FREE Admission to Johnson County Fair

The Johnson County Fair will start on Sunday, July 25, 2026, and run through Aug. 1 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Gardner, Kansas. Admission is FREE.

This event includes livestock shows, crop judging, 4-H competitions, a carnival, vendors, contests, games, demonstrations, live entertainment, a parade, a demolition derby, and more.

Carnival ride wristbands can be purchased for $30 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and $35 for Saturday. Click here for the fair events schedule.

Here are some of the scheduled events and prices for events that aren’t part of the free admission.

• Friday, July 24 & Saturday, July 25
  • Event: Masters at the Midway BBQ Championship
  • Price: Free to attend and walk through.
• Saturday, July 25 (7 p.m.)
  • Event: Annual Demolition Derby
  • Price: $15 (Flat rate for all tickets)
• Wednesday, July 29 (7 p.m.)
  • Event: C.R. McKellips Rodeo (Night 1)
  • Price: $15 – $20 general admission
• Thursday, July 30 (7 p.m.)
  • Event: C.R. McKellips Rodeo (Night 2)
  • Price: $15 – $20 general admission
• Friday, July 31 (9 p.m.)
  • Event: Barnyard Olympics
  • Price: Free to watch! (If you want to compete, it is $10 per 4-person team)
• Saturday, August 1 (10 a.m. to noon)
  • Event: Annual Johnson County Fair Parade (Downtown Gardner)
  • Price: Free!
• Saturday, August 1 (Gates: 4:30 PM | Show: 6:30 PM)
  • Event: Fairgrounds Fest Country Concert (Featuring Aaron Watson, Faith Schueler, and Haydon Wiginton)
  • Price: $30 General Admission | $100 Limited VIP

The Johnson County Fairgrounds is located at 136 East Washington Street in Gardner, Kansas.

More free and cheap things to do