THE GREATER JACKSONVILLE AGRICULTURAL FAIR - HISTORY
Since opening its gates in 1955 to 45,000 guests, the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair has grown into a regional institution, providing educational, cultural, agricultural and horticultural programming to the community for seven decades; an annual tradition where generations have learned, competed, created and gathered.
The Greater Jacksonville Fair Association is a private 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational corporation, chartered by the State of Florida and committed to delivering a Fair built on quality, learning, and community impact.
The Fair’s earliest years unfolded at the former Gator Bowl (now EverBank Stadium). In 1989, construction began on a permanent fairgrounds next door, and by 1990 the Fair welcomed more than 700,000 visitors to its new home.
Today, the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair operates as an 11-day event, guided by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by more than 500 volunteers each year. That volunteer-driven spirit remains one of the Fair’s defining strengths.
Now the largest fair and festival in Northeast Florida and ranked 47th in the United States by Amusement Business, the Fair generates more than $68.4 million in annual economic impact for Duval County. It also returns more than $195,000 in lease and parking revenue to the City of Jacksonville during its 11-day run.
Since its founding, the Fair has contributed roughly $3.1 million to charitable and civic organizations—reflecting a long-standing commitment to education, youth development, and community service.
This past year marked our 70th Anniversary, a milestone that honors the people who built the Fair and the city that has supported it since day one.
THE MOVE TO THE WESTSIDE
In Spring of 2026, the Fair enters a new era on Jacksonville’s Westside—82+ acres of open space, purpose-built venues and the kind of scale that finally matches the size of the community it serves. The move isn’t about reinvention; it’s about growth. It’s the natural next step for a Fair that has outpaced its footprint for years.
The new Fairgrounds at 13601 Normandy Boulevard will bring together agriculture, horticulture, concerts, cultural events, expos and local markets in a way Jacksonville hasn’t experienced before. It’s a campus designed for movement, music, creativity and connection – daytime to late-night, youth to adults, locals to visitors.
At the center is Duval Hall, a 40,000-square-foot indoor concert and expo space designed with flexibility and modern production in mind. Scalable walls, strong acoustics and clean lines give artists, exhibitors and audiences a venue that can shift from touring concerts to major expos to intimate community gatherings without losing energy or impact.
The Westside location gives the Fair what it’s earned over 70 years: room to expand, room to innovate, room to welcome more people into the experience.
The agricultural heart stays front and center. The community programs stay. The youth competitions stay. What changes is the canvas and the possibilities that come with it.
This move puts the Fair exactly where Jacksonville is going: forward, outward and into a future built on culture, music, agriculture, education and shared moments that feel unmistakably like home. And did we mention the easy-in / easy-out, plentiful parking?