Erie County Fair

🌾 From the food on our tables to the traditions we celebrate, agriculture connects us all. On National Ag Day, we’re proud to continue connecting communities through agriculture, education, and entertainment right here in Western New York. Whether it’s hands-on learning in Little Hands on the Farm, the dedication of our livestock exhibitors, the wonder of the Moo-ternity Ward, the heritage of the Ag-Grange, or the innovation exhibited in Kids Cultivate, these are the moments that bring our mission and agriculture to life. Join us in celebrating the people, passion, and progress that keep our community growing. 🌱

🎺 🎶 Step Into the Sound of Summer Nights 🇺🇸 🥁 Applications are NOW OPEN for the 2026 Erie County Fair Pepsi All-Star Band! We’re looking for talented student musicians and color guard members ready to take the stage this summer, from parades and events across WNY to daily performances at the Fair, August 12–23! Students in grades 7–12 as well as 2026 graduates are encouraged to apply. 🎟️ Perks include Fair admission, ride passes, meal vouchers, scholarships & more. 📅 Deadline: May 15, 2026 🎥 Submit your audition 👉 ecfair.org/allstarband The Erie County Fair's All-Star Band is proudly presented by @PepsiGlobal

Where creativity shines in every shade of summer ✨ We’re taking the Creative Arts competitions up a notch this year as we celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary! 🇺🇸 From pops of red, white, and blue to one-of-a-kind creations, this is your moment to let your imagination take center stage at the 186th Erie County Fair! You’ll also find Americana-inspired classes moving over towards the Ag-Grange, including canning and a strong lineup of junior competitions celebrating the Stars, Stripes and Summer Nights. ✨🎆 🎨 Entries open NEXT Wednesday, April 1st at noon so get ready to share what you’ve been working on! Learn more 👉 ecfair.org/competitions

Be part of the team that powers the Fairgrounds! 🎡 The Erie County Agricultural Society is hiring for year-round and seasonal roles. Whether you’re interested in professional services or essential grounds preparation, your expertise ensures we’re ready for our biggest events, including the Erie County Fair. Positions include: • Senior Accountant (Full-time) • HR Specialist (Part-time) • Carpenter Assistant (Full-time) • Maintenance Landscaping Team Member (Seasonal, Full-time) • Maintenance & Grounds Keeper Team Memberr (Full-time) • Maintenance Lawn Care Mower/Trimmer (Seasonal, Part-time) 👉 Apply now: ecfair.org/employment

🎉 Meet the Team Monday 🎉 Meet Patrick “Pat” Penrod, one of our talented carpenters on the Maintenance Team! Pat is newly full-time with ECAS, but he’s no stranger to the Fairgrounds, having worked part-time with our Emergency Management team for the past five years. Today, he helps maintain the Fairgrounds, build props and furniture for the Fair, and helps keep everything in tip-top shape. One of his favorite parts of the job? Getting to do something a little different each day! Pat's Fair favorites: The demolition derbies and grandstand concerts! �🚘 🎶 In addition to his emergency management background at the Fairgrounds, Pat has also served as a volunteer firefighter for the past 18 years, delivering the same dedication and drive in all he does. 👏 Thanks for all you do, Pat!

Calling all local makers & small businesses! 📣 The Local Artisan Market returns for the 2026 Erie County Fair, featuring some of the best makers from across Western New York. With thousands of fairgoers eager to shop local, this is the perfect opportunity to grow brand exposure, connect with new customers, and showcase your product. Ready to let your work shine? ✨ Application Deadline: April 15 Learn more 👉 ecfair.org/localartisanma…

🌱 Got an idea that could shape the future of agriculture? Applications are now open for the returning Kids Cultivate Agriculture Pitch Contest at the Erie County Fair! Young innovators ages 5–21 are invited to share creative ideas that support farming, sustainability, livestock, education, and more. 🌾💡 Finalists will receive mentorship from agriculture and business leaders before pitching their ideas live at the Fair on Thursday, August 20, with $3,500+ in cash prizes on the line. 📅 Apply by May 1 🎥 Submit a 1–3 minute video pitch Learn more and apply 👉 ecfair.org/KidsCultivate Thank you to our program supporters Note Advisors and L.A. Woolley Electric for making the return of the Kids Cultivate possible!

🥧 Happy Pi Day! π What better way to celebrate 3.14 than with a slice of pie? At the Erie County Fair, pie is just one sweet part of our Culinary Arts competitions, where bakers of all skill levels can show off their talents. In 2026, our pie class will feature three classic double-crust American heirloom fruit pies: 🍒 Cherry 🍏 Apple 🫐 Blueberry Alongside pies, the Culinary Arts competitions also include cookies, cakes, breads, and specialty confections. New this year, help us celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary with Americana-themed cake and cookie decorating, or try baking a historical recipe rooted deep in America’s past like a shoofly pie (yes… shoofly pie is really a thing!). Learn more and start placing your entries on April 1st 👉 ecfair.org/culinaryarts

Recent photos from our Farm 2 Table field trips! 🧑‍🌾 This month, Western New York students have been visiting the Fairgrounds to learn how some of their favorite breakfast foods make the journey from farm to table. Through stations on maple syrup, poultry, and potatoes, students learned about the farms, animals, and crops that play a role in helping us start the day. 🥚☀️🥞 What is Farm 2 Table? Farm 2 Table is our hands-on field trip program for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade, giving kids a chance to experience agriculture up close through interactive lessons, tastings, and activities inside the Agriculture Discovery Center.

