A photograph showing a Hillsborough County Fair demolition derby vehicle event. Captured in a centered front-facing medium shot, a heavily modified and battered sedan painted red with blue brush-painted lettering stands on a dirt track field. The car's front bumper, headlights, and front body panels have been removed to expose the metal engine radiator structure beneath, and a tall vertical exhaust pipe extends upward through a hole cut into the hood. Wire mesh wire guards cover the front windshield frame where a driver in sunglasses is seated inside, with a small American flag mounted on the left side under direct daylight.
Hillsborough County Fair demolition derby Credit: Hillsborough County Fair

In a world where even the Florida State Fair will break a family’s bank, it’s good to know the Hillsborough County Fair exists.

Kicking off next Thursday and running for 11 days, the hoedown has all the accouterments of the big fair in February—and arguably more, thanks to the opening weekend rodeo and fair-closing demolition derby.

There are deals galore, too, including carload nights (up to eight people as long as they have seatbelts on!) and discount days that see tickets drop as low as $6.18. While ride armbands (starting at $28.88) are required, all the activities are included with gate admission.

Tickets to the Hillsborough County Fair at Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover, Thursday, Nov. 5 through Saturday, Nov. 15 are still available and start at $6.18.

Hillsborough County Fair

Time Thu., Nov. 5, 5-11 p.m., Fri., Nov. 6, 5-11 p.m., Sat., Nov. 7, 12-11 p.m., Sun., Nov. 8, 12-11 p.m., Mon., Nov. 9, 5-10 p.m., Tue., Nov. 10, 5-10 p.m., Wed., Nov. 11, 12-10 p.m., Thu., Nov. 12, 5-11 p.m., Fri., Nov. 13, 5-11 p.m., Sat., Nov. 14, 12-11 p.m. and Sun., Nov. 15, 12-10 p.m.

Location Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Road, Dover

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This article appears in Oct. 22 – 28, 2026.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...