For generations of Comal County families, late September has meant more than the arrival of fall. It has meant livestock barns filling up, carnival lights coming on, boots heading toward the rodeo arena and a parade winding through New Braunfels.

That tradition returns Sept. 23 through 27 when the 2026 Comal County Fair and Rodeo takes over the Comal County Fairgrounds at 701 E. Common St. in New Braunfels.

The five-day celebration brings together many of the things that continue to define this part of Texas, including agriculture, youth involvement, rodeo, live country music, carnival rides, local organizations and families who have made the fair an annual tradition. The Comal County Fair Association describes the event as the largest county fair in Central Texas.

For residents searching for things to do in New Braunfels, family events in Comal County or Texas fairs and rodeos near San Antonio, this year's schedule offers something different almost every day.

The Comal County Fair starts Wednesday with free admission

Opening day, Wednesday, Sept. 23, may be one of the easiest opportunities for families to experience the fair on a budget.

Admission to the fairgrounds is free for everyone Wednesday, with public fair hours scheduled from 5 to 11 p.m. The carnival opens from 6 to 10 p.m., with unlimited ride armbands listed at $25.

The evening also brings some of the traditions that signal the official start of fair week. Kindertanzen is scheduled for 5:45 p.m., followed by music from Crossroads DJ. The Grand March and opening ceremonies are set for 7 p.m.

Earlier in the day, school tours and exhibitor activities will already be underway, a reminder that the Comal County Fair is about considerably more than midway rides and nighttime entertainment.

Agriculture remains at the heart of the fair

Behind the carnival lights and concerts is one of the fair's oldest purposes: giving young people and local agricultural families a place to show what they have raised, grown, built and learned.

The 2026 livestock program runs throughout fair week and includes events involving market goats, market lambs, breeding cattle, Boer goats and junior prospect steers. The broader fair schedule also includes Home and Heritage competitions and displays involving baking, canning and food preservation, arts and photography, horticulture, agriculture, antiques, woodworking, sewing, homemade wines and other traditional skills.

For children who are still learning where their food comes from, the Texas AgriLife Kid Zone returns for its 10th year. The educational area focuses on agriculture and includes hands-on activities designed to teach children about the journey from farm to table.

The Kid Zone is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, in addition to scheduled school tour hours earlier in the week.

That mix of entertainment and education is part of what makes a county fair different from a typical festival. A child might come for a carnival ride and leave having watched livestock judging, learned something about agriculture or discovered how much work another local student invested in an animal or project.

PRCA Rodeo takes over the arena Thursday through Saturday

One of the biggest draws of the week returns Thursday night with the 31st Annual PRCA Rodeo.

Rodeo performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, with arena gates opening two hours before each performance.

The rodeo is being produced by Lancaster Pro Rodeo Co./Cude Pro Rodeo Company, with announcer Charlie Throckmortain and veteran rodeo entertainer Leon Coffee listed as part of the 2026 program. Rodeo tickets begin at $25 and are sold separately from general fair admission.

The arena action continues Sunday with the Backyard Bull Riding Event at 2 p.m. Gates are scheduled to open at noon.

For families planning a rodeo night, that distinction matters: purchasing admission to the fairgrounds does not include a rodeo seat, so rodeo tickets should be purchased separately.

Friday parade brings Comal County into downtown New Braunfels

Few Comal County Fair traditions are as visible across the community as Friday's parade.

The 2026 Comal County Fair Parade begins at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and is billed by organizers as one of Central Texas' largest county fair parades. Registration for parade entries has already closed, with the association setting a maximum capacity of 85 entries.

Even before the main parade begins, younger participants and their four-legged companions get their own moment.

The annual Pet Parade starts at 8:30 a.m. Friday. Children can participate with appropriate pets, with categories including Most Patriotic, Best Fair Theme and Most Unique.

The parade morning is one of those fair traditions that stretches beyond the fairgrounds themselves. Schools, businesses, clubs, youth groups and generations of local families become part of the event, turning downtown New Braunfels into a gathering place before attention shifts back toward the fairgrounds.

Students get free admission Friday morning

Friday also offers a break on admission costs for local students.

The fairgrounds are scheduled to operate from 8 a.m. to midnight Sept. 25. General admission is $10 for visitors age 12 and older, $5 for children ages 6 through 11 and free for children younger than 6.

Students younger than 18 can enter free with a school ID until 2 p.m. Friday.

