Kentucky State Fair 120 Thrillville Midway

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky's summer tradition is the Kentucky State Fair. 

The 2024 Kentucky State Fair is Aug. 15-25 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For more information, visit www.kystatefair.org or find the fair on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Daily schedule

The fair has hundreds of activities scheduled during its 11 day run. You can plan ahead with the online daily schedule. Click here. 

WDRB Day at the Fair 2024.jpg

WDRB Day at the Kentucky State Fair is Friday, Aug. 23, 2024

WDRB Day at the Fair on Aug. 23! 

WDRB Day at the fair is Friday, Aug. 23. Come hang out with some of the people you see on WDRB every day. Just stop by the South Wing A Lobby at 11 a.m. to meet the WDRB Mornings team! And you can see Marc Weinberg doing weather live from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Below is a schedule of appearances from team WDRB:

10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Candyce Clifft, Sterling Riggs and Jude Redfield

1-3 p.m. — Hayden Ristevski, Rick Bozich, Eric Crawford

3-7 p.m. — Scott Reynolds, Hayden Ristevski, short live weather hits by Marc Weinberg

There will also be appearances by the WDRB Bro Show: Dalton Godbey and Chris Sutter.

Kentucky State Fair Hours

Indoor exhibits

  • Monday - Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
  • Thursdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
  • Fridays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
  • Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
  • Sunday, Aug 18 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
  • Sunday, Aug. 25 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Outdoor activities 

  • Monday - Wednesday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 
  • Thursdays 10 a.m. to midnight 
  • Fridays 10 a.m. to midnight
  • Saturdays 10 a.m. to midnight
  • Sunday, Aug 18 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. 
  • Sunday, Aug. 25 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Thrill Ville 

  • Monday - Wednesday 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. 
  • Thursdays 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. 
  • Fridays 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. 
  • Saturdays 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. 
  • Sunday, Aug 18 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. 
  • Sunday, Aug. 25 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

New Gate 4 traffic pattern 

The Kentucky Exposition Center’s Gate 4 (off Crittenden Drive) is currently under renovation. The gate will be fully operational, but there is a detour once fairgoers drive through the gate to get to the parking lot. Once through the short detour, fairgoers will go through a new roundabout connecting gate traffic and the neighboring parking lot to Circle of Champions.

Special Promotions Days

Free Day off School: 

  • Did you know that by law schools in Kentucky have to let kids go to the fair? It just takes four simple answers to make it happen. You just need your student's name, their school, a contact email and whether you'd like an explanation of the statute that allows kids to visit the fair. The form will get any Kentucky student an excused absence so they can miss school for a day and head to the Expo Center. To fill out the form, click here.

Thursday, August 15: County Fairs Day

  • Come one, come all 120 Kentucky counties. We will highlight winners from county pageants, offer unique competitions, unveil a new exhibition celebrating all 120 counties, and have special activities.

Sunday, August 18: Military Sunday

  • Active military and veterans, as well as their families, can attend the fair for free. Military ID is required. There is a limit of four free tickets, and parking is not included. Wristbands for Thrill Ville will be discounted 20% and available on-site. There is a limit of four wristbands per valid military ID.

Livestock & Animal Change Over Days (Aug 18 & 19)

Limited to no livestock and animals will be present in the barns on the evening of Military Sunday (Aug. 18) and throughout the day on $5 Monday (Aug. 19).

Fairgoers can visit Discovery Farm in AgLand or attend free morning and evening performances of the World’s Championship Horse Show to see equine and livestock on display. This is similar to years past as the Kentucky State Fair sanitizes and prepares the barns for new livestock.

Monday, August 19: $5 Monday

  • Those looking for a big bargain won’t want to miss this day. The $5 admission is per person and includes parking. While livestock changeover is occurring on the west side of the property, fairgoers can visit Discovery Farm in Agland and also attend morning or evening performances of the World's Championship Horse Show for free. Free evening tickets will be available at the KEC Ticket Office.

Tuesday, August 20: Senior Day

  • Fairgoers 55 and older enter the fair for free. Parking is not included. Special activities will be planned throughout the day.

Wednesday, August 21: Sensory Awareness Day

  • In partnership with Kissel Entertainment, FEAT of Louisville, Home of the Innocents, and Kentucky Autism Training Center, free admission and Thrill Ville tickets will be given to fairgoers with sensory processing differences. From 10 a.m. until noon, Thrill Ville will operate with minimal lights and music to create an enjoyable fair experience for those with sensory sensitivities. UPDATE: All tickets have been distributed. 

Texas Roadhouse FREE Concert series

The Kentucky State Fair entertainment lineup has been released with the theme: Like Woodstock with Livestock!

The Texas Roadhouse Concert series returns with 11 days of headlining acts. The concerts are included with fair admissions and range from 80s hair bands and iconic country acts to hip-hop tracks. 

