Hillsborough County Fair 2016: What To Know Before You Go

DOVER, FL -- Once again, it’s time for home-grown Hillsborough County agriculture and excitement to take the center stage.

The 2016 Hillsborough County Fair starts Thursday, Oct. 20 and runs for two consecutive extended weekends. The theme of this year’s event is “Country Pride, County Wide.”

Here’s what area residents need to know before you go to the 2016 Hillsborough County Fair:

Dates and Times

The 2016 Hillsborough County Fair runs for two straight weekends beginning Thursday, Oct. 20. The times are:

• Thursday, Oct. 20 and 27: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 21 and 28: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 22 and 29: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 23 and 30: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Location

The Greater Hillsborough County Fairgrounds is located at 215 Sydney Washer Road in Dover, which is off of State Road 60 just past Turkey Creek.

Tickets

Admission for the 2016 Hillsborough County Fair is $7 for adults, $5 for students in K-12, $4 for seniors, and children younger than kindergarten age are free. Arena events are $10 plus admission. For group sales, contact the fair at (813) 737-3247.

Advance Ticket Locations

Advance special event tickets for arena events are $10 and include admission. They can be purchase at:

Valrico

• Brandon Auto Salvage & Services, 3159 State Road 60 E.
• Center State Bank, 1815 State Road 60 E.

Dover

• Harold’s Feed & Pet Supply, 12990 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.
• Russell’s Western Wear, 3709 State Road 60

Brandon

• Center State Bank, 102 S. Robertson St.
• Keith’s Oaks Bar & Grill, 108 Lithia Pinecrest Road

FishHawk/Lithia

• Heroes Only Barber Shop, 10412 County Road 39 S.
• Ace Hardware, 10415 County Road 39 S.

Plant City

• Center State Bank, 305 S. Wheeler St.
• Jewelry & Pawn by El-Mar, 814 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.
• Loetcher’s Auto Parts, 4306 State Road 574
• Hay Exchange, 4950 U.S. Highway 92 W.
• Southside Farm & Pet Supply, 3014 Jim Redman Parkway

Riverview

• Center State Bank, 10101 Bloomingdale Ave.
• Coyote’s Western Wear, 7815 Commerce St.
• Ace Hardware, 13364 Lincoln Road

Tampa

• Langston’s Used Auto Parts, 8011 U.S. Highway 301 N.
• Beef O’Brady’s, 8810 N. Himes Ave.

Lakeland

• Lay’s Western Wear & Feed Store, 5530 Old Highway 37
• Russell’s Western Wear, 3527 U.S. Highway 98

Ride Specials

The ride specials for this year’s fair include:

• Thursday, Oct. 20 and 27: Dollar Day -- $1 entry and $1 rides
• Friday, Oct. 21 and 28: $20 ride armbands
• Saturday, Oct. 22 and 29: $20 ride armbands, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; $20 ride armbands, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 23 and 30: $20 ride armbands

Livestock Events

Click here for a full list of the livestock events scheduled for the 2016 Hillsborough County Fair.

Arena Events

The following events are scheduled to take place in the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds arena:

Thursday, Oct. 20

• 6 p.m. – Cowboy Up Ministry presents Family Fun Night
• 7 p.m. – Whip cracking contest

Friday, Oct. 21

• 7 p.m. – Bulls and Barrels rodeo

Saturday, Oct. 22

• TBA – Southeastern Mounted Shooters Association Fall Shootout
• 7 p.m. – Bulls and barrels rodeo

Thursday, Oct. 27

• 6 p.m. – Future Farmers of America Night

Friday, Oct. 28

• 7 p.m. – Truck & Tractor Pull

Saturday, Oct. 29

• 8 a.m. – Buckle Series Horse Show (free for spectators)
• 7 p.m. – Truck & Tractor Pull

Sunday, Oct. 30

• 3 p.m. – Demolition Derby

Entertainment Tent Events

The following events are scheduled to take place in the Entertainment Tent:

Sunday, Oct. 23

• Noon – Children’s Harvest Pageant Registration
• 1 p.m. – Children’s Harvest Pageant for Children & Babies
• 3 to 6 p.m. – Gospel Jam

Sunday, Oct. 21

• 1 p.m. – Western Wear Contest Registration
• 2 p.m. – Western Wear Contest
• 3 to 6 p.m. – Gospel Jam

Daily Entertainment

The following free shows will take place daily during the Hillsborough County Fair:

Firefighter Show

• Thursdays and Fridays, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Saturdays, 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Sundays, 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Robinson’s Racing Pigs

• Thursdays and Fridays, 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• Saturdays, noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• Sundays, noon, 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Heidi Herriott Presents: Family Fun Circus

• Thursdays and Fridays, 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
• Saturdays, 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
• Sundays, 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Aerosol Endeavors – Aerosol spray paint performance

• Every day, every hour on the hour

Other events and competitions

Aside from the scheduled entertainment, other events and competitions will take place during the fair, including:

• Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District Plant Auction, Saturday Oct. 22 at 11 a.m.
• 2016 Haystack Dinner, Sunday Oct 23 from 1 to 7 p.m.
• Children’s Cooking Contest, Saturday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• 2016 Hay Bale Decorating Contest
• 2016 Horticulture Show
• Children’s Mask Making Contest
• Recycled Yard Art Competition
• Family Living Arts & Crafts
• Visual Arts
• Kids Coloring Contest

For more information about the 2016 Hillsborough County Fair, visit http://hillsboroughcountyfair.com/.

Image via Walter, Flickr, used under Creative Commons