Vermont State Fair

The Vermont State Fair in Rutland is billed as one of the oldest state fairs in the United States: the first was held in 1846 in a field near Castleton as a one-day event called the Rutland State Fair, and by 1849 the Rutland Railroad was adding extra cars to bring people to it. Run by the Rutland County Agricultural Society, it is an agricultural fair with 4-H shows, dairy and horse barns and a small farm animal exhibit, alongside a midway, racing pigs, a demolition derby and music. The 180th fair ran August 18 to 22, 2026; the 2027 dates have not been announced.

In 2026 the fair opened at 5 PM on its first day and at 8 AM the rest of the week. On the final Saturday the midway ran 11 AM to 11 PM, adults paid $15, while seniors 65 and over and children 6 to 12 paid $7; children 5 and under and military with ID get in free every day. Parking is free, and only service animals are allowed on the grounds. That Saturday's program ran from showmanship classes and culinary judging in the morning to magic shows, dock diving dogs, bingo and the Rutland City Band through the afternoon.

It suits families and anyone who enjoys a small-scale agricultural fair: 4-H shows, dairy and horse barns, a small farm animal exhibit, racing pigs, dock diving dogs, magic shows and a grandstand concert share the grounds. Visitors expecting the midway of a large state fair may find it modest.

Attendees come mostly for the food, with corn dogs and the maple creemee among the treats people name, and for small-fair extras such as the racing pigs, which one visitor called a hoot. One Vermonter compares the fair to a county 4-H fair rather than a big state fair, which suits people who want barns and an easy day more than a huge midway.