LEBANON, TN – The Best 10 Days of the Year are almost here! As the 2026 Wilson County – Tennessee State Fair presented by your Mid-South Ford Dealers prepares to welcome fairgoers from across Tennessee and beyond, organizers encourage guests to plan ahead and review important safety, parking and admission information before arriving at the Fair.
To help provide a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, all fairgoers will walk through metal detectors and may have bags inspected upon entry. Weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited. Guests are encouraged to bring only necessary items and use one of the recommended bag options below to help make the entry process as smooth as possible.
Recommended Bags:
- Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12” – a logo no larger than 4.5” x 3.4” may be displayed on one side of a permissible clear bag.
- One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).
- Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5” x 6.5” – approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap.
- Medically necessary items, after proper inspection and tagging.
- Diaper bags accompanied by a baby, after proper inspection and tagging.
All bags are subject to search by law enforcement while on the James E Ward Ag Center property.
General parking is free with $10 preferred parking available. Handicap parking is also available. Free satellite shuttle service is offered every day of the Fair from two off-site locations: Cumberland University Football Parking Lot (415 Harding Dr.) and First Baptist Church (209 E. Main St.). Shuttles operate from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, 10am to 11pm on Saturdays and noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday.
Fairgoers are encouraged to lock their vehicles, secure or remove valuables and make note of where they parked by dropping a pin before heading into the Fair. As you arrive, look for directional signage and entrance gate numbers to help navigate parking patterns and entry points smoothly. Catch a tram at a nearby tram stop to get you to entrance gates faster.
Fair gates open at 4 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. on Saturdays and noon on Sunday. Admission gates close at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Please note that parking lot gates close 30 minutes prior to the Fair’s ticket gates, so guests should plan their arrival accordingly.
The 2026 Wilson County – Tennessee State Fair will take place Thursday, August 13 through Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon, Tennessee.
For a complete list of Fair rules, entry policies and other general information, visit www.wilsoncountytnstatefair.com.
We’ll see YOU at the Fair!
Caption: Plan ahead for the Best 10 Days of the Year with important parking, entry and safety information.