What the Bellville Fair Is
The Bellville Street Fair, the Bellville Independent Fair in Richland County, is held on Main Street in the village of Bellville and spills onto the side streets. The Bellville Agricultural Society organizes it. It began in 1850 with a few produce stands and is called the oldest street fair in Ohio, one of only two agricultural street fairs left in the state, and is also known as the "World's Fair." The 175th fair ran September 10 to 13, 2025. The 2026 fair is set for September 16 to 19. It is always held in September, tied to the harvest. The only year without a fair was during World War II.
What Goes On
- Junior livestock shows and a junior livestock sale; local 4-H clubs set up tents on Main Street for displays from chickens to cattle
- A tractor pull that opens the fair at the Jefferson Township-Bellville Fire Department, south of town on State Route 13
- Pay-one-price rides, concessions and games
- A Fair Queen contest, held every year since the first queen was crowned in 1974
- Needlework and agricultural displays, a kiddie pedal tractor pull, and a library art show with youth and adult divisions
- Friday is traditionally Kids Day, when schools dismiss early
How the 2025 Week Ran
| Day | Junior fair and main events |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | Rabbit show 5 p.m. (poultry tent); sheep show 6 p.m. then cattle show (livestock tent); Fair Queen contest 6 p.m. and the Clear Fork marching band at 7 p.m. on the main stage |
| Thursday | Poultry show 5 p.m.; goat show 6 p.m. then hog show |
| Friday | Budweiser Clydesdales paraded through town 4 to 6 p.m.; a band at 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Pet show 11 a.m., kiddie pedal pull 1 p.m., cake auction 4 p.m., square dance 9 to 11 p.m., bluegrass concert 7:30 p.m.; junior livestock sale at 10 a.m. in the livestock tent |
| Sunday | Horse show 1 p.m. at Timber Valley Ranch, 4848 St. Rt. 13 |
Ride hours ran 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 6 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with kids' rides 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Rides and tents are typically gone by Sunday.
The Junior Livestock Sale
Local 4-H and FFA members show their animals during the week and sell them at the Saturday junior livestock auction. In 2024, for the 174th fair, the sale offered over 150 animals, including ducks, cows, turkeys and pigs, bought by area businesses and families supporting local youth.
Where
Main Street, Bellville, Ohio, with livestock and poultry tents, the band stand, Village Hall for the Saturday square dance, and the Bellville library branch for the art show.
Questions
When is the 2026 fair?
September 16 to 19, 2026.
Is it a county fair?
No. It is run by the Bellville Agricultural Society.
Where is the full schedule?
On the fair's website, bellvillestreetfair.org.
Official Links
- A Bellville Street Fair tradition is making a comeback: Richland Source
- Bellville fair, oldest street fair in Ohio: Richland Source
- 174th Bellville Street Fair junior livestock sale: Knox Pages
- Guide to Ohio fairs for 2026: WKBN
Ohio County Fairs and Junior Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Ohio's 2026 fair season listed 94 county and independent fairs plus the Ohio State Fair, running from the Paulding County Fair on June 6 to the Fairfield County Fair ending October 17, per Spectrum News.
State fair
The Ohio State Fair ran July 29 to August 9 in Columbus, and its preliminary livestock schedule put the Sale of Champions on August 9.
Rules and dates
Statewide, market animal exhibitors must finish Quality Assurance at least 45 days before the show, and leasing market animals is not allowed, per the livestock rules overview. Ownership and tagging dates vary by county. Lucas County, for example, set a January 1 ownership date for market beef, per its livestock rules.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office or FFA advisor for your fair book, tagging dates and sale rules. Weights and entry limits differ by fair, and Pickaway County, for instance, caps exhibitors at 10 animals with no more than 5 market animals. Put QA, tagging and registration dates on one calendar the day you receive them.
Read the full guide: Ohio County Fairs and Junior Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Richland County Fair
Richland County Fair is set for Aug. 9-15, 2026 in Mansfield, the county seat of Richland County.
Mansfield, OH Official event details - Wayne County 4-H Recognition Banquet
Annual banquet honoring Wayne County 4-H members and volunteers, held Nov. 12, 2026 in the Event Center at the fairgrounds.
- Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
The 107th Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting brought members to downtown Columbus for two days. Held each year; the most recent dates were December 11-12, 2025.
- Wayne County 4-H Beef Weigh-In
Market beef project members weigh in at the Coliseum on the Wayne County fairgrounds; Jan. 24 was the weather makeup date. Held each year; the most recent date was Jan. 10, 2026.
Wooster, OH Official event details - Shelby County 4-H Market Beef Weigh-In and Tagging
Market cattle weigh-in and tagging for Shelby County junior fair exhibitors at the fairgrounds, with a Jan. 25 makeup date for bad weather. Held each year; the most recent date was Jan. 11, 2026.
Sidney, OH Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.