UPDATE: The iconic Jacksonville Fair is set for its final downtown run from November 6 to November 16, 2025, before relocating after 70 years to the Westside in 2026. This major shift has stirred excitement and concern among residents as the fair prepares for its last hurrah in its historic location.
Officials confirm that the new fairgrounds will be located at the Equestrian Center off Normandy Boulevard, where construction is already underway. The decision to move was announced by Bill Olson, executive director of the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair, who stated, “Even though we’ve been here for 70 years, we feel it’s time… it’s just getting harder and harder for us to have the size event that we have.”
Local residents, however, are raising alarms about traffic and safety issues related to the new site. Neighbor Jeannie Engle, a long-time resident near Normandy Boulevard, expressed her concerns: “I’m not opposed to the fair. I’m opposed to new development. Just widen the roads first.” She noted that ongoing road work has created dangerous driving conditions.
In response to traffic worries, Olson assured the community that fair organizers are constructing a dedicated entrance and exit off POW MIA Boulevard to alleviate congestion on Normandy. “So we’ll have a dedicated entrance and exit off of POW. So that’s going to relieve all the traffic on Normandy,” he explained.
As the countdown begins for the fair’s final downtown event, locals are urged to revisit the fair one last time for nostalgia’s sake. “Those folks maybe haven’t come in a while… You know coming here as a kid or whatever and seeing it one last time is really the last chance they’re going to have,” Olson remarked.
The move to the Westside promises fresh opportunities for the Jacksonville Fair, but it also poses challenges for the surrounding community. As residents grapple with the potential changes, the urgency of the upcoming fair draws closer, making this an essential moment for both the fair and the Jacksonville community.
With the fair’s final downtown celebration on the horizon, excitement builds while concerns linger, marking a pivotal transition for this cherished Jacksonville tradition.
