This week, The Washington County Fair returns to Rhode Island to celebrate the end of summer.
Now in its 58th year, the fair was originally founded in 1967 to emphasize the importance of agriculture in local communities. It has since grown into Rhode Island’s largest agricultural event, offering traditions like livestock contests and tractor pulls.
The fair has grown to feature a wide range of attractions beyond its original purpose, now encompassing educational displays, amusement park rides, live performances, and games, with offerings spanning from thrilling roller coasters to lighthearted pie-eating competitions.
Here’s a guide to all the attractions at this year’s Washington County Fair, as well as ticket and parking information.
When and where is the Washington County Fair?
This year, the Washington County Fair will take place from Wednesday, Aug. 13 through Sunday, Aug. 17. Though fair gates open at 8 a.m., most activities and vendors do not open until 10 a.m., and rides open at noon. The fair will close at 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and at 8 p.m. on Sunday.
The location is 78 Richmond Townhouse Road, Richmond, specifically behind New Hope Chapel.
Washington County Fair tickets
General admission tickets for adults are $12 each per day, and children 10 and under get in for free. Admissions tickets include access to all attractions except rides, for which tickets are sold separately.
The fair does not offer refunds or rain dates. Same day re-entry is allowed with proof of a hand stamp.
It is recommended to buy tickets online to avoid long lines, but they can also be bought at the gate. In-person purchases are cash-only.
Special ticket prices at the Washington County Fair
On Wednesday only, every senior age 65 or older gets $4 off their ticket when purchased at the gate.
On Thursday, Military Appreciation Day, all military personnel and veterans with a military ID get free admission at the gate. Thursday will also offer events such as a patriotic tractor parade and a flag ceremony.
What are the main attractions at the fair?
Music
The fair will feature live music from a variety of local musicians on its two stages – the main stage and the portable stage.
The portable stage will offer shows from 4-8 p.m. every day except Sunday. Each day will each have a prime nighttime show on the main stage, and Sunday will also have an opening act at 1 p.m.
This year’s lineup of musicians includes John Morgan, Tyler Braden and Maddi Ryan. For a full schedule of performances, see the Washington County Fair website.
Shows
Beyond music, Stage ’67 offers a variety of family-friendly shows. Farmer K will start each morning with barnyard stories, and magician Robert Clarke will headline the stage with three afternoon shows daily.
Additionally, Mik’s Mega Bubbles will present a bubble show at 1 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. every other day.
Vendors
Various commercial vendors at the fair offer a variety of products, including jewelry, crafts, clothing and collectible items.
Rides
Rockwell Amusements is back to provide the Washington County Fair with rides for all ages. The largest midway in Rhode Island, Midway Rides includes exhilarating rides, family-friendly attractions and new this year, The Autobahn, a high-speed thrill ride.
Ride tickets, which can be bought at Rockwell Amusement booths or online, are one for $1.50, 25 for $25 or 40 for $40. Unlimited wristbands are available every day except Thursday for $40, or $35 online before the fair opens.
Games & Contests
Fairgoers can play in the annual cornhole tournament and participate in contests like tug-o-war, pie-eating and arm-wrestling.
There are also games for children, including a three-legged race, egg toss, farmer Olympics, potato-sack race and water balloon toss. Kids contests include milking, corn-shucking and pie-eating.
Rules and schedules for all games and contests can be found on the fair’s website.
Pageants
A new Washington County Fair Queen (age 17 to 21) and Princess (age 14 to 16) are named each year at the fair. The winners will be announced on Wednesday on the main stage.
The mini prince and princess contest will take place at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday-Friday on the portable stage.
Tractor, Truck & Livestock Pulls
In line with the fair’s agricultural roots, tractor, truck, horse and oxen pulls will be on display each day of the fair.
Motor pulls and sports happen all throughout the fair, so it is best to check the schedule. Livestock pulls will take place at 6 p.m. in Ring 1, with ponies competing Wednesday, oxen competing Thursday and horses competing Friday.
Livestock Shows
Livestock shows will happen in Ring 2 and the show barn all weekend long in six categories: rabbit, poultry, dairy, sheep, pig and beef. The winners in each category will receive monetary prizes and compete in the premiere showmanship contest on Sunday at 10 a.m. in the show barn.
Children can compete in the 4-H livestock shows and obstacle courses, with the premier animal contest taking place on Sunday at 9 a.m. in the show barn. All livestock that compete in youth shows can also walk in homemade costumes in the animal parade, happening Sunday at 1 p.m. in the show barn.
Follow the fair’s schedule for times and locations of all the different livestock shows.
Exhibitors
Beyond livestock, the fair hosts exhibitions under arts and crafts, agriculture or farming categories for judging and monetary prizes. Locals are encouraged to enter, and professional exhibitors are not allowed on fairgrounds. Specific rules regarding entries can be found under the respective classification on the fair’s website.
Arts and crafts accept entries under artwork, quilts and rugs, ceramics and crafts, needlework. Those who like to cook can enter homemade recipes in the canned goods and baking contests.
Displaying the best of Rhode Island’s agriculture, the agriculture division judges vegetables, flowers, dahlias, granges and scarecrows.
In the farming category, Future Farmers (FFA) invites agricultural-education students to participate in safe-tractor operations, landscape exhibits, woodsman contests and dairy showmanship.
Food at the Washington County Fair
This year, the Washington County Fair will see its largest vendor turnout ever in an expanded Concessions Village. Around 30 food booths will offer every classic fair food imagineable, including turkey legs, corn dogs, pulled pork, street tacos, fried dough and specialty stuffed waffles.
The majority of food suppliers are non-profit organizations, and purchases will raise money for local charities, hospitals and organizations in need. Most concessions are cash only, and food vendors are prohibited from selling alcohol.
Parking at the Washington County Fair
Plenty of free parking is available at the fair, with accessible parking near the entrance gate. The fair will also be offering shuttles between the grounds and three offsite parking lots, with the last shuttle leaving about 30 minutes after the main stage show each day.
Parking is not allowed at non-designated fair lots in Richmond, and individuals that park in non-designated spaces may be towed.
Other Information
- Pets are not allowed on fairgrounds, except for authorized service animals with proof of a rabies vaccine.
- Alcohol, cannabis and smoking or vaping products are prohibited on fairgrounds.
- All bags entering the gate are subject to being searched.
- Entering the fairgrounds means consenting to being photographed or recorded.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: What’s happening at the 2025 Washington County Fair? Your guide to the Rhode Island fair
