Hall County Fair — Late July, Fonner Park
The Hall County Fair is held at Fonner Park in Grand Island over five days in late July. It shares the site with the Nebraska State Fair but is an entirely separate event. Founded in 1875, it began modestly at the county courthouse; after closing for sixteen years (1898–1914), burning in 1924, and struggling through the Depression, it found permanent stability at Fonner Park in 1954. The Grand Island and Wood River fairs merged in 1973 to create the event that runs today. Shows, performances, rides, competitions, car shows, farm exhibits, and open class fill the week across three arenas.
Location: Fonner Park, 700 East Stolley Park Road, Grand Island, Nebraska
Phone: 308-398-2404
Nebraska State Fair — August 28 – September 7, 2026
Nebraska's largest annual event, the State Fair draws roughly 330,000 attendees to Fonner Park in Grand Island for 11 days each late summer. The fair features indoor and outdoor concert venues, livestock shows (cattle, equine, swine, sheep, goat), competitive exhibits, carnival rides, demo derbies, truck pulls, and agricultural exhibits celebrating Nebraska traditions and youth achievements.
Location: Fonner Park, 501 E. Fonner Park Road, #200, Grand Island, Nebraska 68801
Phone: 308-382-1620
Website: statefair.org
See Grand Island, Nebraska for more. Grand Island is the seat of Hall County on the Platte River.