The Arkansas State Fair is a go for its 81st annual event in Little Rock this year. Organizers announced Thursday that the fair would return with a full, 10-day slate in the fall. The festivities in 2020 were dialed back considerably amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“We have been working feverishly preparing for a full fair with safety protocols in place in consideration of COVID-19,” Doug White, general manager, says in a news release. “We believe it’s time to get back to a state fair experience that Arkansans have come to expect and enjoy.”

 

The Arkansas State Fair is the largest recurring event in the state, bringing in more than 400,000 attendees annually. This year, officials hope to tap back into that enthusiasm and popularity, bringing back a much more recognizable format this time around. That will include a full midway with rides and games, competitions, upgraded food court, the livestock show, concerts, and more.

 

One such entertainment draw is Riley Green, recent winner of the Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year. Green will perform on the main stage on Oct. 23. Organizers say more concerts will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

In preparation for an expectation of “record crowds,” the 2021 State Fair will also feature expanded parking areas, including a new premium parking option.

 

The 2021 Arkansas State Fair will run Oct. 15-24. Advance tickets can be purchased online at a discounted rate of $8 for adults and $4 for children, or during the fair at $12 for adults and $6 for children.

 

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