Fair marks 17th year in Grand Island
It All Happens Here! The 2026 Nebraska State Fair returns to Fonner Park in Grand Island for its 17th year, running Friday, Aug. 28 through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.
Executive Director Jaime Parr said anticipation is building at Fonner Park in Grand Island where the big show has been located the past 17 years.
“It’s getting very exciting here,” Parr said. “Our campus is building up from the ground and starts to look like a little community, a village. So it is very exciting.”
Having begun the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary last year, the state fair will be offering several America 250 activities throughout its 11-day run.
“We have quite a bit of Americana every year, but specific to this year for our big celebration of it, we will have six nights of fireworks and drone shows,” Parr said. “We will have the national anthem presented live more than 60 times. We’ll have the Remember the Fallen exhibit that honors Nebraska soldiers. We have a number of photo ops; one of them is the USS Nebraska submarine.”
In addition, the state fair will hold an America’s Heroes celebration and Veterans Day program on Labor Day, Sept. 7.
Also this year, the 1868 Foundation will install a bronze statue of a Ferris wheel draped with a U.S. flag across the top, which will be displayed on opening day.
Entertainment
The state fair is offering a wide-range of musical entertainment this year, bringing in big acts including Phil Wickham with Jamie McDonald, KC and the Sunshine Band, Home Free (free show), Shinedown with Dexter and the Moonrocks, and HARDY with McCoy Moore.
The state fair also has five free stages featuring performances each day. Parr commented that between the Pump and Pantry Pit and the Earl May Fair Square, over 60 Nebraska-based bands will be performing.
“Every genre is pretty much covered throughout the schedule,” she said, noting that other performances will take place in various locations from two to four times a day.
“There’s a Jurassic Bark dog show; it’s a dog stunt show,” Parr said. “We also have new chainsaw carvers coming to the state fair this year. They do very intricate designs with chainsaws and then those carvings are auctioned off on Labor Day Sunday. We also have the Flying Royals; it’s like a circus. There’s a lot of aerial acrobatics, juggling and other fun stunts and tricks. Then we have a tiger encounter. We have Bengal tigers on display and they also do a couple of live shows each day.”
Rocket the Robot and a strolling piano will also be roaming around the fairground interacting with guests.
Fair food
Meanwhile, the carnival will feature 35 to 38 different rides and 12 to 15 concession stands.
A variety of fair food will be available both indoors and outdoors, featuring fan-favorite treats and new foods for guests to try.
“One of our new partners is Afrikan Delights and they bring flavorful chicken wings, beef protein, goat protein and signature sauces for a great kick,” Parr said. “We also have Wandering Lobster, which is bringing us lobster rolls, lobster BLTs, crab cakes, lobster bisque, fish and chips and more. Another new vendor is Skew It - Everything on a Stick! One of their new and unique food items this year is a split corndog. It has melting cheese curds, roasted green chilies, chipotle aioli and lots of savory cheese flavors on the inside, but that is also served on a stick.”
Other food options Parr listed for visitors to try are Dubai chocolate strawberries, dirty sodas, boba, and wood-fired pizza. She also noted that in the Grand District, there is a $5 family dinner where vendors serve smaller portions for $5 or less.
Shopping venues
In the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center, vendors will offer an assortment of merchandise that guests can purchase and new shopping areas will be open inside the Fonner Park Concourse and the outdoor Silver Spur Shopping Square.
“We have a lot of traditional vendors and booths each year,” Parr said. “Some of the newer ones include Cornhusker billiards with pool tables, shuffleboards, video games and poker tables. Quirky Decor has a lot of wood and resin artwork. We also have tornado safe rooms, HALLA Denim and then a fishing enthusiast booth called Lins Hook; they have rods, reels, lines, activewear and hats.”
Livestock exhibits
Parr also commented on the number of livestock entries for the fair’s 4-H and FFA events.
“In open class, we’re looking up strongly in dairy goats, poultry and beef; most all classes are up, but those three are up the most,” Parr said. “The first weekend, 4-H animals are on display and in contests. In 4-H, our biggest entry increases this year are in beef, poultry and goats. Then the second weekend of the fair is FFA weekend. So that Labor Day weekend is FFA youth on campus and their biggest increases this year are showing up in swine and in poultry.”
Along with livestock, other competitive exhibits will be on display all 11 days at the fair.
“Our competitive exhibits, like ag products, bee culture, foods and photography, those exhibits are all showcased in our 4-H/FFA Building,” Parr said. “There’s also open class in there, but our biggest entries there are in visual art, quilts, photography and then we have a very robust equine program as well.”
Other ag-related events include barrel racing, team roping, cowboy mounted shooters, cattle dog trials and three rodeos.
With a multitude of activities, attractions and music in store this year, the state fair welcomes everyone to join in on the fun.
“We’re very optimistic and praying for good weather,” Parr said. “We look forward to welcoming people from all across the state of Nebraska and from our neighboring states, and we always have some international guests as well. This year, we’re welcoming some special guests from Israel as well as from Africa.”
Planning your visit
To help make the guest experience at the state fair easier to navigate, guests can go to statefair.org to visit the website or download the free state fair mobile app (available for iPhone or Android) to search for attractions or events they want to see.
“If you’re looking for the stock dogs or the cattle dogs, if you type in the word ‘dog,’ it will bring you every description that has dogs,” Parr said. “If it’s a cattle dog or it’s a corn dog or if it’s that special new and unique food dog. The website and the mobile app are great tools.”
Parr said over 800 volunteers wearing yellow shirts will be stationed all over to assist guests and answer questions.
“We have yellow shirt volunteers throughout the campus and they’re so glad to answer questions or give recommendations,” Parr said. “They’ve been uploaded with what we’ve got going on and they’re able to help you have a great state fair experience.”
Updates can also be found on any of the Nebraska State Fair social media pages such as on Facebook and Instagram.