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Peanuts, forests and cotton highlighted at Georgia National Fair

 

The 36th Annual Georgia National Fair, Oct. 2-12 in Perry, will offer experiences appealing to all five senses, plus one extra. There’s taste (fair food), smell (ditto), sight (so many things to see!), sound (concerts galore), touch (souvenirs!) and thrills (rides!)

As always, Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) and Georgia’s agriculture sector with be front and center among the fair’s activities.

GFB invites fair patrons to visit its exhibit near the Powerful Peanut Experience in the Georgia Grown Building during the run of the 2025 Georgia National Fair. Visitors will be offered some fun giveaways and helpful information about GFB programs and Georgia agriculture.

GFB is also the presenting sponsor for the fair’s phenomenal lineup of concerts on the Georgia National Stage:

Oct. 2 – Shenendoah;

Oct. 3 – George Birge;

Oct. 5 – Southside Worship;

Oct. 6 – West Love & the 478 Band;

Oct. 7 – Great White & [Mark] Slaughter;

Oct. 8 – Morris Day & The Time;

Oct. 9 – The Fray;

Oct. 10 – Tracy Lawrence;

Oct. 12 – Rumba Latina.

These concerts are included with general admission tickets.

For the first time, the Georgia National Fair will celebrate Kickoff Saturdays, on Oct. 4 and 11, when patrons will be able to watch college football games on the big screen at the Georgia National Stage from noon to 9 p.m.

Last year, nearly 500,000 visitors explored the reimagined Georgia Grown Building at the fair, featuring the Seedlings to Solutions Experience, which highlights forestry and the Seed to Shirt cotton exhibit.

This year, Georgia’s Rural Center is teaming up with the Georgia Peanut Commission to bring fairgoers another immersive exhibit: the Powerful Peanut Experience. For 10 days in October, Georgia Grown and the Georgia Department of Agriculture will showcase the power and sustainability of peanuts, Georgia’s official state crop.

The new exhibit is one of many experiences offered by the Georgia National Fair, which has offered visitors a wide array of entertainment options and a unique look at Georgia agriculture since 1990.

Peanuts are a $2 billion industry in Georgia, and in 2024, the state produced around 50% of the peanuts grown in the U.S. Peanuts have supported rural communities for generations and are grown in 78 out of the 159 counties in Georgia. They are a sustainable crop and a nutrient-rich source of protein, making them an excellent staple for a balanced diet.

While peanuts and agriculture do support rural areas, these communities face unique challenges.

Through its partnership with the Georgia Peanut Commission, The Center showcases the importance of peanuts to Georgia’s agribusiness. This encounter takes patrons beneath the soil to learn about the history, the growing and harvesting process, nutrition, sustainability, and incorporating peanuts into a healthy diet.

Once inside the exhibit, visitors will step beneath towering 3D peanut plants and experience firsthand how peanuts are grown. The journey begins with the foundation of the peanut industry, exploring why peanuts are such a unique plant and food source, and the role key historical figures played in their rise.

Next, you’ll follow the peanut’s growing cycle, from ideal climates and farming stages to the different peanut varieties and their sustainability story. The final section celebrates peanuts as a food, highlighting the history of peanut butter and how peanuts fuel a healthy lifestyle. Just outside, visitors can also explore an iconic Peanut Wagon for an added hands-on experience.

The Powerful Peanut Experience joins the Seedlings to Solutions Experience providing an inside look at the state’s forestry industry and the Seed to Shirt Experience highlighting Georgia’s cotton production.

For ticket information, visit https://www.georgianationalfair.com/p/tickets .

The Seedlings to Solutions exhibit highlighting Georgia's forestry sector that debuted at the Georgia National Fair last year. It will be on display in the Georgia Grown Building again this year. /Photo by Jennifer Whittaker

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