What the Mohave County Fair Is
The Mohave County Fair has been held in Kingman since 1947. The 2026 fair runs September 17 to 20 at the Mohave County Fairgrounds, 2600 Fairgrounds Blvd., with the theme "Neon Nights." It mixes a carnival, daily live music and expo halls with competitive exhibits, a 4-H and FFA division, open livestock and small stock, and the Mohave County Youth Livestock Auction on Saturday night.
Ways to Enter
| Dept | Class | Ages | Max entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Canning/Preserving | 8+ | 1 per class |
| 102 | Culinary Arts | 1+ | 5 overall |
| 103 | Machine Sewn Articles | 6+ | 1 per class per division |
| 104 | Needlework | 6+ | 1 per class |
| 105 | Floriculture/Horticulture | 6+ | 20 total |
| 106 | Fresh Produce | 6+ | per class |
| 107 | Adult Fine Art | 18+ | 2 per division |
| 108 | Photography | 6+ | 5 total |
| 109 | Adult Arts and Crafts | 18+ | 5 total |
| 110 | Jr. Arts and Hobbies | 12-17 | 5 total |
| 111 | Children's Arts | 6-11 | 3 per child |
| 112 | Tiny Tots Arts and Crafts | 1-5 | 3 total |
| 113 | Persons with Special Needs | 2+ | 5 total |
| 114 | Native American Arts and Crafts | 5+ | 5 total |
| 115 | Children's Crafts, Hobbies and Collections | 6-11 | 3 total |
| 116 | STEAM | 6+ | 3 total |
The fair book also lists a 4-H and FFA division (departments 500-515), open livestock and small stock (200-208) and the youth livestock auction (401-406: small stock, goat, swine, sheep, beef and a carcass contest). Schools can enter one banner-size group project per class (maximum 4 by 10 feet) on Entry Form C.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Exhibitors must live in Mohave County or in Needles, Laughlin, Seligman or Havasupai.
- Pre-registration is required for every section, and late entry forms are not accepted.
- Work must be the exhibitor's own; parents or adults may not do it.
- Entries must not have been shown at a previous Mohave County Fair (collections are the exception).
- Only items listed in the fair book are accepted.
- Canned goods and culinary entries have their own rules: labeled jars, no glass plates or pans, no frozen entries.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Friday, August 21, 2026, 5 p.m.: entry deadline. Enter online at mohave.fairwire.com, email Fairgrounds@mohave.gov, text a photo of the form to 928-716-4593, or drop it at the fairgrounds office. If you cannot print the form, call 928-753-8620 and staff will fill it out for you.
- Thursday, September 10 (4-7 p.m.), Friday and Saturday, September 11-12 (12-4 p.m.): exhibit intake at Building B for most departments.
- Monday, September 14: judging for most departments. Culinary Arts and Fresh Produce are judged Wednesday, September 16, with intake on September 15-16.
- Wednesday and Thursday, September 23-24, 4-7 p.m.: release of most exhibits.
Fees, Awards and What You Get
No premiums are collected and there are no cash payouts at the end of the fair. Exhibits earn ribbons: blue for first, red for second, white for third, plus Honorable Mention, a yellow Best of Division ribbon and a teal Best of Show ribbon. Exhibitors ages 1 to 17 get a free fair pass after one entry; exhibitors 17 and up get one after five entries. Livestock exhibitors in the youth auction sell their projects Saturday night.
Admission and Hours
Gates open at 10 a.m. daily. Adults $10; seniors 65+ with ID, veterans and first responders, and children 5-12 are $5; children 4 and under are free; parking is free. Expo halls are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (6 p.m. Sunday). Carnival wristbands are $45 at the carnival.
Questions
Can I enter from outside Kingman?
Yes, an outreach program lets residents of Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, Golden Valley, Peach Springs and other communities drop entries at local sites by September 4 (minimum five entries per site). Call 928-757-0915 to schedule pick-up.
Can a parent help build my entry?
No. The work must be your own.
When do I pick up my exhibit?
September 23 or 24. Non-perishables left more than 30 days may be disposed of.
Official Links
Arizona County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Arizona youth shows run through county Extension offices, 4-H clubs and FFA chapters, and each show publishes its own rules. Dates run from January roundups to the State Fair in October.
Examples
The Arizona 4-H Stock Show and Roundup is set for January 30 and 31, 2027 in Tucson, with registration closing January 15. The Yavapai County Fair ran September 10 to 13, 2026 at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds. The Arizona State Fair ran October 1 to November 1, 2026, with its Sale of Champions on October 3.
Who can show
The State Fair says youth competitions are for ages 8 to 18. The Roundup uses Junior (8 to 10), Intermediate (11 to 13) and Senior (14 to 18) divisions.
Rules to check
Pima County asks members to complete Arizona Youth Livestock Quality Assurance training and ties each animal to an ownership deadline, a tag and a weigh-in. Weights, tagging and sale rules differ by show.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office for the premium book and entry dates before you buy an animal.
Read the full guide: Arizona County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- MCYLA Livestock Auction at the Mohave County Fair
Saturday-night junior livestock auction during the Mohave County Fair, run by the Mohave County Youth Livestock Association, where youth exhibitors sell their market animals.
2600 Fairgrounds Blvd, Kingman, AZ 86401 | (928) 753-8620 | Organizer: Mohave County Youth Livestock Association Official event details - Central Arizona Farmer Field Day
Annual morning field day for central Arizona growers run by the University of Arizona Pinal County agronomy program, with cotton, small grain and forage research results; set for November 18, 2026.
Casa Grande, AZ | 520-836-5221 | Organizer: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Official event details - Arizona National Livestock Show
Billed as the largest livestock show in the Southwest, it draws youth exhibitors with about 2,500 cattle, horses, sheep, goats and swine; 2026 runs December 27-31.
- Arizona National Livestock Show Livestock Judging Classic
Livestock judging contest where entrants rank cattle, sheep, swine and goats and give oral reasons; the junior division for 4-H and FFA runs during the Phoenix livestock show.
Phoenix, AZ | Organizer: Arizona National Livestock Show Official event details - Arizona FFA Pinnacle Senior Conference
Senior leadership conference for Arizona FFA members, scheduled January 22-23, 2027 at Peoria High School alongside a mini leadership camp.
Peoria, AZ | Organizer: Arizona FFA Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.