2026 National Peanut Festival Adds Sky Ride and Major Country Acts Discover the 2026 National Peanut Festival details in Dothan, Alabama, featuring the new Sky Ride, performances by Lauren Alaina and Tyler Hubbard, and full event logistics. The 2026 National Peanut Festival returns to the Fairgrounds in Dothan, Alabama, offering visitors a comprehensive blend of culinary delights, live music, and new attractions. The annual event is scheduled to run through early November, with specific headliner performances set for mid-month, providing a definitive cultural highlight for the region. New Sky Ride Aerial ExperienceThe National Peanut Festival introduces the Sky Ride for the first time, providing guests with an elevated perspective of the entire Fairgrounds complex. This new attraction is operated by Reithoffer Shows and constructed by an engineer with extensive experience in northeastern United States ski lift systems, under the technical oversight of City of Dothan planning personnel. The lift features 73 cars that operate during official festival hours, offering both one-way and round-trip travel options for riders.Costs for the Sky Ride are set at $6 for a one-way trip and $9 for a round trip, allowing attendees to view the Midway and various grounds from an aerial vantage point. This installation mirrors other aerial attractions already owned by Reithoffer Shows, such as the system located at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia. The addition aims to enhance the visitor experience by offering a unique visual scope of the festival layout and its numerous attractions.Major Country Music Performers ScheduledSeveral prominent country music artists are confirmed to perform at the All In Amphitheater during the 2026 National Peanut Festival. Corey Kent, a multi-platinum artist who gained national recognition as a contestant on The Voice in 2016, is scheduled to appear on the main concert stage on Sunday, November 8. His performance marks a significant stop on his post-televised career trajectory.Lauren Alaina, the runner-up on the 2011 season of American Idol and a 2022 Grand Ole Opry member, will take the stage on Tuesday, November 10. Following Alaina, Tyler Hubbard, the former lead singer of Florida Georgia Line and now a successful solo artist, is set to perform on Thursday, November 12. These three major acts form the core musical lineup for the festival's main entertainment venue.Additional musical performances will take place on the Food Court Stage, featuring acts such as the Darrell Qualls Band, Big and Loud, Willie Ziavino and the COT Band, Baylee Bennett Knighton, Mae Estes, Britt Drive Band, Dennis Lee Band, Will Moseley, and Hannah McFarland. This lineup ensures continuous entertainment throughout the day for attendees who wish to experience a broader range of local and regional talent alongside the headliners.Interactive Exhibitions and Family AttractionsBeyond the concert stages, the National Peanut Festival offers several immersive educational experiences designed for families and children. Cowtown USA provides a hands-on demonstration of traditional farm life, including cow and goat milking, working oxen displays, frontier tanning, and the processing of milk into everyday products. This exhibit highlights the agricultural roots central to the festival's identity and Dothan's local economy.Science and nature enthusiasts can visit the Mars Encounter Experience, guided by Destiny the Mars rover, to learn about Martian resource mining, habitat construction, and life-support systems. The Grizzly Experience offers close-up views of Alaskan grizzly bears, with handlers demonstrating natural behaviors and discussing wildlife conservation. Finally, the Prehistoric Dinosaur Adventure features life-size puppets and special effects to teach guests about Earth's ancient past through interactive activities.Ticketing Policies and Admission CostsAdmission to the National Peanut Festival is $11 for individuals aged 6 and up, while children 5 and under receive free entry. Tickets for the festival, as well as specific events at the All In Amphitheater and BankPlus Arena, can be purchased at the NPF Box Office located at the festival gates or online. Rides require separate armbands, which must be purchased on-site if not acquired during the presale Mega Pass period.All sales for the National Peanut Festival are final, with no refunds or exchanges permitted. Visitors purchasing tickets for concerts or arena events must also buy general festival admission, as access to the main event grounds is a mandatory prerequisite for entering specific performance venues. Will call tickets require the original purchaser to present a valid photo ID and the credit card used for the transaction, or an email confirmation number, to retrieve pre-ordered passes.