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The Barbour County Fair
The Barbour County Fair was conceived as a countywide
celebration in 1889 with the first fair held on the county
courthouse lawn in Philippi ten years later. The fair
was scheduled for the close of the harvest season when
products of the farmers and of the housewives' industry
could be prepared and shown. The only outside concession
was a merry-go-round set up on a vacant lot on Main Street.
There was a parade, horseback riding, races, and exhibits.
The biggest outside attraction was Gertie Mae Davis, a
nationally known "fat lady" who tipped the scales at 630
pounds.
In 1972 a county Parks & Recreation Commission was formed and in 1974 the 183 acre Gordon Posten Farm on U.S. 250 was purchased at a cost of $100,000 for the purpose of constructing a county fairgrounds, a carnival area, exhibit buildings, grandstand, even a ½ mile racetrack were constructed. The fairgrounds was dedicated by the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture on August 29, 1975 when the first fair was initiated. A grant in the amount of $766,114 by the Governor's Office of Economic and Community Development allowed for the construction of a recreational complex, including a lighted baseball field, softball field, picnic pavilions, tennis courts, paved roads, drinking fountains, restrooms and a concession stand.
Today the fairgrounds is host to an annual winter fair in mid=February, an all-day Fourth of July celebration, the annual Barbour County Fair in late August, the new state Timber and Wood Show in early June, and a host of horse shows, family picnics, reunions, and the annual summer theater production of the Covered Bridge Players in late July.
More History...
Barbour County Region
Historic Communities in Barbour County
First Land Battle
Covered Bridges of Barbour County
Flags Over Philippi
Find out what's going on this month:
Events Calendar
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