Wilson County Tennessee State Fair — Local services in Lebanon

We have been to this fair several times in the past few years, although we did not visit last year.

We had a handicapped individual in our party, using a mobility scooter. The first issue was parking. The paved handicapped parking was shown as a vendor only entrance. We were directed by police to the yellow gate entrance, where the handicap parking was in an uneven grassy field. We were directed to park with one side of the van in a hole, making unloading and loading the scooter almost impossible! Then driving access the uneven ground, with divots and drops hidden by tall grass made it impossible to safely traverse to the gate without almost turning over. We also watched one elderly man using a walker stumble and fall in a hole, when his rolling walker got stuck in a whole. This is now also the TN State Fair, how can there be no ADA spaces available for parking?

Inside the fair, there was no signage helping to identify different areas, midway, exhibit areas, animal barns, performance stages, grandstand, etc. The schedule contained a small map, which was so badly laid out, that we were constantly backtracking looking for something.

There were far fewer benches and tables to sit and rest or sit and eat, after purchasing food. One time we found a table behind the TN lottery booth...there were 2, several other couples and families sat with us to eat and commented that they had been looking forever for a place to eat. Several commented that they had never seen it this bad. The second time we got food, We ended up behind the BBQ building at the permanent octagonal picnic tables. We shared the table with 2 families with small children, who could not walk and eat, or put their food on a standing tabletop. Several parents were very upset about the extreme lack of seating. Some just gave up and were sitting on the ground, trying to eat.

We had been talking up the Lawnmower Demolition Derby, which has been so fun to watch in the past. We were not prepared for the Non-ADA access to the grandstand seating. There appeared to be one ramp to one of 6 sections. There was no designated handicap seating. So you needed to go up that ramp and transfer to the lowest bench. Unfortunately one hour before the 7 PM event, the entire front row of that section was already filled with able bodied individuals. So, for a State Fair, this was extremely disappointing that they have made little to no accomodations. We tried to watch from the area between the two steps leading up into separate bleacher sections. It ended up being horrible for everyone standing, with a crush of people pressing them into the gate and almost no visual access for the person on the mobility scooter. We could only handle this for one class, the large cars, so unfortunately, we missed the much anticipated lawnmower class! Imagine if the TN Titans of the Predators did not have ADA Compliant parking or seating options...the State of TN and the Fed Govt would both go after them!

Lastly, this is the first time that we have attended where there have been no fireworks! They were very proud that this was their highest attendance year, but they couldn't get a sponsor or have a budget for fireworks...another disappoint! If this is now the Wilson County Fair/TN State Fair... how can it have less than when it was just the county fair...it was always the best in the state for many years...Now it is also the TN state fair because such low attendance at the Nashville fairgrounds...Wilson County Officials, take your fair back and make...

First time attending this fair. I had heard many great things about it, specifically it's "Grand Size." It was an awesome experience! (I live in nearby Williamson County, in comparison the Wilson County Fair experience was FAR superior to the Williamson County Fair.)

Upon arrival, friendly folks on extended golf carts picked us up right by where we parked and delivered us to the front gates. At the end of the day, it was much appreciated that these same folks pulled up just in time, as we were exiting the main gate, and gave us a ride back to our vehicles. Also noteworthy at the time we left, it was dark by this time, was a clear presence of security at multiple points around the parking areas- an appreciated detail for sure.

Prior to arriving I was a bit concerned that the adults would have countless options for rides and entertainment, while 'the girls' might feel 'left out' due to their ages and heights. (We had two children, my friend's kindergarten aged girls, with us.)

This was NOT the case! We were thrilled to discover an INCREDIBLE amount of rides for young children. Seriously, they rode way more rides than we adults did, which was awesome! There was no shortage of "big kid" rides though, as all of my favorites were there!

We were initially 'taken aback' by the $12 per adult, $6 per child (6yrs and under) cost 'just to enter the midway.' I believe it was evident, however, that this 'fee to enter' resulted in a much better environment in general. By that I mean that it seemed 'would-be loiterers' were likely dissuaded from attending.

That meant a lot to me, as the reason I stopped attending the state fair in Nashville was largely due to the increasingly 'hostile' environment, made up nearly entirely of loitering 'mobs' who obviously had no intention enjoying the fair attractions.

Even with the huge crowd in attendance, the Wilson County Fair felt like a safe place, which was incredibly important to us, in no small part due to the fact we had small children in our group. My observation was that the crowds consisted of "just a lot of 'good folks' who appeared to be no different than us, simply enjoying family fun and eating good 'ole authentic American fair foods." I enjoyed candy apples, lemonade, nachos and an incredible foot long corn dog- all of which tasted AMAZING!

In summary: "We enjoyed good times with family and friends, and we look forward to doing it again, the next time the fair...

We haven’t been to the fair since 2018 the year we lost their father/my boyfriend. So this year was a special year for us as we had so many memories there and kids put on a brave face. My kids and I arrived to the fair around 7 and there were quite a few people already leaving so I had my mom look up the times again just to make sure and it said closes at 11:00pm. So I figured 4 hours is enough to walk around and ride some rides. Boy was I wrong!! So we get to the parking area and they are parking cars all the way at the very end of the parking lot instead of filling the hundreds of empty spots that were avail. THIS WAS RIDICULOUSNESS #1. It took us 10-15 mins just to walk to the entrance. We got through the entry gate pretty quick and I’m happy to see they checked peoples back packs before entry. The most absurd thing #2 no one was in line for the wrist band machines. NO one. There were a couple people already paying for theirs but no one in line. They made us walk through the long maze of gates just to get to the machine when they could have pulled us around the exit area. This took 15-20 mins and another 5 mins struggling with bags in my hand and with the kids to get their bands on 4 wrists and I’m only one person. No one who work that area asked if they could help us and there was a lady who worked there sitting right beside us. $135 for 5 of us arm bands. Not to mention the entry fee they have just to enter the gates! So we are already at 7:56 pm and not rode our first ride yet. Each line we waited in was over 30 mins long! The littles got to ride 3 kids rides and the 2 older ones got to ride 2 things!! My 6 year old had been begging to ride the Ferris wheel all night. So we decided my teen would go Himalaya ride with brother and I would take the 2 younger ones to the Ferris wheel. It was around 10:27 we had been waiting in line only to be turned away when it’s our turn and it was not even 11:00 yet!! It was 10:38 and they closed the ride with people waiting 22 mins early!! That was plenty of time for us to do one last thing!! But my 6 yo was heart broken and By the time my oldest got back over to me she was in tears too!! They did the same thing to her and brother at the Himalaya!! This was a major disappointment all the way around. We will not be back to Wilson...