75th Anniversary of The National Peanut Festival
November 2-11, 2018.
The National Peanut Festival, the nation's largest peanut festival, is held in Dothan, Alabama each fall to honor local peanut farmers and to celebrate the harvest season. Located in the southeast corner of Alabama, Dothan is known as the "Peanut Capital of the World" and is a prime location for growing peanuts. In fact, if you're in Dothan you're in the heart of peanut country, considering the majority of all the peanuts grown in the United States are grown within a 100-mile radius of Dothan.
A festival honoring the peanut was inaugurated on a near freezing Thursday, November 10, 1938. The three-day event included a pageant, parade, historical play, and grand ball. The guest speaker was Dr. George Washington Carver. Dr. Carver was a modest, unassuming man from the Tuskegee Institute who gained international fame with his development of over 300 products from the peanut.
The peanut festival was celebrated annually through 1941 but was postponed until after World War II. In 1947, the first post-war festival was presented and has continued every year since.
Throughout its history, the festival has been held in various locations, with most of its years at the Houston County Farm Center. The National Peanut Festival has been at its current location, the fairgrounds on US Highway 231 South, since 1999. With over 200 acres, 2 exhibit buildings, an amphitheater, an open-air arena, and an Ag complex, the fairgrounds are now capable of hosting year-round events and further promoting agriculture in the Wiregrass area, in addition to hosting the yearly harvest celebration.
Today, the National Peanut Festival has grown from a three-day event in 1938 to a ten-day event with an attendance of 200,000 fairgoers. Throughout those 10 days, the festival hosts numerous fun-filled, family events...amusement rides, animal attractions, agricultural displays, concerts, livestock shows, and a parade. Of course, we wouldn't be the National Peanut Festival without tons of PEANUTS!
This enormous event would not be possible every year without the almost 400 volunteers who give countless hours throughout the year in order to continue the festival's success. The local peanut farmers and the entire Wiregrass agriculture industry are to be commended for their continued dedication in giving this area a reason for celebrating such an important economic product.
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Please Note:
*Buy Tickets & $25 Mega Pass online now and at the Fairground box office til 5pm on Thursday Nov 1, 2018. Ride height requirements $7 Regular Price Gate Admission (ages 5 and under free). Gate admission includes all Free Amphitheater Concerts. General Fairground gate admission is only $7 to see the complimentary concert & all Fairground entertainment or choose reserved seating for a little extra. Amphitheater concerts are free with paid Gate admission. Add $10 for "RS-Reserved Seating" best available bench seats to the stage, or add $5 for "GA-General Admission Seating" the next available section of chair seats behind bench seating. Advance Gate One Day Admission Tickets - $6 (1-day) or $11 (2-day) or $45 season pass (9-days) admission (age 5 and under is free) on sale at the NPF (Fairgrounds) Ticket Office or online until 5 p.m., Thursday, Nov 1, 2018.
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Click HERE to download a PDF of the schedule
Daily Line-Up: |
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Matts Family JamMatt's Family Jam is a modern-day family show band performing feel-good music for all ages. Rock n roll, jazz swing, country and gospel. A Family show band like no other.Real Family, Real Music, Real Fun! Performing daily Nov 2-10, 2018. | MagicPittman Magic, Juggling, and Comedy - #1 Magical Variety Show! Husband and wife, Julian and Melody Pittman are International Magician’s Society Merlin Award Winners, and Julian is an International Silver Medalist Juggler! Action-packed, fast-paced, and crowd-pleasing performances are filled with grand stage illusions, juggling, balancing, escapes, and family-friendly laughs! The show is a not to be missed experience for all ages. See The Pittman’s to believe them! PittmanMagic.com Performing multiple shows daily Nov 2-7. | Wade HenryA unique and exciting variety entertainer, Wade features comedy juggling, tall unicycling, fire eating, balancing, music and plenty of audience participation.He has traveled internationally with his act and is a favorite at Fairs and Festivals everywhere. His shows appeal to all ages. Wade gets the adults involved with his antics and unusual humor. Kids clamor to Wade after each act asking “How do you juggle 5 balls?” or “Where can I buy a unicycle?” With the tallest unicycle on the Fair/Festival circuit, a daring approach to his life and his work – and top notch professionalism, you can see why he’s known as “The High Roller”. Performing daily Nov 2-10th, 2018 |
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Lew-E's ComedyLew-E's Comedy Circus strolling show performs daily Nov 2-10th. | Dynamite Magic & StiltsGary Ledbetter returns for 2018. Everybody loves his whit and energy while he performs Nov 2-10. | Log House DisplayThis World Famous Redwood Log House is 1900 years old. Get the complimentary tour. |
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Demolition Derby (11/10/18)Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. in the Fairground Arena. updated 2018 Rules and entry forms $1800 purse.DRIVERS MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE and have a valid driver’s permit in their possession. (16 years of age with a notarized parental medical statement obtained from STONEY ROBERTS Headquarters). Call # 1-865-382-1955. For more information, contact Stoney Roberts Promotions 865-382-1955 stoney_roberts@msn.com | Eudora Farms Petting ZooExperience our interactive, hands-on, exotic animal petting zoo. It has been a popular attraction at many festivals and events throughout the southeast. It includes 20-25 rare and exotic animals from around the world. We offer animal ambassadors such as, “Little Joe” (the wallaby), “Juliet” (The Scotch Highlander), “Humphrey” (The Camel), “Rascal” (The Fennec Fox) and “Kevin Bacon” (the Pot Belly Pig). All the animals bring smiles to all who meet them! We place the highest priority in cleanliness and professionalism which has helped to build a reputation of quality that’s hard to find. Our camel rides provide a once in a lifetime experience many will not soon forget. “Bubba”, our camel has made a name for himself doing over 30,000 rides in the past 3 years and entertaining crowds by drinking his diet coke. Young and young at heart enjoy our zoo and the thrill of our camel rides. Open to the public during normal festival hours, November 2nd-10th, 2018. | Ackmonster's Chainsaw ArtHear the roar of the chainsaw and watch the wood chips fly as one of the nation's top professional chainsaw sculptors, Brian Ackley, transforms logs into works of art. Each creation will be sold to highest bidder on Saturday evening Nov 10. Performing daily Nov 2-10th, 2018 |
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Swifty Swine Racing PigsRacing Pigs are back! Meet Zach Johnson, your "Swine Master", and owner of "Swifty Swine Racing And Swimming Pigs". Zach has been all over the United States, bringing his racing pigs to fans of all ages. The ultimate showman, he gives people what they want and need - true family entertainment. When you see a race at the "Pork Chop International Speedway" arena, you experience something you can't get anywhere else. You haven't lived until you've seen these racing pigs compete for the grand prize, an Oreo cookie! It just doesn't get any better than this ! So when Swifty and his friends come to town, you know that you are in for a real treat! Daily racing Nov 2-10, 2018 | Ready Set GrowReady Set Grow - Farmer Ed, Nov 2-10. |
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