The Tennessee Valley Fair returns to Chilhowee Park Sept. 10-19, 2027. Ticket prices come this spring. Parking, clear bag and minor policies here.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the Tennessee Valley Fair website: its FAQ, policies, ticket page and hours and directions.

The Tennessee Valley Fair returns Friday, Sept. 10, through Sunday, Sept. 19, 2027, at Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center in Knoxville. The fair has run for more than 100 years. It fills 10 days with midway rides, fair food, livestock shows, competitions, action sports, concerts at the Homer Hamilton Theatre and fireworks every night.

Know before you go

  • Dates: Sept. 10-19, 2027
  • Where: Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center, 3301 E. Magnolia Ave.
  • Parking: fair lots off Prosser Road and Beaman Street
  • Tickets: 2027 prices to be posted this spring at tnvalleyfair.org
  • Bags: clear bags only
  • Fair office: 865-215-1471, fair@tnvalleyfair.org; group tickets 865-215-1482

Tickets

The fair’s ticket page says 2027 ticket prices and buying information will be posted this spring. Until then:

  • Buy only from the fair. The Tennessee Valley Fair ticket office and tnvalleyfair.org are the only authorized sellers. The fair says it cannot guarantee tickets bought from a third party, and it gives no refunds or exchanges.
  • Group tickets are sold through the ticket office at 865-215-1482.
  • Concert tickets include fair admission when bought in advance, the fair says. Every concert needs its own ticket, and concerts go on rain or shine.
  • Discount days. In 2026, the fair took $7 off adult admission on Tennessee Lottery Day with a non-winning Tennessee Lottery ticket, its Sept. 9, 2026, release says. The fair posts each year’s discount days on its discount days page.

Hours

The fair has not posted 2027 hours yet. Opening times change by day: at the 2025 fair, the fair’s own release listed a 4:30 p.m. opening on the first Friday, 10 a.m. on Saturdays, noon on Sundays and 5 p.m. on most weeknights, with some weekdays closing in the afternoon. Check the fair’s calendar before you go.

Bag policy and what you cannot bring

From the fair’s policies page:

  • Allowed: clear bags of any size, small clutches or purses no larger than 4.5 by 6 inches, diaper bags with a child and medically necessary bags. Every bag is checked.
  • Not allowed: backpacks, non-clear purses, fanny packs, coolers, cinch bags and other non-clear bags; outside food and drinks; weapons; selfie sticks; drones; and pets other than service animals.
  • Metal detectors screen everyone at the gate.
  • Re-entry: get a hand stamp at the gate before you leave. It is good that day only, and no one is let back in after 10 p.m.

Minor attendance policy

On Fridays from opening and Saturdays after 4:30 p.m., anyone under 18 must be with a parent or legal guardian 21 or older, who must show ID. One adult may bring up to six minors and must stay with them, the fair says. Dropping off minors is not allowed.

Weather and safety

The fair runs rain or shine, concerts included, with no rain checks. If the National Weather Service issues a severe weather warning within 5 miles of Chilhowee Park, announcements direct fairgoers to shelter in the Jacob Building and the Kerr Building. Knoxville police are on site all 10 days, and the first aid station is at the south end of the grounds, toward Magnolia Avenue.

The fair is run by a nonprofit, not by Chilhowee Park. Questions about the park itself go to the City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation Department, 865-215-1700.

More fall ideas: our fall festivals and pumpkin patches guide and things to do in Knoxville.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Tennessee Valley Fair 2027?

The fair lists its 2027 dates as Sept. 10-19, 2027, at Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center, 3301 E. Magnolia Ave.

How much are Tennessee Valley Fair tickets?

The fair says 2027 ticket prices and sales will be posted this spring. Buy only from the fair’s ticket office or tnvalleyfair.org; the fair says it cannot guarantee tickets from anyone else.

Does the Tennessee Valley Fair have a clear bag policy?

Yes. Only clear bags, small clutches no larger than 4.5 by 6 inches, diaper bags with a child and medically necessary bags are allowed, and every bag is checked.

Can teenagers go to the Tennessee Valley Fair alone?

Not at all times. On Fridays from opening and Saturdays after 4:30 p.m., anyone under 18 must be with a parent or guardian 21 or older, with up to six minors per adult.

Where do you park for the Tennessee Valley Fair?

The fair has parking lots off Prosser Road and Beaman Street at Chilhowee Park.