Jay County Fair

10/27/2026

NOVEMBER 7TH! Our next Cards and Collectibles Show is rapidly approaching. Only 2 shows left for 2026. Saturday; November 7th, from 9am till 2pm is the next big show in the Bubp Exhibition Hall. We will again have some amazing vendors on hand for the show, BUY SELL TRADE....This event has been a great event for young and old, for the casual collector or hard core. We still have vendor spots available for $25 per 6ft table. Contact Jason McGraw at 260-251-0414 for a space.

10/26/2026

The Jay County Fairboard is saddened to hear of the passing of Douglas Milligan (August 26, 1937 – October 24, 2026).

Doug was a dedicated Fairboard Director, serving for nine years from 1979 to 1987. During his time on the board, he served six years as Secretary and two years as President. His years of service reflect his commitment to the Jay County Fair and the community.

Doug was preceded in death by his wife, Judy, who also served the Fairboard as Secretary from 1988 to 1990. Together, they leave behind a legacy of service to the Jay County Fair.

In honor of Doug’s years of dedication and service, the Jay County Fairboard will be planting a tree in his memory on the Jay County Fairgrounds.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Doug’s family and friends. His service to the Jay County Fair will be remembered and appreciated for years to come.

10/18/2026

Thank you to our outstanding community for voting for the Fair Association for the Nonprofit Excellence award from the Jay County Chamber.
The fair is simply not 1 week of the year. It takes months of planning along with the countless other events that are held on the fairgrounds.
Thank you for your continued support of our wonderful fairgrounds and we can't wait to see you this Winter for our Cruisn the HoliJay Lights and of course the 2027 Jay County Fair July 4th-10th!

10/17/2026

With our annual meeting approaching, Vickie Reitz has informed the board that she will not be seeking re-election. We would like to sincerely thank Vickie for stepping up to fill the position and for her dedicated service to the Jay County Fair. We appreciate her willingness to serve and are grateful that she plans to stay involved with the fairgrounds even after her time on the board.

With this upcoming vacancy, we encourage anyone interested in serving on the Jay County Fairboard or having their name placed on the ballot for the December election to complete and submit a Fairboard Candidate Intent Form.

📅 Deadline: Monday, November 9, 2026, by 6:00 PM

📧 Email completed forms to [email protected] or mail them to:
Jay County Fair Association
P.O. Box 328
Portland, IN 47371

Please be sure to submit your form before the deadline, as late submissions will not be accepted.

10/16/2026

The Jay County Fair Association extends a heartfelt THANK YOU to The Portland Foundation and Jerry and Annette Alexander for the wonderful gift of support for our fairgrounds! ❤️🎡

During the Foundation’s 75th Annual Meeting, Jerry spun the wheel on behalf of the Jay County Fair Association, resulting in a $5,000 grant! Jerry and Annette, we are grateful you chose to support the fair and believe in the role our fairgrounds play in bringing our community together.

Thank you to The Portland Foundation for celebrating this milestone by giving back to local nonprofits. Your generosity helps us continue caring for our fairgrounds and preserving a place where generations gather, celebrate, and make memories.

Congratulations on 75 years of making a difference in Portland and Jay County. Also, thank you for making us part of that celebration!

A surprise moment made The Portland Foundation’s 75th Annual Meeting even more memorable!

Twelve attendees were randomly selected to spin a virtual wheel featuring grant amounts from $2,500 to $15,000. Each person selected chose a local nonprofit to receive the amount they landed on, resulting in $75,000 in grants awarded in honor of our 75th anniversary.

Jerry Alexander spun the wheel for the Jay County Fair Association, and they received a $5,000 grant! David Bricker accepted the grant on behalf of the organization.

We’re proud to celebrate 75 years of philanthropy and support for the organizations that make Jay County stronger

10/15/2026

📰 The October Jay County Fairgrounds Newsletter Is Here!🎡

There’s a lot happening at the Jay County Fairgrounds, and our October newsletter has all the latest updates! 🍂

Here’s what you’ll find inside this month’s edition:

🎄 Mistletoe Market Returns – Get the details on this year’s holiday market!

✨Christmas Lights & Volunteering – Our Christmas Lights display is returning, and we need volunteers to help make it happen!

Card Shows – Only two dates remain on the 2026 calendar!

Board Member Vacancy – Learn about an opportunity to get involved and help shape the future of the Fairgrounds.

Round House Project Update – Get the latest on Phase 1 plans, funding, and our vision for preserving this historic landmark.

Nonprofit Update – Read the latest on our transition to a nonprofit organization.

📅2027 Event Calendar – See what’s already on the schedule for next year!

We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate everyone who continues to support the Jay County Fairgrounds. From preserving our history to bringing new events and traditions to the community, there’s a lot to look forward to!

👉 Read the October Newsletter here:

Check out this US Letter designed by Jay County Chamber of Commerce.

10/09/2026

The Jay County Fair is excited to announce the Mistletoe Market is back for the 2026 Holiday Season! We will be holding the event in conjunction with Jay County Chamber of Commerce Winterfest activities and during the Jay County Fair Christmas Light walk-through night. We are expecting many people to be in attendance at the fairgrounds with the walk-through night, along with the Parade of Lights taking place in Downtown Portland and ending at the Fairgrounds. There will be other activities taking place at the fairgrounds as well to entice people to attend.

The vendor form and information is attached to this email. We are now accepting vendors and the deadline to submit is October 31, 2026. Payment is being collected via a Square payment link at the end of the vendor form. For additional information or questions, please email [email protected] or call/text Reda Theurer-Miller at (260) 703-1040 or Katie Loy at (260) 251-3113.

Vendor Application/Form: https://forms.gle/rR2wUrrF3DW4aUKH9

10/01/2026

🐕🔥 Welcome back to the GREAT Jay County Fairgrounds!

We’re excited to once again welcome the Coonhound World Championship Finals to Jay County Fairgrounds, October 1–3!

This marks the second consecutive year we’ve had the honor of hosting this event, something that rarely happens! We’re proud to welcome 500+ competitors, families, and spectators to our community for a weekend of championship competition and great sportsmanship.

Events like this are a great opportunity to showcase our fairgrounds and everything Jay County has to offer while bringing visitors from across the country to our community.

Best of luck to all the hunters and hounds competing this weekend! 🐕🏆

📍 Jay County Fairgrounds
📅 October 1–3, 2026

10/01/2026

This Saturday, the Jay County Fairgrounds will have another fantastic Cards and Collectibles Show at the Bubp Exhibition Hall. The show is 9am till 2pm and will feature: Modern and Vintage Sports Cards, Pokémon and other TCG cards, Coins/Silver/paper money, vintage Music Albums, Vintage toys, and so much more. Come and see what Holy grails you may find this weekend right here! Over 80 tables of Collectibles. There are a few vendor spots available, contact Jason McGraw at 260-251-0414.

09/30/2026

Really appreciate the Wildflower Beauty Lounge & Scratch 27 Bar & Grille for being another set of wonderful sponsors from our Blooms and Brews event last weekend. Thank you also again to those that came out to support the Jay County Fair.