The Perry County Fair started in the fall of 1856 in the court house. The one day event was held in an upstairs court room. Since Culinary items were not yet added to the fair it was mostly fancy work and farming displays. The next year it moved to its current fair grounds. In the years past it would start off with a parade from the court house to the fair grounds. It was the event of the year, people would come from miles around to show off their live stock, and race their horses. In the speed ring most of the horses went under saddle in trotting and pacing matches. The horsemanship consisted of most ladies.
The Queen pageant began in 1959, Little Miss Perry County added in early 1970 and the Junior Miss Perry County was added in 2000.
Today, the Perry County Fair is the oldest continuous running fair in Illinois. Some fairs are older but didn’t have a fair during the Depression years, Pinckneyville managed to keep theirs going during those years.
The fair today consists of a full culinary department, horticulture department, Dairy, Sheep, Beef and Horse shows. They also have a variety of events and show for the junior department.
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