Themed days, prices and parking at the 2026 Alabama National Fair

National admin October 5, 2026 0 Comments

Themed days, prices and parking at the 2026 Alabama National Fair

Since 1954, the Alabama National Fair has been bringing fun and supporting worthy causes in Montgomery. The 2026 fair is Oct. 8-18 at the fairgrounds by Garrett Coliseum, and there’s a lot of fun to the found.

Presented by the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery, the fair officially kicks off at 4 p.m. on Oct. 8. A flag ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m., and the midway rides will open at 5 p.m.

In honor of “The 11 Best Days of Fall,” here’s a look at 11 details about what’s ahead:

It’s easy to find out where to park

The fair has an interactive parking map at alnationalfair.org. Click your preferred spot and Google Maps pulls up the exact location. This means less circling the lot. Also, you don’t have to pay to park, since parking is included with admission.

Admission update offers kid prices

For opening day on Oct. 8, fair admission for everyone age 5 and up is $10. After that, regular daily admission will be $20 for ages 13 and up, and youth admission for ages 5-12 is $10. Little kids age 4 and younger are always free.

There are also some special admission deals:

Oct. 10 – Half-price admission from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 11 – Free admission for ages 60 and up from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Oct. 12 – Admission is $10 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Oct. 13 – 2 for 1 adult admission ($20 per couple) during the fair’s official Date Night.
Oct. 15 – $1 admission with the donation of non-perishable food.
Oct. 17 – Half-price admission from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 18 – First responders and three of their family members get free admission all day.

“Military and first responders get in free every day,” said Randy Stephenson, executive director of the Alabama National Fair.

More rides than ever

Stephenson said the number of midway rides from Wade Shows has increased to 50. See opening times on the fair’s daily online schedule, or get the fair’s official app.

Get digital tickets, or ride with wristbands

According to Wade Shows, the Alabama National Fair rides use Fair Pass, digital tickets sold at automated kiosks, to cut paper ticket waste and reduce wait times.

Want to get a wristband and ride all night? There are wristband options depending on what day you’re attending:

$35 wristband – Oct. 8, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
$40 wristband – Oct. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18.

There’s a special deal of $10 for wristbands during School Day on Oct. 12 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

On Oct. 13 during Date Night, wristbands will be 2 for $50.

Find your favorite foods

There’s always a lot of unique fair foods – corndogs, fried Oreos, funnel cakes, turkey legs, and much, much more. This year’s feast also includes donut burgers.

Free concerts in the coliseum

Four big music acts are performing on the Garrett Coliseum stage. These are free to attend with fair admission:

Commodores at 7 p.m. on Oct. 10.
Let’s Sing Taylor, the official live Taylor Swift tribute show at 4 p.m. on Oct 11.
Butter & Grit at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17.
Jaguar Norteño at 6 p.m. on Oct. 18.

Cretaceous Kingdom & Dinosaur Museum

Travel back millions of years with Cretaceous Kingdom and the Dinosaur Museum for a prehistoric experience.

“It’s got animatronics. It’s got a museum. It’s got a roaming show with it. It’s pretty cool,” Stephenson said.

Five more shows at the fair

Swifty Swine Racing Pigs – These fast‑paced pig races are a fan favorite. Pigs dash around the track several times each day to earn the ultimate prize: a cookie.
Pool Party Pooches – The Dynamo Dogs have a ground act with a portable dog dock and pool. This show combines disc, agility, and tricks with high jumping dock dogs.
The Living Zultar – Inspired by the iconic fortune‑telling machine in the movie “Big”, The Living Zultar will appear in his glowing fortune booth to deliver witty predictions, wisdom, and moments of jaw‑dropping fun. It’s a blend of comedy, magic, and nostalgia, performed by Robert Nash.
Scott’s Magic Show – This show is a high-energy, family-friendly illusion spectacular, and is one of the most in-demand magic attractions on the fair circuit.
The Zerbini Family Circus – is back with all‑new performances under their big top. It’s a fast‑paced, family‑friendly show with aerialists, acrobatics, juggling, and clowns.

Win big piles of cash

This year the fair is making it easier for adults to win big cash. Stephenson said they’ll have six days of drawings for $500 – a total of $10,500 over the fair.

Oct. 8, 9, 13, 14, 16 – 3 drawings at 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 – 3 drawings at 2 p.m. and 3 drawings at 7 p.m.

Kids get a shot at Fair Bucks

Stephenson said children can grab Fair Bucks to spend at the fair on Oct. 12. They’ll step into the Money Machine and try to catch them as the Fair Bucks blow around. It’s part of the fair’s School Day, presented by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

Livestock shows and competitions

Whether you’re into cooking, flowers, art, or livestock, the Alabama National Fair has a variety of competitions. Take a look at all the creativity from your talented neighbors.

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at [email protected]. To support his work please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Themed days, prices and parking at the 2026 Alabama National Fair

Reporting by Shannon Heupel, Montgomery Advertiser / Montgomery Advertiser

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This story was originally published October 5, 2026 at 4:56 AM.