By Charles Owens
For Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Princeton — The Mercer County Fair is set to open later this month.
The 2026 edition of the county fair will be held Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, on the grounds of PikeView High School. It will feature food, agriculture, animals, livestock exhibits, interactive displays, vendors, crafts, professional wrestling, a dog show, a youth rodeo and much more.
“It’s just a good family fun event for people to come out to,” Steve Johnston, president of the Mercer County Fair Association, said. “It’s an affordable event that they can bring their family and kids to. We try to have a lot of activities for the kids and adults. It’s just something to come out and see.”
Did You Know?
— The county fair has been held since 1958, and used to be known as the Bluestone Valley Fair, according to Steve Johnston, president of the Mercer County Fair Association.
The county fair has been held since 1958, and used to be known as the Bluestone Valley Fair, according to Johnston.
“We changed the name several years ago to Mercer County Fair,” Johnston said.
All of the fair activities and events are held on the grounds of PikeView High School.
“It’s all the way around the building. We have vendors and music set up mainly in the back lot around the building. The exhibit hall will be in the gym. We have antique tractors behind the school.” — Steve Johnston, president of the Mercer County Fair Association.
“It’s all the way around the building,” Johnston said. “We have vendors and music set up mainly in the back lot around the building. The exhibit hall will be in the gym. We have antique tractors behind the school.”
Johnson said the high school rodeo, which will be held both Friday and Saturday evening, is on the hill just above the school.
There will also be professional wrestling Friday evening and live music on both Friday and Saturday.
“We generally do have a good crowd each year,” Johnston said.
The gate fee is $5 for Friday and $8 for Saturday. That fee covers all events with the exception of food that is purchased from vendors.
The fair will open on Friday, July 31, with a breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. followed by exhibit judging from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; kid games at noon; inflatables from noon to 5 p.m.; the exhibit hall will be opened from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.; a premier wrestling league show will be held at 5 p.m.; and a high school rodeo will follow at 7 p.m.
Live music on Friday will include the Buckeye Creek Band at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. and Else’s Mom at 7:15 p.m.
Then on Saturday, August 1, breakfast will be held from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.; the exhibit hall will be opened from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; inflatables will be available from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; a gamefowl chicken show will be held at 9 a.m.; a dog show will be held at 10 a.m.; corn hole games will start at noon; power wheels racing will be held at 3 p.m; a high school rodeo will be held at 6 p.m.; rabbit judging will be held at 7 p.m.; and various musical performances will be held throughout the day.
Read more from Bluefield Daily Telegraph, here.
