Guide to the 2025 Kentucky State Fair: Music, Thrill Rides, Food, and More!

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky's favorite summer tradition is heating up to be one of the biggest years yet!

The 2025 Kentucky State Fair is Aug. 14-24 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, available here.

Kentucky State Fair Hours

Gates

Thursday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 17 and Thursday, Aug. 21 to Sunday, Aug. 24 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 18 to Wednesday, Aug. 20 - 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Barns

Thursday, Aug. 14 to Saturday, Aug. 23 - 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
NOTE - CLOSED on Monday, Aug. 18
Sunday, Aug. 24 - 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Indoor exhibits

Thursday, Aug. 14 to Saturday, Aug. 23 - 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 24 - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thrill Ville

Thursday, Aug. 14 and Monday, Aug. 18 through Thursday, Aug. 21 - 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 15 and Friday, Aug. 22 - 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 16 and Saturday, Aug. 23 - 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 17 and Sunday, Aug. 24 - 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Special Promotions Days

Sunday, August 17: 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.

Monday, August 18: $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 19: 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 20: 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 Texas Roadhouse Concert Series is back with 11 days of headlining acts. The concerts are included with fair admission and are sure to be a good time!

Thursday, August 14: Sawyer Brown with special guest Home Free
Friday, August 15: Sister Sledge ft. Sledgendary with special guest C+C Music Factory
Saturday, August 16: Blue Öyster Cult with special guest Great Southern
Sunday, August 17: Roots & Boots including Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye, and Sammy Kershaw
Monday, August 18: We the Kingdom with special guest Level Ground
Tuesday, August 19: Happy Together Tour including The Turtles, Jay and The Americans, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Vogues, and The Cowsills
Wednesday, August 20: Parmalee and Drew Baldridge
Thursday, August 21: Grand Funk Railroad with special guest Frankie Ballard
Friday, August 22: Theory of a Deadman with special guest Wyld Ryde
Saturday, August 23: Ole 60 with special guest Avery Anna

The fair concert series will end with Tribute in the Tents on the last day of the fair, Sunday, Aug. 24.

The concert area opens daily at 6:30 p.m. and concerts begin at 8 p.m.

Music is also scheduled for the full 10-day run of the fair in both the Big Tent, the Budweiser Tent, and the Hitching Post.

The BIG Tent will host Blacktop Rodeo, Corridor 64, Exit 105, Friday Night Special, Hank Rose Project, Hound Street Saints, Kentucky Blue, Leather and Lace, Naked Garden, Shotgun Serenade, Sound Decisions, Sound Machine, Throwback Thursday and ZZ-KC.

The Budweiser Tent will host The Bottle Trees, Dance Hall Hooligans, Hartshaker, Jeni Carr Trio, Les Masters Band, Lexie & The Chillbillies, The Mad Taxpayers, Most Wanted, No Compromise, Radiotronic, Red Thurzday, Roses & Rattlesnakes, Savannah Dean, Soul Circus, Soul Kitchen, Top Shelf and The Wilson Brothers.

The Hitching Post will host Journey to the Heart and Petty Theft. Zeno Jones will take the stage for a special performance Saturday, Aug. 23, during BEERFEST.

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.

Rock N Relax Room

Louisville health department set up a private, quiet space called the Rock and Relax room in the South Wing. Parents can go to feed their babies, change diapers, or rock them to sleep. Changing tables, rocking chairs and free diapers and wipes are all available. The Rock and Relax room is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and open until 9 p.m. on weekends.

Tickets on sale now

Online ticket prices are currently $12 and include free parking. At participating Kroger locations, tickets are $9 through Aug. 13. Children 5-years-old and under are free.

Tickets are available here.

Thrill Ville Ride Wristbands on sale

All-day wristbands for Thrill Ville are available now for $30 in advance when purchased online or at a participating Kroger location through Aug. 13. That will increase to $35 Aug. 14. Wristbands will also cost $35 during the fair and include "at least" 50 rides, including the Ferris wheels.

World's Championship Horse Show

The world’s most prestigious horse show returns to Freedom Hall August 16-23. 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 are on sale now here.

Free Health Screenings

Skin Cancer Screenings

The Kentucky Cancer Program and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky are partnering to offer free skin cancer screenings to fair attendees for the full duration of the fair, from Aug. 14-24. Look for the booth in South Wing B.

UofL Health screenings

Everyday (Aug. 14-24)

Mammogram Screenings, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Hands-only CPR demos, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Blood pressure screenings, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
UofL Health – Research, UofL School of Medicine; InBody composition scale screenings
UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center resources and information; sign-ups for lung and colorectal cancer screenings
UofL Health – Access Center – primary care provider sign ups

August 14: Hep C Center offering screenings, education and harm reduction

August 19: Stroke risk assessments and stroke education

August 21: Stop the bleed demos and burn education

August 22: Brown Cancer Center offering head and neck cancer screenings

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.

To learn more or watch for updates, click here.

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