🎉 Meet the Team Monday 🎉 We're bringing back some more rounds of Meet the Team Mondays with Ryan Powenski, a member of our Maintenance Team who recently joined us in the Fall! Ryan has been playing an important role, helping with snow removal during these winter months and assisting with general setup and teardown for large events like our Fairgrounds Festival of Lights. Whether it’s preparing the Fairgrounds or helping wrap things up, he’s always ready to jump in where needed. Favorite part of the Fair? The food, of course! Ryan holds an associate degree in Mechanical Science and previously worked as a tow truck driver and mechanic at local Western New York dealerships, bringing strong technical skills to the team. Thank you, Ryan, for all your hard work here at the Fairgrounds!

Ready to design and build the most fun hole at the Fair? Apply by March 13. Design and build a custom mini golf hole themed around agriculture or the Erie County Fair. Schools, 4-H & FFA clubs, businesses, organizations, and creative individuals are invited to apply. 🎟 Selected teams receive Fair tickets, recognition at the exhibit, and promotion online. Apply before the deadline 👉 ecfair.org/minigolf ⛳ A big thank you to @trautmanassociates, @goodhealthsaunas and @mcmillanslandscaping for helping bring the Erie County FAIRway back for the 2026 Erie County Fair!

Where Family Traditions Shine the Brightest. 🎡🌟 For some, it’s their first Fair. For others, it’s their 50th. The same walk down the midway, the same favorite foods and the same timeless classics. Generation after generation, this is where summer comes together. ☀️💞 Experience Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights with the whole family at the Erie County Fair, this August 12–23, 2026.

Got a brew worth bragging about? 👀🍺 The Erie County Fair’s Home Brew & Cider Making Competitions are back, and we’re searching for the most creative, quintessential summertime sip of 2026! 🏆 Best of Show winners will be professionally brewed, canned, and officially named the 2026 Erie County Fair Best of Show Beer or Cider, thanks to our partners at @HamburgBrewing and @BlackBirdCider of @ResurgenceBrew! Each winner will have their beer or cider on tap at this year’s Fair and will be distributed to select retail locations across WNY courtesy of Try-It Distributing. Think your recipe is the most fun pour of the summer? Start getting ready because entries open April 1st! Find out more 👉 ecfair.org/competitions

Happy #NationalFFAWeek! FFA stands for Future Farmers of America, but it’s so much more than farming. FFA prepares the next generation of leaders in agriculture, science, business, education, and beyond. At the Erie County Fair and throughout the year at the Fairgrounds, we’re proud to work alongside local FFA members, whether it's during livestock shows and competitions or through leadership development and agricultural education programs. Here’s to the blue jackets that represent dedication, service, and the future of agriculture in Western New York! 💙🌾

Design & Build for the Erie County Fair! ⛳️ Applications are now OPEN for community teams to create a custom mini golf hole for the return of the Erie County Fairway at the 2026 Erie County Fair! Classrooms, 4-H & FFA clubs, sports teams, businesses, organizations, and creative individuals or groups of all kinds are invited to design and build a fun, family-friendly hole themed around agriculture or the Fair. Selected teams will receive complimentary Fair tickets, recognition at the exhibit, and promotion through our website and right here on our social media channels! Be part of a one-of-a-kind summer attraction and help create something thousands of Fairgoers will enjoy. 🌟 Apply by March 13 or visit our website to learn more 👉 ecfair.org/minigolf

What goes into making a Taco? More Than You Think! 🧑‍🌾 🌱 🌮 Farm 2 Table kicked off 2026 on a delicious note, with students discovering how their favorite tacos make the journey from farm to plate! From the whole grains used to make tortillas, to the cattle that provide meat and dairy products, and the wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that add flavor and color, students explored every step of the process, taste testing along the way! The Farm 2 Table program, an initiative of the Erie County Agricultural Society, connects students directly to the origins of their food through hands-on, engaging agricultural education. Designed to spark curiosity and build understanding, the program helps young learners see the real people, animals, and processes behind everyday meals. Make sure to follow us for more moments that bring food, farming, and education together!

Check out the Fair-ly Sweet Sugarhouse Demonstrations happening at WNY Equifest! 🐴🍁 Learn how to tap a tree, discover the difference between syrup grades, and experience the rich sights, sounds, and steam of maple season in Western New York. By far the sweetest stop at WNY Equifest, with maple favorites available to bring home! 🍁 🕙 Happening 10:00am – 2:00pm, both days, March 14 & 15 📍 Agriculture Discovery Center We’re grateful to Jeremy Gernatt Maple Products for sharing their time, expertise, and passion for maple with our community Western New York community! See the full schedule at wnyequifest.com

Where golden hour shines the brightest 🌅✨ Right before the lights come on, there’s this golden pause. Food in hand. Prizes won. Your favorite person next to you. Join us August 12–23, 2026 for Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights at The Erie County Fair.

🌾 Fair Camp Applications Are Now Open! 🌾 Give your child a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to spend a couple nights at the Erie County Fair, learning about agriculture, caring for livestock, and exploring behind the scenes of the Best 12 Days of Summer. This FREE two-and-a-half-day overnight experience is open to children ages 8–10 and one parent/guardian. 🐄🌽 📅 August 14–16 & August 21–23 📝 Apply by April 17 👉 ecfair.org/faircamp Spots are limited so apply today and don’t miss out on this unforgettable Fair adventure!

Snow today. Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights in six months. 🗓️☀️ Even under a blanket of white, the Fairgrounds are dreaming of sunny days, bright lights, and the Best 12 Days of Summer. August 12–23, 2026. We’ll see you there. 🎆✨