County Fair Guide

Erie County Fair

Hamburg, New York

📅

2026 Dates

August 12–23, 2026

Duration

12 days

👥

Size

large

🕰

Founded

Since 1820

Worth Knowing

One of the largest county fairs in North America, the Erie County Fair runs 12 days each August at the 275-acre Hamburg Fairgrounds. It set an all-time record of 1,238,456 visitors in 2019, and the 2023 fair — the last year organizers publicly reported a total — drew 1,125,347, making it the largest county fair in New York State.

Source: Spectrum News 1

On the Midway

Expect internationally known musical headliners, championship livestock competitions, a massive midway with hundreds of rides and games, butter sculpture, competitive exhibits in every category, and legendary fair food.

Before You Go

Buy tickets and grandstand reservations well in advance. Hamburg hotels fill for the entire run — consider staying in Buffalo and commuting. The fair's food offerings are legendary, with many unique deep-fried treats.

What to Know

Every year, Hamburg hosts the Erie County Fair, which is one of the largest county fairs in the United States, drawing over a million visitors to Western New York for twelve days of spectacular entertainment, livestock, and fair fun. It's been held since 1820, one of New York's most enduring county fair traditions.

Heading to Erie County Fair?

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