Until 2021, the fair was generally held in the second week of September, as well as the weekends surrounding it.

The fair regularly had attendance over 200,000 people per year while located at the Nashville Fairgrounds.

After much controversy, a referendum on the city's ability to redevelop the fairgrounds for other uses was held, with the voters choosing to increase the required votes to make changes from a simple majority to two-thirds majority.

[3] The current incarnation of the State Fair began in 1906, and has been held annually, except for four years during World War II, through the Great Depression, a 1965 fire that destroyed the majority of the fairgrounds, a 1970 fire that ruined the fair's coliseum, and 2020 on grounds of COVID-19 pandemic.

Concerns included parking, location for the carnival and midway, and adequate space and facilities for farm animal and agricultural exhibitions.