Food, fun and more at region’s fairs

Satisfy your cravings for fair food and fun as summertime staples return at last.

Fairgrounds across Northeast Pennsylvania will reopen over the coming weeks to visitors eager to enjoy rides, live entertainment, contests and much more after a year lost to the coronavirus pandemic.

Whether you’re eager to dig into some funnel cake or test your mettle in tractor pulls, here’s when and where you can get your fill of fun.

Wayne County Fair

• When: Friday, Aug. 6, through Saturday, Aug. 14; fairgrounds open, 9 a.m.; midway and rides open, noon to 11 p.m.; exhibit buildings open, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Where: 270 Miller Drive, Honesdale
• Admission: $10 for ages 24 months and older; $5 for ages 62 and older on Aug. 6 and 11; $40 for season tickets (includes admission to grounds only)
• Details: 570-253-2942, 570-253-5486 or waynecountyfair.com

Admission includes parking, most grandstand shows and all rides (wristbands are required for rides). Grandstand shows include horse, pedal, 4-by-4 gas pickup and semi truck, diesel pickup, pony and farm tractor pulls; demolition derbies; woodsmen’s competition; harness racing; Monster Truck Freestyle; and entertainment by Frontiers (Journey tribute), Radio Petty (Tom Petty tribute), Hoopla, Magic Man T.J. Hill, Black Cat Hell Drivers and Broken Hearts Band.

Other musical and entertainment acts will perform on the small stage as well. A fireworks display will take place Wednesday, Aug. 11, following the 7:30 p.m. grandstand concert.

Guests also can enter several contests, including the woodsmen’s competition, tractor pull and numerous baking contests, and check out various livestock up for judging.

 

Harford Fair

• When: Sunday, Aug. 15, 2 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 16, through Saturday, Aug. 21, 8 a.m.
• Where: 485 Fair Hill Road, Harford
• Admission: $8 advance/ $12 at gate for guests 3 feet and taller; $8 for ages 60 and older on Aug. 18 (Senior Citizens Day); parking is free
• Details: 570-434-4300, hfair@nep.net or harfordfair.com

Admission includes all rides, but there’s lots more happening throughout the fairgrounds.

Free grandstand events include the gas truck and semi truck pulls on Monday, Aug. 16; the hot tractor pull on Tuesday, Aug. 17; and the diesel truck pull on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

The grandstand also will host several ticketed events: Bullride Mania on Thursday, Aug. 19; (admission to sections G and H are free); a rodeo on Friday, Aug. 20; and the Jackpot Demolition Derby on Saturday, Aug. 21.

There also will be contests for different crafts, food, flowers and animals, among others; activities including the queen contest, turkey calling contest and baby show; and numerous vendors. Guests also can check out live musical entertainment.

 

Greene-Dreher-Sterling Agricultural Fair

• When: Friday, Aug. 27, 3 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 28, and Sunday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m.; Monday, Aug. 30, through Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 3, and Friday, Sept. 4, 11 a.m.; Sunday, Sept. 5, 9 a.m.
• Where: 457 Crestmont Drive, Dreher Twp.
• Admission: $8 general admission (includes rides); $4 for ages 65 and older with ID on Aug. 29 and for military members and veterans on Aug. 30 (rides not included)
• Details: gdsfair.org

Head to the entertainment pavilion each day for a variety of acts and events, including the fair royalty pageant, Cowboy Larry and Brave Beth, Buffalo Mountain bluegrass band, Damian the Magician and much more. The arena, meanwhile, will host events such as a car show, lawn mower racing, tractor and other pulls, and a firefighter’s competition.

There also will be plenty of livestock and other exhibits around awaiting judging, but guests also can head to the barn for the Clydesdale horse exhibit, livestock shows and other animal-focused activities.

Discounted admission is available for guests 65 and older on two Senior Days, Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, and for military members and veterans on Military Appreciation Day, Aug. 30. Rides are not included in those admissions, however.

 

Wyoming County Fair

• When: Wednesday, Sept. 1, and Thursday, Sept. 2, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 3, through Sunday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Where: 9141 Route 6, Meshoppen
• Admission: $8 advance/$10 at gate; free for ages 62 and older on Wednesday and Monday and for veterans on Saturday
• Details: wyomingcountyfair.com

Headliner Riley Green with special guest Nate Hosie will perform Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Hardy with special guest John Morgan will take the stage Saturday at 7 p.m. Concert tickets cost $35 for seats in the beer garden and pit, both located in front of the stage; $25 for track seats; and $15 for general admission/lawn seating. The beer garden is open to ages 21 and older, and photo ID will be required for admission.

Several local bands will perform as well throughout the festival grounds: Tangerine Dreams, Wednesday; Elk Lake High School band and Bad Liars, Thursday; Tunkhannock Area High School Marching Band and Wells River Band, Friday; Dallas Carter Band, Sunday; and the Frost Duo, Monday.

World champion chainsaw carver Dennis Beach will perform daily, and truck and tractor pulls will take place Wednesday and Thursday. There also will be numerous competitions, including baking, horseshoe pitching and queen contests. Kids, meanwhile, can enjoy the Buffalo Beals Petting Zoo, open daily, and the various rides, which open at noon every day.

 

Luzerne County Fair

• When: Wednesday, Sept. 8, and Thursday, Sept. 9, 4 to 11 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 10, 4 to 11:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 11, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Where: 3605 Route 18, Dallas
• Details: luzernecountyfair.com

Find something for everyone at the fair. Check out the different livestock up for judging and 4-H exhibits, or put your own skills to the test by entering some of the contests, with categories including baking, sewing, scarecrows, pumpkin carving, photography, fishing, and arts and crafts. There also will be lots to keep you entertained, including tractor pulls and a horse show.

On Saturday, cheer on the competitors at the fair princess contest, happening at 1 p.m. on the main stage. Kids can compete in the Barnyard Olympics, which involves contests such as cow mooing and egg tossing, on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the arena.

A request for ticket information was not immediately returned.