The 99th Austin County Fair has two price tiers, and they divide the fair into two different events. On the association's 2026 schedule, a Livestock Show Day ticket for Oct. 3 through Oct. 6 costs $5 for anyone 12 and older, and children 11 and under get in free. A Fair & Rodeo Day ticket for Oct. 7 through Oct. 10 costs $15 for ages 12 and up and $10 for ages 6 to 11. The cheaper days hold the part of the fair that Austin County puts on itself, with its own exhibitors, its own arena events and one roping event limited to county residents. The second half sells what the first half produced, in the youth auction ring on Oct. 9 and 10.
Where the 1927 founding still shows
The Austin County Fair Association says it was organized in 1927 to promote agriculture and horticulture through livestock and farm-product exhibits. It started as the Bellville Community Fair Association with five directors, soon took the countywide name, and now has 50 directors. Austin County News Online calls this year the 99th annual fair.
That founding purpose is easiest to see before the carnival opens. The early schedule leans on hay judging, plant ID, poultry, rabbits and lambs, the same exhibits the association was formed to put on display. Even the paperwork reflects it. This year the Home Economics division moved to tiered entry fees of $3 per item for entries one through four, $2 for entries five through 20 and $1.50 for entries 21 through 50, so a six-item entry costs $16.
The barn week, day by day
The early days run on daylight. The fair's posted hours for Monday, Oct. 5 and Tuesday, Oct. 6 are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Here is how the schedule fills them:
- Friday, Oct. 2. The Hay Show and Plant ID run during the day. BBQ cook-off teams start moving onto the cook-off grounds, and the Champion Drive Livestock Show takes the Livestock Barn. The cook-off's Margarita and Chef's Choice contests are held at the American Legion.
- Saturday, Oct. 3. Koerth Arena hosts the Top Hand Challenge at 10 a.m. and the Ranch Rodeo at 6 p.m. Mutton Bustin' takes the same arena between them. The Expo Building runs the Little Miss/Mister, Jr. Miss/Mister, Jr. Fair Queen and Queen's contests, and the BBQ cook-off results are announced at the American Legion.
- Sunday, Oct. 4. The Turkey Show, Bucket Calf Show and Broiler Show run through the day. At 5 p.m., Koerth Arena hosts Faith & Family Night with Wildhorse Ministries and the Country Legacy Band.
- Monday, Oct. 5. The Rabbit Show starts at 7 a.m. and the Ag Mechanics Show runs in the Entertainment Center. The Pen of Heifer Awards follow in the evening. At 7 p.m., Team Roping takes Koerth Arena, and it is open to Austin County residents only.
- Tuesday, Oct. 6. The Lamb Show is in the Harold Luhn Barn, Home Economics judging closes the Expo Building for the afternoon, the Swine Show runs in the Livestock Barn Arena, and the night ends with 4-D Barrel Racing at Koerth Arena.
That same Saturday, Bellville Market Day sets up around the historic downtown square from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Farmers Market runs at Jim Bishop Pavilion in Chesley Park from 9 a.m. to noon. On Oct. 3 you can do the square in the morning and the Ranch Rodeo at night, all on a $5 ticket if you're 12 or older.
The handoff on Wednesday
Oct. 7 is the turning point. The day still opens on ag time, with Rodeo Slack at 9 a.m., the Goat Show in the Luhn Barn and Senior Citizen Day in the Expo Building from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trail riders reach the fairgrounds at 4 p.m. At 5 p.m. the carnival opens and the Steer Show starts in the Livestock Barn Arena, and at 6 p.m. Koerth Arena hosts the Colt Project Show. Closing time also moves, from 7 p.m. on Tuesday to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, midnight on Thursday and Friday, and 1 a.m. on Saturday.
