St. Tammany Parish Fair
October 2, 2024 - October 6, 2024
Recurring daily
Time: Varies, see description
Price: Wed, Thu, Sun: Free. Fri-Sat: $5 adults, $3 for age 11 and under. Midway wristbands $25-$30. Rodeo & Wild West Show $15 age 13+, $10 age 12 and under.
St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds, Columbia Street in Covington
1304 N. Columbia St., Covington, LA 70433
(985) 892-8421
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Come one, come all! It's the St. Tammany Parish Fair, celebrating 115 years of St. Tammany culture in 2024! The fair is open to the public October 3-6, 2024.
The fair features a rodeo, Fair Queen/Princess and Rodeo Queen pageants, talent showcases, agricultural and horticultural exhibits, music, food, and of course, the ever-popular carnival rides. Founded in 1910, the St. Tammany Parish Fair Association has produced a fair almost every year during the first full weekend in October to showcase local culture, promote economic development, and nurture community pride. The Fair Association also gives thousands of dollars annually to area schools to exhibit entries and in scholarships.
ADMISSION*
General Admission is free Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; on Friday and Saturday, admission is $5 for age 12+, $3 for age 11 and under.
Midway wristbands are $25 on Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday until 4 p.m. ($30 from 5-11 p.m.). Admission is $30 Saturday and Sunday.
Admission to both the Rodeo and Wild West Show is $15 for age 13+, $10 for children 12 and under.
*2023 prices, subject to change.
A complete schedule of events is available on the St. Tammany Parish Fair website at https://sttammanyparishfair.info/schedule.
FAIR HIGHLIGHTS
PAGEANTS & RODEO
The fair begins mid-September with baby, children's, and Princess and Miss pageants at the Greater Covington Center, and the Rodeo Queen Contest for ages 13-19 held at the Fairgrounds. The Rodeo Queen is crowned during the popular St. Tammany Parish Fair Rodeo, held Friday and Saturday, 7:30 to 10 p.m. each night.
Admission to the rodeo is $15 for adults 13 and up, $10 for children 12 years and under. All pageant and talent showcase applications are due earlier in September. See registration forms on website for more information: https://sttammanyparishfair.info/
RIDES
Kids of all ages will enjoy the thrilling carnival rides provided by the Northshore’s own Mitchell Brothers Amusements. The popular Midway with a variety of fun rides will be open to the public beginning on Wednesday. The Midway remains open for the rest of the week. Open hours are as follows: Wednesday and Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 5 p.m.-midnight; Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight, and Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
MIDWAY ADMISSION*
Admission is by wristband daily, and individual ride tickets are also available Friday 11 p.m. to midnight and Saturday, 10 p.m.-midnight.
Wristbands are $25 Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday until 4 p.m. Wristbands are $30 Friday after 5 p.m., and all day Saturday and Sunday.
*2023 prices, subject to change.
LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
Live music is featured on the Main Stage Thursday through Sunday, including gospel music night (Thursday) featuring local church choirs. The rodeo on Friday and Saturday is the real thing, featuring bull riding, roping, bareback riding, trick riding and a calf scramble for the young ones.
PARADE
Fair weekend kicks off Friday at 10:00 a.m. with a parade from downtown Covington to the fairgrounds revs up the fun. The procession starts on Jefferson Avenue and travels to Boston St./Hwy. 21, up Columbia Street, concluding at the fairgrounds at 1304 N. Columbia St. Opening ceremonies take place on the Main Stage at 11:00 a.m. followed by performances throughout the day.
EXHIBITS
Expect livestock shows, a mini-farm, quilt show and displays of everything from home-grown canned goods to birdhouses to perfect potted plants.
Livestock shows showcase chickens and rabbits, dairy cattle and beef cattle, swine, sheep and goats.
For the complete schedule, visit http://www.sttammanyparishfair.info . Learn more about the history of the fair at: https://sttammanyparishfair.info/about
DIRECTIONS:
From I-12, take US-190 (exit 63-B) north toward Covington. Continue on US-190 over the Hwy 21/Covington CBD overpass as Hwy 190 becomes Collins Blvd. Fairgrounds are to the west (left) of Hwy 190 between 33rd Avenue and Magee Street.
Walk-in entrance is at 1304 N. Columbia St., drive-in entrance on West Magee Street. Free parking is available inside the fairgrounds and surrounding neighborhood.
Photos by Bill Lang for VisitTheNorthshore.com.