GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Vendors were still packing away candied apples and funnel cake mix on Monday while Tasha Hyder was thinking about the 2027 Clay County Agricultural Fair.

She didn’t have to think twice about the date because it was already ingrained in her mind: April 1 through April 11.

As the Executive Director of the Fair, Hyder was already putting her plan into motion. She was thinking about what worked at the Fair that closed on Sunday, April 12, after a successful 11-day run. She thought about what could be improved. She contemplated what may need to be eliminated. Even if everything ran smoothly, there was room for tweaking.

“What worked well was, obviously, our traffic plan, because we had absolutely zero traffic delays, and we did have large crowds, especially on our last weekend,” she said. “We had over 20,000 people each day of the last weekend, so obviously, our traffic plan worked.”

The Fair Association, Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management worked to use the front gate as an entrance and a gate on Springbank Road as an exit. Public Service Aides and Explorers directed drivers to parking spots to keep traffic moving on property, while deputies and PSAs directed traffic on State Road 16.

Speaking of crowds, Hyder said despite three days of pesky rain, including a threat of dangerous weather that forced the Fair to shut down for 30 minutes on Friday, April 3, attendance surpassed numbers posted in 2024.

There were other successes, she said.

“The demolition derby was a huge success. We're obviously bringing that back,” Hyder said. “Don't worry, the tractor and truck pulls will be back in 2027 as a standalone event on Feb. 12 and 13.

“Overall, we are slightly up over last year. We had over 140,000 people join us. We did have rain on Senior Day, and that did hurt us. Senior Day is actually a pretty big day for us because the grandparents bring their grandkids out to ride the rides with them and enjoy the Fair. But you know what? It's better than losing a Saturday.”

Other successes were the concert schedules, especially opening night by local bands Duval County Line, Big Engine and The Curt Towne Band and shows by Crowder and Brett Young, a corn boil by the Rotary Club of Green Cove Springs to support the renovation of Early Florida Village, the Ultimate 80’s Skate Party, the rides, the food midway, animal barns and anything “involving goats.”

Hyder stopped long enough to reflect on the 11-day run to say, “We had an awesome 40th birthday.We celebrated big, and we're just glad that all of our closest friends and family and neighbors could come out and celebrate our 40th birthday. We had a blast.”

On April 1, 2027, the Clay County Agricultural Fair will celebrate its 41^st birthday. Hyder said to mark it on your calendar.