More Than a Blue Ribbon: Discover What’s Inside the Fair Expo
What will you find inside the Expo at the 2026 Rockbridge Regional Fair & Expo?
Maybe a beautifully stitched quilt. Fresh produce from a local garden. A woodworking project. Something preserved from the summer harvest. Or, yes, even freeze-dried mushrooms.
The Expo is one of those parts of the fair where you never quite know what you'll discover. It's a showcase of the skills, interests and handiwork of exhibitors from across the region, and a chance to see the talent, traditions and creativity that make our community special.
The 2026 fair takes place September 10–12 at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, with the Expo located in the Reel Arena/East Complex.
An Expo Built by the Community
The Expo portion of the fair is proudly organized by the Rockbridge County Homesteaders, whose mission is to foster a resilient community through education and outreach. The organization sees the Rockbridge Regional Fair as an important part of our rural community and is excited to help keep the tradition growing.
The Expo welcomes exhibitors from Rockbridge, Alleghany, Augusta, Botetourt, Craig and surrounding counties and cities. Entries must be homemade and the handiwork of the exhibitor.
That means the Expo isn't simply something to walk through, it's a chance to see what people in our region are making, growing and learning.
Something for Every Interest
There are seven divisions in the Expo, offering opportunities for a wide variety of interests:
Kitchen Arts – Baked Goods & Candies, Food Preservation and Homebrewing Home Arts – Needlework, Hobbies & Crafts Shop Arts Farm & Garden – Fruits & Vegetables, Hay, Field Crops, Honey and Eggs Horticulture Fair Fantastics – for exhibitors ages 8 and under Educational Displays – including agriculture, science, history, career and technical education, group/club and other displays
Entries are judged on quality of workmanship and originality of design, so take a closer look when you're browsing. The details often tell the story, whether it's the precision of a handmade item, the care that went into a garden entry or the creativity behind an educational display.
And while ribbons and premiums are part of the fun, the opportunity to put your work on display and share it with others is what makes the Expo such a great community tradition.
Quilts in the Country
A visit to the fair wouldn't be complete without stopping by Quilts in the Country, presented by the Rockbridge Pieceworkers Quilt Guild.
Located in the Appomattox Mezzanine of Anderson Coliseum, Quilts in the Country features beautiful, handcrafted quilts, sewn creations, quilting supplies and other handmade items.
This is a great place to slow down and appreciate the details. Quilting combines creativity, patience and craftsmanship, and every finished piece has its own personality.
And this year, you get a say in the results.
Visitors can cast their vote for the Viewer's Choice Award and select their favorite quilt. Take your time, look at the different designs and detail, and decide which one earns your vote.
More to Explore
The Expo isn't the only reason to make your way to the East Complex.
On Saturday, the area will also feature the Farm Toy/Vendor Show from 9:00 AM–2:00 PM and the Farmer’s Market from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM. The Farm Toy/Vendor Show presented by the Rockbridge County High School FFA, bringing together farm toy displays and dioramas, vendors and a celebration of agriculture for fairgoers of all ages.
The Farmer’s Market is a special one-day collaboration of local farmers markets, with vendors from Buena Vista, Fairfield, Kerrs Creek, Lexington City, Natural Bridge and Rockbridge Baths joining us at the fair instead of holding their regular markets, bringing a whole region of local farmers and artisans together in one place for one day!
Browse the exhibits, check out the quilts, shop the market and see what else catches your eye.
When and Where to Find It All
- Expo exhibits: On display throughout the fair dates, Reel Arena/East Complex
- Quilts in the Country: Appomattox Mezzanine, Anderson Coliseum
- Thursday: 4:00–8:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Farm Toy/Vendor Show: Saturday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM, Reel Arena/East Complex
- Farmer's Market: Saturday, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM, Barn 8/East Complex
Take a Little Time to Look Around
There's plenty happening at the fair. The midway will be turning, music will be playing, and you'll have no shortage of things competing for your attention.
But make time for the Expo.
Wander through. Look at the ribbons. Read the exhibitor tags. Notice the details in a quilt or handmade creation. See what people are growing, preserving and producing.
You may find something that reminds you of home, introduces you to a new skill or inspires you to enter something of your own next year.
That's the beauty of the Expo: it's a little snapshot of the creativity, craftsmanship and everyday talents found throughout our region.
Come see what's on display at the 2026 Rockbridge Regional Fair & Expo, September 10–12 at the Virginia Horse Center.
