History Of The Fair

Barbour County has a long history of fairs. In fact, if the Barbour County Street Fair were still in existence, it would be more than 100 years old. In times past, fairs held other than the Street Fair were the Belington Fair, Tacy Fair, Talbott Fair, Kasson Fair, and probably many others lost in history.

It had always been a dream to have a county fair. During the 1960s, a number of meetings were held to organize a county fair. Lack of funds prevented movement in getting the organization started. Dreams became a reality in 1975 when the County Commission acquired the Gordon Posten land for a county fair.

In 1975, the Barbour County Fair was organized to conduct a fair on the grounds. Thus, 1975 was the last year for the Street Fair.

The 4-H and livestock exhibits and a Horse and Pony Pulling Contest were held on the newly purchased grounds in conjunction with the Street Fair.

In 1976, the plans were formulated for what is now the Barbour County Fair. Since it was held on the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we called it the Bicentennial Fair. The first fair in 1976 was held from Wednesday to Saturday and included competitive and livestock exhibits and primarily local entertainment.

A fee of 25 cents per person was charged at the gate. During the four days, there was a good bit of rain; in fact, the Ferris wheel did not turn.

The fair was a success from the mere beginning. Because of Covid pandemic, there was a year that we had no fair and a year that we had a modified Fair, in which we only had a Queens’ Pageant and a Demolition Derby later in the year. In 2024, we are now celebrating our 48th annual Barbour County Fair. The gate fee has progressed to $15, Tuesday through Saturday, which entitles fair goers to parking, entertainment, rides, and more.

In comparison to the 1976 fair, the 2024 fair will include an outstanding midway with several games, concession stands, and mechanical rides. For the first fair, we had limited food stands operating. Today, we have grown to 11 fully operating, local non-profit groups providing food to everybody.

The first building for renovation was the Posten Horse and Livestock barn, which was known as the exhibit hall. Also, in the first year, a stage was constructed, and a metal building erected for exhibits and a livestock barn was erected. The Exhibit Hall and old Stage have since been taken due to the deteriorating conditions they endured over the years.

Since then, a 50x300 feet horse barn with 58 stalls and a 4-H barn (30x100 feet) with 18 stalls have been erected.

In 1996, a major improvement was made when a 100x50 feet entertainment center was constructed which can seat nearly 2,000 people, with standing room for many more. In 1997, two handicap accessible restrooms were erected, and a 24x36 feet office complex was constructed on top of one of the restrooms. In 1998, a visitor/ticket booth was erected to make the entrance to the fair much more convenient for fairgoers. In the year 2000, the widening of the Point Pleasant Road was completed, as were a covered arena, drainage and parking improvements and moving of the Mouse Run School.

The home of Gorden Posten was purchased from Charles and Hugh Posten by the Barbour County Fair. This area has been a big asset to the fair facilities. This provides for an off the road gate during the fair for exhibitors, food stand workers, and board members. The area also provides an area with hookups for volunteers working at the fair to park campers.

During 2008 and 2009, the fair association built a building to house equipment that is needed to operate the fair. The facility also provides an area for showers for volunteers working at the fair. The building also has an auxiliary office for use during the fair.

The area around the Mouse Run School has been rewired to provide better lighting and hook ups for commercial exhibitors and campers.

The Fair Association along with the Barbour County Commission has made many other improvements over the years such as paving the Food Court and other roads on the grounds. The main walk thru gate, also known as the Bill Phillips Gate, has been extended. We now have a goat barn and a new Exhibit Hall. The county employees now have a maintenance shop on the grounds. There has also been a new Barbour County Fairgrounds signed erected at the main entrance to the grounds.