Spanning 3 days the Northern Gila County fair provides nonstop action including live entertainment, auctions, food, and so much more! The weather has been pretty active with monsoons here in the Rim Country.  Rain or shine the fair must go on!

Fair Schedule:

Thursday - September 4th, 2025

Gates Open 9AM 

Family Fun Zone:
Fly casters hands-on demonstration
Payson Garden Club hands-on demonstration
Mini Golf
Carnival Games, 40 Ft. Slide, Spinning Animal Ride, Fun House
Petting Zoo
Payson Pro-Rodeo - Ropin’, Corn Hole and Games
FFA Foot Rodeo - (Multiple Contests Daily)

Family Fun Local Stage:
Fair Bingo
Watermelon Eating Contest (Daily)
Live Music
Concert Band (American Tribute) 4:30 - 5:45 PM

Livestock Tent:
LIVESTOCK EXHIBIT (Livestock Tent)  
“Come meet the Livestock kids and meet their animals!” 

Main Stage:
Magic Shows
Local Talent
Opening Ceremony “Hailing Our Heroes” (Main Stage) 6:00 PM 
“Don’t miss the Fly Over 
Live Music 7pm – 8pm

Friday - September 5th, 2025

Gates Open at 9AM

Exhibits at Tonto Apache Gym 10am – 6pm (Friday and Saturday only)

Family Fun Zone:
Mini Golf
Carnival Games, 40 Ft. Slide, Spinning Animal Ride, Fun House
Petting Zoo
Payson Pro-Rodeo - Ropin’, Corn Hole and Games
FFA Foot Rodeo - (Multiple Contests Daily)

Family Fun Local Stage:
Fair Bingo
Watermelon Eating Contest (Daily)
Hula Dance Studio
Live Music
Local Talent

Livestock Tent:
Livestock Shows
Round Robin Livestock Competition 
 
Main Stage:

2025 J.W. & Vertielee Floyd Memorial Old Time Fiddlers’ Contest
Arizona State Championship – Payson, Arizona

2025 Fiddle Festival Schedule:

Seating not guaranteed-Bring a lawn chair or blanket
10:00 am - Introductions
10:05 am - National Anthem
10:15 am Contest Begins
Small Fry Division,  Junior Junior Division,  Junior Division
*10/15-minute break*
Awards Announcement/Tie Breaker for Small Fry, Junior Junior, Junior Divisions
Young Adult Division,  Senior Division,  Adult Division
12-1:00 pm LUNCH BREAK
Awards Announcement/Tie Breaker for Young Adult, Senior, and Adult Divisions
2:00 pm Twin Competition
2:30 pm Trick Competition
3:00 pm Band Competition
4:00 pm Fiddlers Jam (if time allows)
5:30-6:30 pm Concert- Stollshine
7-10:00 pm Concert – Donny Grubb Band and the twin fiddles
 
Main Arena:
BARREL RACE - STARTS 7PM

Saturday - September 6th, 2025

Gates Open at 9AM

Exhibits at Tonto Apache Gym 10am – 6pm (Friday and Saturday only)

Family Fun Zone:
Mini Golf
Carnival Games, 40 Ft. Slide, Spinning Animal Ride, Fun House
Petting Zoo
Payson Pro-Rodeo - Ropin’, Corn Hole and Games
FFA Foot Rodeo - (Multiple Contests Daily)

Family Fun Local Stage:
Fair Bingo
Watermelon Eating Contest (Daily)
Local Dance/Talent/Sport
Live Music
Local Talent

Livestock Tent:
Livestock Shows
Round Robin Livestock Competition

Main Stage:
Payson's Fiddle Festival (continued) Arizona Fiddle State Championships
*Bring a lawn chair or blanket*
11:00 am Grand Champion Division - Round 1
12:30 - 1:30 pm LUNCH BREAK
1:30 pm Open Talent Division
2:00 pm Grand Champion Division Round 2
Final Award Announcements and Prize Presentations
Fiddle contest closing remarks
4:00 - 5:30 pm STAGE BREAK FOR LIVESTOCK AUCTION
5:30-6:30 pm Concert- Arizona Wildflowers
7-10:00 pm Concert- Desert Knights Band

Main Arena:
Horse Show Starts 9AM
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MUTTON BUSTIN’ COMPETITION and RANCH RODEO - Starts 6PM

SUNDAY - September 7th, 2025

Exhibits at Tonto Apache Gym (exhibitors only)
Pick-up Exhibits (Tonto Apache Gym) 10AM – 2PM

Fair Date: September 4 - 6, 2025

Gates Open at 9AM

Location: Payson Event Center - 1400 South Beeline Highway Payson, AZ 85547

Tickets:
Thurs/Fri/Sat – Free 2 and under, $3 for kids 3-10, $5 over 10
Parking - $5 per day. FREE SHUTTLE from Tonto Apache Gym Parking Area.

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