By SHAWN STREET
[email protected]
Officials with the Russell County Fair and Horseshow have announced the lineup of entertainment for the 2026 fair. This year’s event will include two Gospel Nights, Tuesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 10.
The music portion of the fair will get kicked off on Friday, September 4. A yet to be named opening act will hit the stage at 7:00 p.m. with Seth McKay and Moonshine Rivals headlining at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 5 will see Noah Spencer taking to the stage at 7:00 p.m. Honeybadgers will follow at 8:00 p.m.
Midlife Crisis will be the headliner on Monday, September 7 at 8:00 p.m. A yet to be named opening act will get the show started an hour earlier.
The fair’s first Gospel Night will be on Tuesday, September 8. Calvary’s Chosen will take to the stage at 6:00 p.m. Valley Grass will follow at 6:40 p.m. The Jessee Family will perform at 7:20 p.m., with The ChuckWagon Gang headlining at 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 9 will feature Mountain Highway at 8:00 p.m.
The traditional Thursday Gospel Night on September 10 will feature Holston River Boys at 6:00 p.m., The Hubbard Family at 6:30 p.m., The Jackson Family at 7:00 p.m., Mike Upright at 7:30 p.m. and Jeff Tolbert and Primitive Road at 8:15 p.m.
Friday, September 11 will find Gents and Liars in the spotlight at 8:00 a.m. An opening act will get the show started at 7:00 p.m.
Kickin’ Up Dust will headline the stage on the final night of the fair, Saturday, September 12. Kickin’ Up Dust will take to the stage at 8:00 p.m., following an opening act an hour earlier.
The 2026 Russell County Fair and Horseshow will take place at the fairgrounds in Castlewood from September 4 through September 12. For more information, visit russellcountyfair.com.
Yeah I’ve got a tiny comment. I don’t know who is over the fair or what organization puts it all together. Over the past several years, that fair has became a joke, a laughing stock. It’s the biggest gathering of crackhead, meth dealer, pregnant 14 year old pushing a baby stroller. Instead of paying $36.92 for a hand full of tickets to ride the hobby horses or $10.14 for a candy apple.. Cole’s Amusement is gonna need to take EBT cards. What has happened to the fair? It’s a generation thing. Kids are more interested in Xbox 12, iPhone 26 and snicker bars. The older generation don’t care about entering a potato sack race or winning a 3” purple dinosaur or trying to find a SpongeBob. These $50 entertainment groups don’t cut the mustard. We use to hear ralph Stanley EVERY YEAR. Ralph here, Ralph there, everywhere Ralph, Ralph. I’m surprised ya dont have 3 hour Ralph Stanley CD nights on Tuesday Wednesday and Saturday. You’re not alone, the Washington county fair isn’t any better. Only thing that brings money into our county fair is the 9,726 divisions in the horse show. But look, granny and Luther AINT gonna stay until 3:30am in the fog to watch THE SAME PERSON , year after year after year after year to win while eating a $12 deep fried pancake batter and $8 bottle water. The Fun Fest in Kingsport has dwindled down over the past 10+ years. Yeah they sell 164 thousand T-shits, hats and appeal, cups, mugs…etc and Eastman chemical is a major SPONSOR along with WXBQ, AEP and a few others. The entertainment is what brings in most ppl. I know, you can’t afford them or nowadays you can’t get sponsors. Thats bc every tom, dick and little Jennifer on the ballet team is out begging for money or donations.. so what’s left? These $50-$75 performers that can’t play a washboard or kazoo. I’m not saying you need Ted Nugent, Elvis, Aretha Franklin or the Beatles to preform but if you want to boost the ATTENDANCE, throwing darts at balloons to win a ink pen or a sticker just don’t cut it. Don’t think aunt Myrtle in her hover round gonna be stopping by to pay $7 to toss 3 darts. She’s gotta save her SS check to buy her $413 bottle of insulin, 6 packs of Depends and a $12 candy apple. Yeah you got 4wheeler race, mud bogging, smash em up cars or whatever that is. Whats next? Pin tail on my little pony, Mexican jumping bean race, playing with wooden blocks and finger painting? I’m not trying to degrade the fair.. what I’m saying is reality… maybe the 2 county fairs can combine and have just 1 big gaggle. If the sheriff office wants help with the drug issue that has invaded our community & county for decades, instead of standing up near the bathrooms or in front of the main office building with their hands stuck inside their vest talking in little groups… put fluffy, muffin and Bruno on a leash and walk them around and just sniff.,well I guess that would shut down Cole’s Amusement bc there wouldn’t be anybody left to start the marry go round or tilt a twirl.