The carnival opens at 11 a.m. Friday and runs until 11 p.m. Unlimited ride armbands are listed at $40.

Live music fills the Corral through Sunday night

The fair's evening schedule also includes a substantial live music lineup at the Corral.

On Thursday, Courtney Patton is scheduled from 7:30 to 9 p.m., followed by Jamie Lin Wilson from 9:30 to 11 p.m.

Friday brings Mike Broussard & QuickDraw Band from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., followed by David Lewis from 10 to 11:30 p.m.

Saturday's lineup begins with Clayton Chapin from 7 to 8:30 p.m., followed by country artist Easton Corbin from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Chapin returns from 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Sunday afternoon and evening shift toward a local Texas sound, with Triple J Band and Amigos Local TexMex Band scheduled from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., followed by the Tiffiny Dawn Band from 6 to 9 p.m.

Organizers note that performers and event schedules are subject to change.

Saturday brings the longest fair day

Saturday, Sept. 26, is scheduled to be the longest day of the fair, with the grounds open from 8 a.m. until 1 a.m.

Admission is $10 for adults through 2:30 p.m., when the adult price increases to $15. Admission remains $5 for children ages 6 through 11, while children younger than 6 enter free.

Military members presenting proof of identification can enter the fairgrounds for $5 on Saturday.

The carnival operates from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, with armbands priced at $40.

With livestock activities, children's attractions, vendors, carnival rides, rodeo action and live music overlapping throughout the day, Saturday is likely to be the day when visitors need to plan ahead the most, particularly for parking and evening events.

Sunday offers free admission and a chance to help local families

The fair closes Sunday, Sept. 27, with another full day of activities and free general admission for everyone.

Fairgrounds hours are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., while the carnival runs from noon to 10 p.m. with $30 armbands.

Sunday also carries a community service component.

The Comal County Fair and Rodeo is partnering with the S.O.S. Food Bank for a Hunger Action Month food drive at the fairgrounds. Visitors are encouraged to bring nonperishable food donations.

Fair organizers say hunger continues to affect families throughout the New Braunfels area, giving visitors a way to turn a day at the fair into help for neighbors who may be struggling to keep food on the table.

That closing-day effort fits into the broader community role the fair association highlights throughout the year. The organization reports collecting 1,900 pounds for a food bank, awarding $21,000 in scholarships and providing $1,500 in rodeo giveback to local organizations as part of its community impact.

What families should know about carnival prices

Heart of America Shows is providing the midway for the 2026 fair.

Unlimited ride armbands are currently listed at $25 Wednesday, $30 Thursday, $40 Friday, $40 Saturday and $30 Sunday.

Carnival hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.

The fair association notes that carnival prices are set by Heart of America Shows rather than the Comal County Fair Association and are subject to change. An additional one-time activation fee may also apply.

Parking and free shuttle service

Visitors driving to the Comal County Fairgrounds should also make a parking plan before leaving home.

Fairgrounds parking costs $10 per vehicle and is cash only. Handicap parking is located off Common Street.

A free parking and shuttle option will be available Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from Schlitterbahn's Surfenburg on Union Street. Shuttle buses are scheduled approximately every 15 minutes and transport visitors to the fairgrounds' main gate.

Shuttle service is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

For visitors attending the rodeo or Saturday evening concert, the shuttle may be particularly helpful when crowds around the fairgrounds increase.

A week that still feels like Comal County

The Comal County Fair has grown into a major regional event, but much of its appeal remains rooted in small, familiar moments.

It is a student standing beside an animal they spent months raising. A child seeing baby farm animals for the first time. A family finding its usual spot along the parade route. Someone taking one more carnival ride before heading home. Neighbors running into neighbors near the livestock barns, food booths or rodeo arena.

Those moments are difficult to measure on an event schedule, but they help explain why the fair continues to occupy such an important place on Comal County's calendar.

For newcomers, the Sept. 23 through 27 celebration offers an introduction to a long-standing New Braunfels tradition. For families who return every year, it is another chance to take part in something that connects today's rapidly growing Comal County with the agricultural and community traditions that came before it.

The 2026 Comal County Fair and Rodeo will be held Sept. 23 through 27 at the Comal County Fairgrounds, 701 E. Common St. in New Braunfels. Because schedules, performers and prices can change, visitors should check the official Comal County Fair and Rodeo website before heading to the fairgrounds.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more New Braunfels and Comal County events, community news and local updates.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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