Fair season returns to Lancaster County starting in late August and runs through the first full week of October. These fairs celebrate our tight-knit communities and strong agricultural heritage.
All of the fairs include agricultural and livestock exhibits, food vendors, contests, family-oriented events and parades. Some have added carnival rides and games to the festivities, while others stick to a more traditional lineup of activities. Every fair has its own personality, history and signature events that reflect different corners of the local community.
For many Lancaster County families, the community fairs are an annual tradition spanning generations. Others may have heard about the fairs but never set foot on the fairgrounds So whether you’re a seasoned fair veteran or a first-time visitor, here is your guide to the 2026 Lancaster County fairs.
Elizabethtown Fair
Dates: August 24–29, 2026
Location: Elizabethtown Fairgrounds, 900 E. High St., Elizabethtown
Summary: The Elizabethtown Fair kicks off fair season in Lancaster County each year. It’s a full-scale event pairing agricultural exhibits and livestock competitions with a carnival midway, rides, nightly live entertainment and a lineup of contests for all ages. Admission is free. New events include a Cornhole Challenge and an Inflatable Costume Race.
Highlights:
- Fair Queen Competition (Monday)
- Youth and Adult Skid Loader Rodeos (Tuesday)
- Sale of Champions livestock auction (Wednesday)
- Nightly “Hog Diggity Dog” show
- Pedal Power Tractor Pull (Friday)
- Corn Hole Tournament and Buck Shot Tournament (Saturday)
- Fireworks at 10:45 p.m. (Saturday), capping a performance by “American Idol” alum Kayleigh Clark
History: The fair traces back to 1973. It was originally held on the campus of Elizabethtown College before moving to its current home adjoining Elizabethtown Area High School. 2026 marks the fair’s 53rd year.
Website: https://etownfair.com/
Denver Fair
Dates: September 15–19, 2026
Location: Denver Memorial Park, 801 Main St., Denver
Summary: The Denver Fair blends agricultural exhibits and livestock shows with a full midway, nightly live music, bingo and a chainsaw-carving show. The fair offers ride specials, including an all-week wristband. It now draws an estimated 40,000-plus visitors across its five days.
Highlights:
- Cocalico Music in Our Schools performance and opening ceremonies (Tuesday)
- Miss Denver Fair Queen Contest (Wednesday)
- The Uptown Band concert (Thursday)
- Kiddie Day and livestock auction (Friday)
- Denver Fair 5K Race (Saturday morning)
- Chainsaw Carving Auction and fireworks at 9:45 p.m. (Saturday)
History: The Denver Fair began in 1981, organized by volunteers rallied by the Denver Lions Club. What started as a two-day event has grown into a five-day fair. 2026 marks its 45th year.
Website: https://thedenverfair.com/
Solanco Fair
Dates: September 16–18, 2026
Location: Solanco Fairgrounds, 172 S. Lime St., Quarryville
Summary: A purely agricultural fair with no carnival rides, the Solanco Fair centers on livestock shows, exhibit judging, a downtown parade and old-fashioned country contests.
Highlights:
- Street Parade through downtown Quarryville (Wednesday, 6 p.m.)
- Antique Tractor Pull (Thursday, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.)
- Baby Parade (Thursday, 7 p.m.)
- Solanco Fair Queen Crowning and Celebrity Invitational Milking Contest (Friday)
- Pedal Tractor Pull and Candy Scramble (Friday)
- Iron Man Contest (Friday evening)
History: A group of women community leaders organized the first Solanco Fair in 1950. 2026 marks the fair’s 77th year.
Website: https://solancofair.org/
Ephrata Fair
Dates: September 22–26, 2026
Location: Downtown Ephrata
Summary: Billed as the largest street fair in Pennsylvania, the Ephrata Fair combines an agricultural fair with a full street carnival, filling much of downtown with games, rides, food and entertainment.
Highlights:
- Ephrata Fair Parade through downtown (Wednesday evening)
- Kids’ Day, with Ephrata Area students out of school (Thursday)
- Family Fun Night at Tent City (Friday)
- Breakfast in the Park and the Scrapple Eating Contest (Saturday morning)
- Live music, including the Jess Zimmerman Band
History: The Ephrata Fair dates to 1919 and is organized by the Ephrata Farmers Day Association. 2026 marks its 107th year, and its downtown footprint remains its defining feature.
Website: https://www.ephratafair.org/
West Lampeter Community Fair
Dates: September 23–25, 2026
Location: Lampeter Community Park , 851 Village Road, Lancaster
Summary: Known as the “Senior Citizen” of Lancaster County’s fairs, the West Lampeter Community Fair is a purely agricultural event with no midway rides. It centers on exhibit competitions, livestock shows and community traditions like a Sunday-evening hymn sing held the night before the fair opens.
Highlights:
- Tractor Parade and a parade from Lampeter-Strasburg High School to the fairgrounds (opening day)
- Barnyard Chase (Thursday)
- Western Gymkhana Horse Show (Friday)
- Calf Roping Contest (Friday)
History: The fair began in October 1924 as a way to display projects from students at the former West Lampeter Vocational School, with a premium book that was just four pages long. It moved to its current Community Grounds location in 1949. 2026 marks its 102nd year.
Website: https://westlampeterfair.com/
New Holland Farmers Fair
Dates: September 30–October 3, 2026
Location: Downtown New Holland
Summary: New Holland Farmers Fair fills the heart of town with a midway, livestock shows and sales, agricultural exhibits, contests and a headline parade.
Highlights:
- Spectacle of Bands Parade, a two-mile route through town (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)
- Pedal Power and Tug of War (Thursday)
- Kids’ Day (Friday)
- Horseshoe-Pitching Contest (Saturday morning)
- Baby Parade and Pet Parade (Saturday)
- Long John Eating Contest (Saturday)
History: A group of New Holland business and farm leaders organized the first “Farmer’s Day Show” in October 1927, drawing an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 people. The fair has run nearly every year since (World War II being the exception), and 2026 marks its 99th year.
Website: https://newhollandfair.org/
Manheim Community Farm Show
Dates: October 5–9, 2026
Location: 502 Adele Ave., Manheim (adjacent to Manheim Central High School)
Summary: Closing out Lancaster County’s fair season, the Manheim Community Farm Show is a rides-free agricultural fair built around livestock shows, exhibit competitions and a full slate of community-oriented events.
Highlights:
- Children’s Parade (Monday)
- Alpaca Obstacle Demo (Wednesday)
- Pedal tractor pull competitions
- Cornhole tournaments, including a seniors’ division
- “Friday Night Lights” livestock sale
- Family Fun Night (Thursday)
History: Manheim’s farm show tradition dates back to the 1920s, when it was first held in the basement of the old Waughtel Moving Picture House. The modern Community Farm Show Association was organized in the early 1950s.
Website: https://www.manheimfarmshow.org/
Lancaster Fair Trivia
Want a fun challenge? Test your knowledge of the Lancaster County fairs with our Lancaster Fair Quiz.