com
