Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

It’s definitely a lineup of events you won’t find anywhere else. The Five County Fair opens its gates this week, with everything from Christmas in September to a Power Wheels Derby. Add in the regular activities like the livestock and food competitions, pro wrestling and beauty pageants and that combines for a very full week. 

First off, for a detailed feature about this year’s fair, you can pick up the September edition of Farmville the Magazine. But as Opening Day is right around the corner, we thought it would be a good idea to give a preview of sorts, highlighting when and where the various events will take place. Think of this as a road map to help you map out what’s happening each night and where you’ll plan to visit. 

We’ll tackle the easiest question first. Where is it located? That would be 209 Fairgrounds Road in Farmville. Second question, how much does it cost to get in this year? It’s $8 for adults and $3 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under get in free. You’ve got two options for tickets. First, you can go to fivecountyfair.com and buy them online, then print them out. Or you can show up at the gate and buy some at the fair. 

As for the fair itself, this marks the 87th edition, which will run from Tuesday, Sept. 24 through Saturday, Sept. 28. It’s also got a theme for the first time, as it’s “Five County Fair: Carnival Lights and Country Nights”. And residents from those five counties that give the fair its name, Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland and Prince Edward, are able to come out and enjoy activities each of those five days.

Five County Fair daily events

Now comes the big question. When are different activities taking place? We’ve split this up on a day by day schedule, so you can map out your plans. 

One thing to mark on your calendar will be the return on the Power Wheels Derby. Think a demolition derby, but involving young kids with their power wheels cars. Kids ages 3 to 8 can enter with their power wheel vehicle to win a trophy for best performance. This year, it’ll be on Saturday, Sept. 28, the last day of the fair.
The event will kick off at 4:30 p.m. with a parade for all the participants to show off their decorated cars as everyone is encouraged to decorate the power wheel as a derby-style car. Then they will be let loose in the arena where they can run into each other until time is called. 

Also returning this year will be the Five County Fair beauty pageants. Johnna Stevens won the 2023 Miss Five County Fair Pageant, marking her second win at the fair. In 2019, she was crowned Junior Miss Five County Fair at the pageant. Also winning last year was Emma Grace Tucker, who took home the Teen Miss Five County Fair title. In the younger competition, Ava Adams won as Little Miss Five County Fair, Emma Irving and Miss Bryleigh Elliott tied as Petite Miss Five County Fair and Savannah Redford won as Junior Miss Five County Fair. 

Three shows, Tiny Miss, Little Miss and Petite Miss, will be held on Wednesday. The other three, Jr. Miss, Teen Miss and Miss Five County Fair, will be held Thursday night. 

There’s also going to be a unique contest involving Christmas trees this year. “Christmas in September” is a challenge for groups to come and decorate their favorite Christmas tree, but it has to fit with the theme of Agriculture in Virginia. The winners will be chosen early in the week, with all trees up for display throughout the fair. 

The day to day schedule

So now let’s get to what you came for. Here’s a look at each night and what’s taking place. 

TUESDAY, SEPT. 24 – The gates open at 5 p.m. for the start of the fair, with midway games and carnival rides opening up at 6 p.m. If you want to sit and take in a show, Team Zoom Canine Entertainment will be on the grounds. There will also be a petting zoo down by the front gate. Tuesday is also when the Beef Cattle, Sheep and Goats will be judged. The Youth Beef Show will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Varner Building, with Youth Sheep and Goat shows following. The first day ends at 10 p.m. 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25 – The gates open a bit earlier on Wednesday, at 3 p.m., with the midway games and rides starting up at 3 p.m. Team Zoom will be back, as will the petting zoo. The first of the beauty pageants will also take place, with Tiny Miss, Petite Miss and Little Miss happening at 6:30 p.m. in the Varner Building. All students get free admission until 7 p.m. if you bring in a fair school ticket. Homeschool students can get their ticket at the admission gate. Gates close at 10 p.m. 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 26 – Gates open at 3 p.m. again, with the midway games and rides starting up at 4 p.m. Team Zoom and the petting zoo will be back. Also, the second day of beauty pageants will happen, with the Junior Miss, Teen Miss and Miss Five County Fair Pageants starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Varner Building. Again, if you are a student with a fair school ticket, you get in free until 7 p.m. The Pie Eating Contest will start up at 7 p.m. in the Open Air Building. If you are a college student, bring your college ID to get in free. Gates close at 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27 – The gates open at 5 p.m., with the midway games and rides starting up at 6 p.m. Team Zoom will be on the grounds and the petting zoo will be open, with a Dairy Show happening at 6:30 p.m. in the Varner Building. Gates close at 10 p.m. 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 – This is the final day of the 2024 fair, with gates opening at 3 p.m. The midway games and rides start up at 4 p.m., with the petting zoo open and Team Zoom on the grounds. The Power Wheels Derby starts up at 4:30 p.m. on the track, with pro wrestling taking place at 8 p.m. in the Varner Building. The fair closes at 10 p.m.