Image via princewilliamcountyfairgrounds.com
Prince William County's biggest annual event is almost here. The 77th Prince William County Fair runs July 31 through August 8 at the Prince William County Fairgrounds, 10624 Dumfries Road in Manassas — and organizers are billing it, once again, as the largest county fair in Virginia.
For folks in Woodbridge and Occoquan, it's an easy drive-up Route 234 or I-66 to Manassas, and for many local families it's become as much a fixture of late summer as the first day of school. Nine straight days means there's no excuse not to make it out at least once — whether that's for the demolition derby crowd noise, a quiet weeknight stroll through the livestock barns, or a funnel cake and a ride on the Ferris wheel.
The fair traces its roots back to 1949, when a group of World War II veterans put together a modest dairy show on donated farmland. What started as a single afternoon of judging cattle has grown, over nearly eight decades, into a nine-day event with a full carnival midway, a professional rodeo circuit, tractor pulls, and hundreds of 4-H and home arts entries from kids and adults across the county. The fairgrounds themselves — now the largest in Virginia — host events and private rentals year-round, but the county fair remains the marquee week.
What's Happening
• Carnival midway with rides and games for all ages, running daily throughout the nine-day fair
• Rodeo, tractor pulls, monster trucks, and demolition derbies on the grandstand stage
• Livestock and 4-H exhibits — cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, dairy goats, meat goats, poultry, and rabbits — plus home arts demonstrations covering everything from baking to needlework
• Petting zoo, pig races, dog shows, and pony and camel rides for younger kids
• A full row of fair food vendors, from classic corn dogs and lemonade to more inventive fair fare
• A fireworks show kicking off the second night of the fair
Beyond the marquee grandstand events, the fair leans hard into its agricultural roots. Home arts and 4-H competitions — categories like baking, canning, sewing, and livestock showmanship — draw entries from families across the county, and browsing the barns and exhibit halls is free with gate admission. It's a good reminder that underneath the monster trucks and midway noise, this is still fundamentally a county fair built around local kids and local farms.
Daily Attractions
Separate from the ticketed grandstand shows, these run throughout the nine days and are included with gate admission:
• Petting Zoo
• Farm Animals
• Dog Show
• Pigs Raising
• Monster Trucks (static display/meet-and-greet, separate from the Aug. 4–5 grandstand show)
• Camel Rides
• Pony Rides
Rides are available daily across all nine days of the fair, per the fairgrounds' own signage.
Good to Know
• General admission: $26.50 adults, $15.90 children, $15.90 seniors (65+); kids 4 and under are free every day — includes parking, all grandstand and midway events, animal exhibits, and home arts demonstrations
• Carnival ride tickets are sold separately at the fairgrounds and are NOT included with general admission
• Monday, August 3: Seniors 55+ get in free from 5–10 PM
• Tuesday, August 4: Half off entry from 2–5 PM
• Wednesday, August 5: All admission tickets just $15, 5–10 PM
• Weeknights tend to be less crowded than the weekend peak — worth considering if you're bringing little ones or want shorter ride lines
Advance Ticket Packages
The fairgrounds also offer discounted pre-sale bundles for families planning multiple visits:
• Family 9 Pass Pack — $162 for 9 general admission tickets (admission only); valid any day, grandstand shows included, midway rides not included
• Family 5 Pass Pack — $170 for 5 all-inclusive weekday admissions, including midway rides, shows, parking, and grandstand access; valid weekdays only
2026 Fair Hours
• Friday, July 31 — 2 PM to 10 PM
• Saturday, August 1 — 2 PM to 10 PM
• Sunday, August 2 — 2 PM to 10 PM
• Monday, August 3 — 5 PM to 10 PM (Seniors 55+ free)
• Tuesday, August 4 — 2 PM to 10 PM (Half off entry, 2–5 PM)
• Wednesday, August 5 — 5 PM to 10 PM (All tickets $15)
• Thursday, August 6 — 5 PM to 10 PM
• Friday, August 7 — 2 PM to 10 PM
• Saturday, August 8 — 2 PM to 10 PM
Day by Day (Grandstand Highlights)
• July 31 — Demolition derby, 7 PM
• Aug. 1 — Fireworks show, 9 PM
• Aug. 2 & 3 — Rodeo, 7 PM
• Aug. 4 & 5 — Monster trucks, 7 PM
• Aug. 6 — Color works, 7 PM
• Aug. 7 — Tractor pull, 7 PM
• Aug. 8 — Demolition derby, 7 PM
Getting There
OmniRide's 96 East-West Express bus connects eastern Prince William County to the Manassas area along Prince William Parkway, but it doesn't stop directly at the fairgrounds — plan on a rideshare or short drive for the last leg, and check OmniRide's schedule for evening frequency if you're relying on it for a late-night return. Virginia Railway Express riders coming from the Manassas station will also need a rideshare for the rest of the trip. Drivers should expect the fairgrounds' own lot to fill on peak nights — gate admission includes parking, so arriving early on weekends is worth it.
Why It's Worth the Trip
Nine days is a long run for a county fair, which means there's no single best night to catch it all — it really depends on what your family is after. Derby fans should bookend their visit with opening and closing night. Anyone chasing a quieter, kid-friendly outing might aim for a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon, when the barns and midway are open, but the crowds haven't built yet. And with the whole thing running through the first full week of August, it's an easy add-on to a weeknight dinner out in Manassas.
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