An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Education; Kentucky-Wild; Wildlife; Hunting; Fishing; Boating
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 13, 2026) — The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is ready to host Kentucky State Fair visitors with outdoors fun in the “great indoors," Aug. 20-30, 2026.
Located in the South Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, fairgoers can find the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife booth centrally located on “Main Street Kentucky," near the always-popular “Pride of the Counties," Kentucky agriculture displays, and the not-to-miss Kentucky State Fair competitive entries.
Department staff will be available each day to provide fairgoers with special programs, educational opportunities and interactive displays, and can answer questions about native fish, wildlife and recreational boating across Kentucky. Guests can also:
Daily special programs include (All times Eastern):
Thursday, Aug. 20: Kentucky Afield TV Day
Meet Kentucky Afield TV show host Chad Miles and the production team from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn about the nation's longest continuously running outdoors television show.
Friday, Aug. 21: Salato Day
Encounter native Kentucky wildlife from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet live wildlife and learn about the Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort.
Sunday, Aug. 23: Game Warden Day
Meet Kentucky Fish and Wildlife game wardens and ask them questions like what to know in the field, how they protect natural resources and how they keep the public safe.
Monday, Aug. 24: Fisheries Day
Talk to Fisheries biologists and staff about electrofishing, fisheries management, the Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) program and more.
Tuesday, Aug. 25: Kentucky Wild Day with Buddy the Bat
Learn about the conservation of non-game Kentucky wildlife. Chat with biologists about current efforts to help bats, pollinators and freshwater mussels, join Kentucky Wild and shop new merchandise, including T-shirts, caps and more. Don't miss meeting Buddy the Bat from the Louisville Bats, at the booth 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 26: Hooked on the Outdoors Day (R3 and Wildlife)
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., join conservation education staff for games, contests and “conservation conversations." Get tips on hunting, fishing and preparing wild game and fish. From 3 to 8 p.m., wildlife biologists will be in the booth to answer deer management questions and discuss Kentucky's deer population.
Special note: Catch our Cook Wild Live! demo on the Farm to Fair Stage at 1 p.m. to learn how to make Silver Carp Salad, hosted by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment. The first 100 registrants to attend will receive a free Hook and Cook cutting board! Register here.
Thursday, Aug. 27: Kentucky Afield Day
Meet staff from both Kentucky Afield TV and Kentucky Afield Magazine, at the booth from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chase Wininger and Lee McClellan, co-hosts of the Kentucky Afield Podcast, will be in the booth and enjoying the fair while answering listeners' questions and recording clips for their next episode.
Friday, Aug. 28: Wildlife Day
Wildlife biologists will be in the booth 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to talk about the upcoming deer season, and discuss Kentucky's deer population and herd management.
Sunday, Aug. 30: Enjoy the Outdoors and Support Conservation All Year
It's the last day of the fair, so be sure to stop by for hunting and fishing licenses, Kentucky Wild memberships and to purchase Kentucky Fish and Wildlife merchandise.
The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife experience is open daily, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., closing at 9 p.m. on both Friday nights, and at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30.
For admission, parking fees, gate hours and other information, visit kystatefair.org. For information about the department's hunting, fishing and wildlife programming throughout the year, visit fw.ky.gov.
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