VIENNA — The Maries County Fair returns Sept. 3-5 to the fairgrounds near the Vienna City Park, “Celebrating 80 Years of Tradition,” featuring a parade, live music, livestock shows and more.

Kacie James, fair association member, is excited about the fair and being able to offer admission for a lower price than last year.

“At the end of the day, seeing families and friends come through the gates, enjoy themselves, and make memories together makes all of that work worth it,” she wrote in an email.

James said that while people often attend the main events, there is much else happening at the fair. She gave Saturday after the parade as an example, when there will be kids’ games, a foam party, live music and more.

This year’s fair will feature a new Flashback Cash Raffle, included with admission. One winner, who is present, will be selected at the main stage each night around 10 p.m. The cash prizes are $250 for Thursday night and $500 for Friday and Saturday nights.

Performers include Dax Perrier, Owen Kloeppel, Grant Wright, Broken Arrow and Shawneetown.

The fair begins Thursday at 4 p.m. when the gates open. Events include pageants, a rabbit and chicken show, Kloeppel’s performance and Dax Perrier’s performance.

Perrier is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Tulsa, Okla., who blends the genres of country and rock ’n’ roll. In 2022, he released his first album “Bad for You.”

He has performed with other artists, including Stoney Larue, Jason Boland, William Clark Green, Cody Canada, Kolby Cooper, Austin Meade and more. Perrier and his five-piece band plan to release this month two songs titled “Old Flames” and “Pouring Rain.”

Kloeppel, from Maries County, started playing guitar when he was 14 years old. He played for two years when he was in high school and placed top 10 at the FFA National Convention in his final year. In 2023 and 2025, he also won Entertainer of the Year at the North American Country Music Association International competition in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. He enjoys playing bluegrass and traditional country music.

Friday’s events include a morning livestock show, free face painting, laser tag, barn awards and sale, a rodeo and Grant Wright’s performance.

Grant Wright started playing guitar in seventh grade with his friends. His Missouri band Grant Wright and the Hackamores plays “high energy” and “red dirt” country music, based on a Texas and Oklahoma music style.

Saturday’s events include a morning “Totally 80s” parade, cornhole, kids’ games, Broken Arrow’s performance, laser tag, a performance, foam party, a demolition derby and Shawneetown’s performance. Kids’ games include kiddie tractor pull, pig scramble and sawdust trail.

Broken Arrow Band is a Westphalia-based, four-piece band. They play country, soft rock, bluegrass and fiddle tunes.

Shawneetown is a seven-person band that plays 70s, 80s, 90s and modern music. The band plays at wineries and at festivals like Oktoberfest in Hermann.

The full list of events includes:

Thursday, Sept. 3

• 4 p.m. – Gates open, inflatables

• 5 p.m. – Pageants

• 5:30 – 10:30 p.m. – Carnival, petting zoo

• 7 p.m. Rabbit and chicken show

• 7:30 p.m. – Owen Kloeppel

• 9 p.m. – Dax Perrier

Friday, Sept. 4

• 8 a.m. – Livestock show

• 4 p.m. – Gates open, inflatables

• 5 p.m. – Free face painting

• 5:30 – 10:30 p.m. – Carnival, petting zoo

• 6 – 10 p.m. – Laser tag

• 6 p.m. – Barn awards and sale

• 7 p.m. – Rodeo

After rodeo: Grant Wright

Saturday, Sept. 5

• 11 a.m. – Parade

• 1 p.m. – Gates open

• 1 – 4:30 p.m. – Carnival

• 1:30 – 10:30 p.m. – Petting zoo

• 2 p.m. – Cornhole

• 2 p.m. – Kids’ games

• Kiddie tractor pull

• Pig scramble

• Sawdust trail

• 4 p.m. – Broken Arrow band

• 4 – 10 p.m. – Laser tag

• 5 p.m. – Foam party

• 5:30 – 10:30 p.m. – Carnival

• 7 p.m. – Demolition derby

• After derby – Shawneetown band

Admission Details

The fair association also announced lower prices for advanced season passes and daily admission from the 2025 fair. The 2025 daily rates were $30 for Thursday and Saturday and $40 for Friday, and the 2025 season pass was $40.

The 2026 fair passes are:

Daily: Thursday $15 • Friday $15 • Saturday $20

Season pass: $30 in advance, $40 at the gate

Children 5 and under admitted free