The Vermont State Fairgrounds on South Main Street in Rutland is the home of the Vermont State Fair, an annual event held in late August and early September since 1846. The fair is one of the oldest in New England and features livestock judging, agricultural competitions, midway rides, food vendors, and entertainment. Outside fair week the grounds host other events through the summer season.
The State Fair is among the more distinctly Vermont experiences available: dairy cows take precedence over carnival rides, the food leans local, and the event retains a county fair character that state fairs in larger states have mostly lost. If you happen to be in Rutland in late August, it is worth the entrance fee.