The livestock shows don't stop when the carnival starts. The Halter Heifer Show is at 8 a.m. Thursday and the Scramble Heifer Show at 4 p.m. that afternoon. After that, the animals shown all week go to the sale ring.
| Oct. 3–6 | Oct. 7–10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Day ticket, ages 12 and up | $5 | $15 |
| Day ticket, younger children | Free, 11 and under | $10, ages 6–11 |
| Koerth Arena headliners | Top Hand Challenge, Ranch Rodeo, resident-only Team Roping, 4-D Barrel Racing | Colt Project Show, PRCA Championship Rodeo three nights |
| Latest posted closing | 7 p.m. Mon. and Tue. | 1 a.m. Saturday |
| Carnival | Not yet open | Opens 5 p.m. Wed., $38–$53 armbands |
The fair's own pages don't agree on gate prices. The Tickets/Deals page lists a $15 day pass, a $25 pass after 5 p.m., $5 senior admission, $10 for ages 6 to 11 and free entry for ages 5 and under, without separating the livestock days. The tiered prices in the table come from the schedule, so confirm at the gate before you count on the $5 rate. Season passes are $45 in advance and $50 starting Oct. 3.
Where the barn week pays off
The Youth Livestock Auction Sale starts at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9 in the Expo Building. On Saturday, the Country Fair Auction Buyer Luncheon runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the Youth Supreme & Country Fair Auction at 1 p.m.
The 2025 sale shows what's at stake. The association's 2025 Youth Auction Sale page lists $2,457,547 from buyers and $393,287.50 in add-ons "thus far," for a posted total of $2,850,834.50. The page also gives an Oct. 31 due date for add-ons, so the total may not be final. In October 2025, KWHI reported record prices at the sale.
- Reserve Grand Champion Gelding: $40,000
- Grand Champion Halter Heifer: $35,000
- Grand Champion Swine: $27,400
- Reserve Grand Champion Filly: $26,500
- Reserve Grand Champion Halter Heifer: $25,000
- Grand Champion Goat: $14,000
Two of the six record prices went to horses, and the gelding brought the top price on the list. Horses at this fair are a sale-ring category, not just an arena event. The champions on that list came out of shows like the ones running in the Livestock Barn, Luhn Barn and Koerth Arena while tickets were still $5.
The weekend crowd, and the free Sunday after
The back half has its own rhythm. Thursday, Oct. 8, Austin County school students get in free until 5 p.m., and the parade starts at 10 a.m. The Banner-Press reported that Ron Eilers was chosen as the 2026 parade marshal, citing his long service on fair committees and the livestock show. That night's PRCA Championship Rodeo honors Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan veterans. Brown Sugar Band plays the Entertainment Center at 6 p.m. and Waylon Thibodeaux at 9:30 p.m. Also on Oct. 8, military personnel get $5 off with military ID, and military in uniform get in free every day.
Friday is Tough Enough to Wear Pink night, with Tanner Usrey at 8 p.m. and Flatland Cavalry at 10 p.m. Saturday is 4-H Day, and green is the color to wear. It has the Lil' Wrangler Rodeo at 2 p.m., the PRCA rodeo with Calf Scramble at 7:30 p.m., Kevin Fowler at 9 p.m. and Clay Walker at 11 p.m. The 1927 Club, the fair's private hospitality area with complimentary food and adult beverages, opens at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
On those three nights, a free shuttle runs between Margaret Chesley Park on N. Bell Street and the fairgrounds' front gate. Service runs 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday and Friday and until 2 a.m. Saturday. There are no carnival Fun Passes in 2026. Armband specials are $38 on Wednesday and Sunday, $43 on Friday and $53 on Thursday and Saturday.
Sunday, Oct. 11 is a free admission day on the schedule. The calf scramble overall point champions are recognized at 9 a.m., Home Economics and parade awards run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Lost Cause Band plays the Beer Barn from 1 to 5 p.m. The Children's Tractor Pull starts at 2:30 p.m. in front of the 1927 Club. At 3:30 p.m. the American Legion hosts the Wine Show awards and a public tasting with the winemakers. The fairgrounds close at 6 p.m.
If you watched a gelding or filly in the show ring this week and started thinking about acreage, a barn or a pasture system of your own in Austin County, Lisa Bricker can walk you through horse properties around Bellville with the eye of someone who grew up on a working ranch. Schedule a Consultation, and we can talk fences, arenas and stalls once the fairgrounds close on Oct. 11.
