What the National Peanut Festival Is
The National Peanut Festival is a ten-day fair at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds in Dothan, with a midway, concerts, livestock shows, contests, a parade and a demolition derby. The 2026 edition runs November 6 to 15. Gates open at different times each day, and admission is set by day, with an optional ride armband.
Daily Schedule and Admission, 2026
| Date | Theme | Gates | Admission / armband | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Nov. 6 | Opening Day | 4 p.m. | $11 / $40 | Ribbon cutting 6 p.m.; Darrell Qualls Band 7 p.m. |
| Sat, Nov. 7 | Peanut Proud Saturday | 10 a.m. | $11 / $45 | Car show 1-7 p.m.; livestock shows; Big and Loud 7 p.m. |
| Sun, Nov. 8 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | $9 / $40 | LEGO competition 3 p.m.; Corey Kent 7 p.m. |
| Mon, Nov. 9 | Farmers Day and ALFA Members Day | 4:30 p.m. | $11 / $30 | Calf Scramble and Greased Pig Scramble 7 p.m.; Mae Estes 8 p.m. |
| Tue, Nov. 10 | Teacher Tuesday | 4:30 p.m. | $11 / $30 | Hog showmanship 4 p.m.; Lauren Alaina 7 p.m. |
| Wed, Nov. 11 | Credit union day and Veterans Day | 2 p.m. | $11 / $40 | Hog shows 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Dennis Lee 7 p.m. |
| Thu, Nov. 12 | Special Citizens Day and First Responders Day | 4:30 p.m. | $11 / $30 | Tyler Hubbard 7 p.m. |
| Fri, Nov. 13 | Senior Citizens Day / Friday Funday | 2 p.m. | $11 / $40 | Figure 8 Race; poultry and rabbit shows 6 p.m.; Will Moseley 8 p.m. |
| Sat, Nov. 14 | Shellabration Saturday | 10 a.m. | $11 / $55 | Parade 9:30 a.m. on Main Street; Demo Derby 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. |
| Sun, Nov. 15 | Final Day | Afternoon, until 6 p.m. | $33 gate plus ride armband | Midway rides, Kiddieland and midway concessions only |
The schedule is subject to change.
Free and Discounted Days
- Farmers Day, Nov. 9: pre-registered farmers and immediate family get in free. ALFA members pay $5 with a valid card.
- Teacher Tuesday, Nov. 10: teachers get in free with a valid school ID. ALFA members pay $5.
- Nov. 11: the first 10,000 guests get free admission with a qualifying complimentary ticket from the festival box office. Military, veterans and immediate family get in free with ID, and $3 per armband benefits the Wiregrass Food Bank.
- Special Citizens Day, Nov. 12: pre-registered groups only.
- First Responders Day, Nov. 12: free with valid ID.
Concerts
Concerts are at the amphitheater at 7 p.m. and require paid fairground admission.
- Corey Kent, Nov. 8: general admission is free with paid fair admission; reserved $20, preferred $10.
- Lauren Alaina, Nov. 10: general admission $10; reserved $35, preferred $25.
- Tyler Hubbard, Nov. 12: general admission $20; reserved $45, preferred $35.
Reserved and preferred seats for Lauren Alaina and Tyler Hubbard include concert admission but not fairground admission.
Parade, Derby and Contests
- Parade: Saturday, Nov. 14, 9:30 a.m., Main Street in downtown Dothan.
- Demo Derby: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at BankPlus Arena. Reserved seats are $20; general admission is free.
- LEGO competition: Sunday, Nov. 8, 3 p.m. in the Premium Building, limited to the first 30 registered builders.
- Livestock shows: hog showmanship and hog shows, plus poultry and rabbit shows, are spread through the week as listed above.
Fairground attractions include the Cowtown Petting Zoo and Farm Experience, The Mars Experience, Dinosaur Adventure and The Grizzly Encounter, with locations and times announced during the festival.
Where
National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, 5622 Highway 231 South, Dothan, AL 36301.
Questions
Is there a day for farmers?
Yes. Monday, Nov. 9 is Farmers Day, with free admission for pre-registered farmers and immediate family.
Do concert tickets include fair admission?
General admission concert seating requires paid fairground admission. Reserved and preferred seats for Lauren Alaina and Tyler Hubbard do not include fairground admission.
When is the parade?
Saturday, Nov. 14 at 9:30 a.m. on Main Street in downtown Dothan.
Who do I call?
The festival office: (334) 793-4323.
Official Links
- National Peanut Festival calendar of events: daily schedule, admission and concerts
- Alabama Farmers Federation events calendar
Alabama County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Alabama's youth livestock season runs from winter skillathons to the Junior Livestock Expo in Montgomery, March 16 to 18 in 2026, and fall fairs, per an Auburn article. Dates may change.
Big fall shows
The Alabama National Fair in Montgomery ran October 3 to 12 in 2025, per the Alabama Farmers Federation. The National Peanut Festival in Dothan holds 2026 cattle shows November 7 and 8, with registration due October 18, per its cattle page.
Health and ID
Sick animals are barred from fairgrounds, and lactating dairy cattle need a negative HPAI test within ten days of arrival, per the state agriculture department. Peanut Festival goats need a certificate dated within 30 days, and market lambs need a health certificate and scrapie identification.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office, 4-H leader or FFA advisor for your fair book, tagging dates and sale rules. Weights and entry rules differ by show.
Read the full guide: Alabama County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Southeast Regional Junior Brangus Show and Sale
Held each year; the most recent dates were September 24-26, 2026, when junior Brangus exhibitors under 22 showed cattle, entered showmanship and photography contests and competed for awards.
5622 Highway 231 South, Dothan, AL 36301 Official event details - Alabama Farmers Federation Annual Meeting
Annual meeting of the Alabama Farmers Federation, held in Montgomery on the organization's events calendar for December 6-7, 2026.
- Gulf States Horticulture Expo
Horticulture trade expo in Mobile for Gulf Coast growers, shown on the Alabama Farmers Federation events calendar for January 6-8, 2027.
Mobile, AL | Organizer: Alabama Farmers Federation Official event details - Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Conference and Trade Show
Held each year in Gulf Shores by the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association; the most recent dates were February 3 to 5, 2027.
- SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week
Southeastern Livestock Exposition rodeo and livestock week at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, posted on the Bama Beef calendar for March 19-21, 2027.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.