Agriculture is big in the Finger Lakes. The region is home to thousands of family farms, scores of vineyards and wineries, and Cornell University, New York’s land grant university (incl. the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences).
During the summer and early fall, counties across the region put their agricultural side on proud display in dozens of New York county fairs with storied histories.
In fact, the Finger Lakes offers not only some the oldest fairs in NY state, but the oldest in the nation: The Steuben County Fair is the oldest continually running fair in the US, since 1819, while the Great New York State Fair is the oldest state fair, since 1841.
(For more records and fun facts, visit Fun Facts about the Finger Lakes region.)
So if you’re looking for fun things to do in the Finger Lakes during the summer, definitely consider these NY county fairs.
Where else will you find this unique combination of farm animals, demolition derbies, live music, and deep-fried everything?
The Great New York State Fair
August 23-September 4, 2023
New York State Fairgrounds
581 State Fair Blvd
Syracuse, NY 13209
nysfair.ny.gov
Entry: $3, seniors and children 12 & under free; parking $5
Highlights: the nation’s oldest state fair since 1841; one of the largest with more than 1 million visitors per year; ag exhibits, butter sculpture, concerts
Cayuga
Cayuga County Fair
no fair in 2023
Emerson Park
6914 East Lake Road
Auburn, NY 13021
cayugafair.org
Entry: free, small parking fee
Highlights: 200+ years of history, tractor and farm equipment displays and demonstrations, livestock contests and animals to see, live entertainment
Chemung
Chemung County Fair
August 1-6, 2023
170 Fairview Road
Horseheads, NY
chemungcountyfair.com
Entry: $5 adults, kids 10 & under free
Highlights: 180th annual fair!, class car cruise-in, dairy show, horse shows, speed show, concert, demolition derby, tractor & truck pulls, circus entertainment, wrestling
Cortland
Cortland County Junior Fair
July 4-9, 2023
Cortland County Fairgrounds
4849 Fairground Ave
Cortland, NY 13045
cortlandfair.com
Highlights: formed in 1953, 4-H showcase, Midway games & rides
Livingston
Livingston County Fair
May 6-7, 2023 (Fairgrounds Restoration Celebration)
Livingston County Agricultural Society Fairgrounds
310 Leicester St
Caledonia, NY 14423
livingstoncountyfair.org
Entry: free
Highlights: draft horse show & farm class, classic car cruise, music, bounce house, K9 presentations, pumpkin ranch
Hemlock “Little World’s” Fair
July 18-22, 2023
7370 Water Street
Hemlock, NY 14466
hemlockfair.org
Entry: $15 adults, $13 children 4-12, children 3 & under free; rides included, parking free; weekly passes available
Highlights: animal shows, horse & truck & tractor pulls, sawmill demo, races, monster trucks, music
Monroe
Monroe County Fair
no 2023 dates as of June
6565 East River Road
Rush, NY
mcfair.com
Monroe County 4-H
In 2023, the Monroe County 4-H will participate in the Orleans County 4-H Fair, July 24-29.
Onondaga
Onondaga County 4-H Youth Fair
July 24-29, 2023
New York State Fairgrounds
581 State Fair Blvd
Syracuse, NY 13209
cceonondaga.org/4-h-youth/4-h-events
Entry: free
Highlights: 4-H animal shows, cooking contest
Ontario
Ontario County Fair
July 25-29, 2023 (180th year!)
2820 Co Rd 10
Canandaigua, NY 14424
ontariocountyfair.org
Entry: free, parking fee
Highlights: 180th year in 2023!, 4-H youth activities, livestock and animal shows, vendors and Exhibitors hall, live music, Midway rides, petting zoo, model train displays
Schuyler
Falls Harvest Festival
October 7, 2023
Main Street
Montour Falls, NY
watkinsglen.com/falls-harvest-festival
Entry: free
Highlights: This is the closest thing Schuyler County has to a county fair. The one-day event is put on by the non-profit Watkins Glen Promotions and features live entertainment, craft & food vendors, a community bonfire, and fireworks over Shequaga Falls.
Seneca
Seneca County Fair
July 19-22, 2023
100 Swift Street
Waterloo, NY 13165
senecacountyfairny.com
Entry: free
Highlights: 4-H agricultural exhibits, fireworks, garden tractor pull, music, demolition derby
Steuben
Steuben County Fair
August 14-20, 2023
Steuben County Fairgrounds
15 E. Washington St.
Bath, NY 14810
steubencountyfair.org
Entry: $5, children 5 & under free
Highlights: oldest continually running fair in the US, since 1819; harness racing, demolition derby, rodeo, monster truck show, truck & tractor pull
Tioga
Tioga County Fair
August 8-12, 2023
Marvin Park
50 W. Main St
Owego, NY 13827
tiogacofair.com
Entry: $15 unlimited daily access pass, incl. rides, grandstand, parking
Highlights: rodeo (extra $), demolition derby, wrestling, truck & tractor pulls, ag shows, arts & crafts
Tompkins
Tompkins County 4-H Fair
July 25-29, 2023
4-H Acres
418 Lower Creek Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
ccetompkins.org/4-h-youth/activities-events/4-h-youth-fair
Entry: free
Highlights: Family Fun Day (last day of fair), live farm animals, creative work exhibition, rabbit & cavy show, rabbit hopping competition, 4-H Olympics
Trumansburg Fair
August 22-27, 2023
Trumansburg Fairgrounds
2150 State Route 96
Trumansburg, NY 14886
facebook.com/trumansburgfair
Entry: $6, children 12 & under free; check for special discount days
Highlights: 171st annual fair, ag awareness activities, petting zoo, acrobatics, Coleman Bros. Shows, demolition derby, horsepulls, motorcycle rodeo, monster truck show
Wayne
Wayne County Fair
August 14-19, 2023
300 W. Jackson St
Palmyra, NY 14522
waynecountyfair.org
Entry: $6 adults, $4 youth 6-16, children 5 & under free; free parking
Highlights: 4-H ag shows, rides, music, harness racing, demolition derby, figure 8 racing, tractor pull, watermelon eating contest
Yates
Yates County Fair
no date available yet as of June 2023
2370 Old 14A
Penn Yan, NY 14527
yatescountyfair.org
Highlights: 181st fair; 4-H exhibits, figure 8 race, circus, demolition derby, music, wrestling, amusements, tractor pull
Entry: $12, incl. parking, grandstand, shows, all rides
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