  • Thursday, August 15: Lonestar and Eddie Montgomery*
  • Friday, August 16: The Sugarhill Gang Melle Mel & Scorpio (of Furious Five) with special guest Ying Yang Twins
  • Saturday, August 17: Stephen Pearcy of Ratt with special guest Quiet Riot
  • Sunday, August 18: The Oak Ridge Boys with special guests The Country Gold Tour including Leroy Van Dyke, Linda Davis, Jimmy Fortune, Rockland Road (who will perform the National Anthem and God Bless the USA)
  • Monday, August 19: CAIN with special guest Katy Nichole
  • Tuesday, August 20: Happy Together including The Turtles, The Cowsills, Badfinger, The Vogues, The Association, Jay and the Americans
  • Wednesday, August 21: Justin Moore with special guest Alex Miller*
  • Thursday, August 22: Everclear with special guest Marcy Playground
  • Friday, August 23: 38 Special with special guest Exile*
  • Saturday, August 24: Lauren Alaina with special guests Mackenzie Porter, Kelsey Hart*
  • Sunday, August 25: (7 p.m. show): Tauren Wells with special guest Consumed By Fire

*= Kentucky artist

Except August 25, the concert area opens daily at 6:30 p.m. and concerts begin at 8 p.m. On Aug. 25, the area opens at 5:30 p.m. with the concert beginning at 7 p.m.

Music is also scheduled for the full 11-day run of the fair in both the Big Tent and the Budweiser Tent. 

The BIG Tent Lineup (Acts are listed in alphabetical order) 

Black Top Rodeo, Dance Hall Hooligans, Exit 105, Friday Night Special, Geru Y Su Legión 7, Hank Rose Project, Judge Angus, Kentucky Blue, Rockland Road, Shotgun Serenade, Soul Circus, Sound Machine, Throwback Thursday

Budweiser Tent Lineup (Acts are listed in alphabetical order) 

Bill May All Stars, Corridor 64, E & R Project, Judge Angus, Juice Box Heroes, Midnight Radio, Moonshine Magnolia, Most Wanted, No Compromise, Rock Station, Savannah Dean, Soul Circus, Soul Kitchen, The Bottle Trees, The Mad Taxpayers, The Wilson Brothers, Top Shelf. 

Minor attendance policy

Effective Monday-Thursday after 6 p.m. and Friday-Sunday all day, fairgoers under 18 years old entering the fair must be accompanied by a chaperone 21 years of age or older. Proof of age is required. IDs will be verified at the gate.

Each adult can only chaperone 6 minors at a time. Groups larger than 6 individuals under the age of 18 will require an additional chaperone for every 6 minors.

View the entire policy and other conditions for admission on the Fair policy page. 

Tickets on sale now

August 14 is the last day to purchase fee-free tickets at participating Kroger locations. Online ticket prices are currently $10 and include free parking. Fairgoers who decide to purchase admission at the gate will pay $10 for admission and $10 for parking. Three returning special days include discounted or free admission for select guests. Click here for details.

Thrill Ville Ride Wristbands on sale 

Thrill-seekers looking for all-day ride wristbands can purchase their Thrill Ville wristbands for $30 now. That's a $5 savings. Wristbands can be purchased  online or at participating Kroger locations. At least 50 rides and the iconic Astro Ferris Wheel are part of the midway. 

Flu shots at the Fair = Unlimited ride wristband

Throughout the KY State Fair, the Kentucky Association of Health Plans (KAHP) will be giving away a free unlimited ride wristband (*while supplies last*) when attendees go to the Healthy Horizons Pavilion in South Wing B to receive a flu shot. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (closed Aug. 19).

Medicaid members may also be eligible to receive an incentive offered by their health plan in addition to the KAHP giveaway.

121st World's Championship Horse Show 

The world’s most prestigious horse show returns to Freedom Hall August 17-24. The 121st event features more than 200 classes of Saddlebred horses and thousands of participants from around the country competing for over $1.5 million in prizes and World’s Champion titles. Tickets go on sale June 17 and will be available on the World’s Championship Horse Show website.

Prohibited items

Several items are expressly prohibited at the Kentucky State Fair. The Fair website said it reserves the right to alter the prohibited items list at any time.

Conveyances - The use of bicycles beyond designated corrals at entrance gates, the possession or use of Segways/hoverboards, skateboards, kick scooters, unauthorized golf carts, and ATVs. Golf carts and ATVs must be permitted by the Kentucky State Fair and operated by an individual with a valid state driver’s license. Golf Carts can only operate in permitted areas within designated times.

Outside Food and Beverage – Coolers, glass bottles, and containers are not permitted on the grounds. Outside alcohol is prohibited by Kentucky Alcohol Beverage Control Regulation.

Weapons – Weapons not compliant with Kentucky State and Federal law are prohibited.

Aerial Drones – The unauthorized use of aerial drones are prohibited and subject to FAA enforcement due to airport proximity.

Fireworks, Laser Pointers, and Alarming Devices – All unauthorized fireworks, laser pointers, and alarming devices are prohibited.

Sound Amplifiers­ – Unauthorized use of Sound amplification devices is prohibited per KAR 1:100 (6).

Unauthorized Trailer Drops – Trailers must only be dropped at an authorized location designated by Fair management.

Overnight Parking – Parking overnight outside of designated RV camping is prohibited.

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