Richland County Fair & Rodeo: Our Guide to a Local Tradition

If you spend enough time in eastern Montana, you may hear talk about the Richland County Fair. The highlight of the summer is when the whole county seems to gather in one place, along with residents and visitors from across the MonDak region and beyond. 

Part county fair, part rodeo tradition, part reunion, and part summer road trip destination, the fair draws more than 30,000 attendees across four lively days, making it one of the largest annual events on our local calendar. 

Ready for a day at the fair? Read on and get the breakdown, from ticket info to rodeo schedule.

Richland County Fair & Rodeo at a Glance: The Richland County Fair usually takes place Wednesday through Saturday in late July or early August at the Richland County Fairgrounds in Sidney. Attractions include carnival rides, grandstand entertainment, rodeo action, exhibits, fantastic food, and the kind of community energy that only happens once a year. 

About the Richland County Fair & Rodeo

The Richland County Fair and Rodeo has been part of the region’s story for generations. What began as a small community gathering eventually became the official county fair in the early 1900s, and over time, it has expanded from a local showcase into a major annual tradition. Now, it serves as a summer centerpiece for Richland County and the broader MonDak area.

Those roots are still easy to see today. Agriculture remains the heart of the fair, with livestock shows, open-class entries, and generations of Sidney and Fairview locals returning year after year. But the fair is more than exhibits and ribbons. It’s also a reflection of community identity. We all cross paths in the same grandstands and food lines, and you’ll see old friends catching up, memories being made, and first-time visitors realizing quickly that eastern Montana knows how to host one incredible event.

What to Expect at the Richland County Fair

The Richland County Fair schedule typically spans four full days, with activities from morning until late evening. Some visitors come for the rodeo, others for concerts, rides, livestock barns, or simply because everyone else is there! If it’s your first time attending any Richland County Fair events, plan to give yourself more time than you think. There’s a lot to see once you’re through the gates. 

Opening Night & Grandstand Entertainment

One of the most popular events is the grandstand lineup. Opening night kicks off with high-energy entertainment that gets the crowd engaged right away. Depending on the year, that may consist of motorsports, stunt attractions, specialty acts, or other spectacles built for a summer-night audience. 

A major concert traditionally closes the fair on Saturday night. Country music has long fit naturally with the culture of eastern Montana, and the fair has built a reputation for booking well-known and highly respected regional and national performers. 

Check the official fair site early for current seating details and schedules.

The PRCA Rodeo

Of course, the fair wouldn’t be complete without the rodeo, and for many attendees, it’s the highlight of the week. If you’ve never attended an authentic Montana rodeo before, this is an excellent place to start. 

The PRCA rodeo takes place on Thursday and Friday evening and brings a true western atmosphere to the fairgrounds. You’ll see bull riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, and other fan favorite rodeo competitions. 

The Friday rodeo usually incorporates the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” tradition, which adds another meaningful layer of community support on one of the busiest nights of the week.

4-H & Open Class Exhibits 

The quieter side of the Richland County Fair events lineup is as memorable as the grandstand shows. Inside the barns and exhibit buildings, you’ll find 4-H and open class entries covering livestock, gardening, flowers, baking, quilting, photography, crafts, woodworking, preserved foods, and more. 

These spaces tell the deeper story of our county: people raising animals, growing food, building skills, and taking pride in what humans can create with their own hands. It’s a chance to appreciate how much work goes into these traditions.

Carnival

The carnival runs afternoons and evenings throughout the fair, Wednesday through Saturday, and it’s one of those things that’s easy to spend more time on than planned. Rides range from kid-friendly options to the kind of high-speed attractions that draw a line all night long. Midway games, classic carnival snacks, and the general chaos of a summer fairground round it out.

It’s a good spot to drift through without a strict agenda; spin a few rides, grab something fried, and let the evening take over. Most people end up circling back to the carnival more than once across the week, especially once the grandstand shows let out, and the grounds stay lit and lively into the night.

Vendors & Fair Food

Fair food is a big reason many people return every year. Booths generally open around midday and keep serving through the evening, making it easy to snack your way across the grounds. You’ll find classics like burgers, barbecue, fries, corn dogs, funnel cakes, lemonade, ice cream, kettle corn, and other fair favorites. Some people come hungry with a plan, while others decide meal by meal based on whichever line smells best. Whatever you choose, you definitely won’t go hungry here.

Vendor areas add even more to the fair docket. If you like to wander without a strict agenda, the vendor areas have a lot to explore, with the vendor lineup varying year to year. The mix often includes local makers, commercial exhibitors, regional businesses, nonprofits, and community booths. 

Tickets, Parking & More Visitor Info

Looking for tickets? Buying Richland County Fair tickets online in advance is the easiest way to go. Grandstand attractions and rodeo seating require separate admission, so make sure you purchase all the tickets you need for the day so you don’t miss out.

Located on the fairgrounds at 2118 W Holly St in Sidney, Montana, the Richland County Fair typically runs late July through early August, Wednesday through Saturday. Because yearly calendars can shift, always confirm this year’s fair schedule before making your travel plans.

Parking is commonly accessible from multiple directions, including Holly Street, 5th Street, and nearby entrances around the grounds. ADA parking is generally available near the Event Center lot.

Traveling from Fairview? Sidney is only around 15 miles away, making the fair an easy day trip. But if you do plan to stay overnight, reserve early! Hotel rooms in Sidney book up quickly during fair week. 

Make a Fair Week Stop in Fairview

Fair week has a way of turning into a full trip before you know it. If you’re heading to Sidney from Fairview, or passing through the MonDak region on your way, it’s worth building in a little extra time on either end.

Seed of Life is right here in Fairview, and we were honored to earn Best of Richland County 2025 from the Sidney Herald; something we don’t take lightly in a county that knows its neighbors well. Stop in before you head to the fairgrounds, or on your way back through.

And if you haven’t spent much time in Fairview itself, there’s more to explore than most people expect. The river country out here has its own pace, and small-town Montana tends to reward the people who aren’t in a hurry.