16 Fun Fairs Where You Can Play Around This Summer

Feel like a kid again as you hop on carnival rides, play boardwalk games and enjoy agriculture and livestock shows.

The 18-day State Fair Meadowlands is packed with family entertainment, from amusement rides and magic shows to a petting zoo and pig races. 
Courtesy of SFM

State Fair Meadowlands

Dates: June 21-July 8
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Price: $8-$12; parking and ride tickets cost extra
Main attractions:  Sky ride, the death-defying high dive act, pig races, Batcopter (from the 1960s Batman TV series), circus acts, hypnotists, petting zoo, live music, fireworks on July 3 &4

Cumberland County Fair

Dates: July 3-8
Location: Cumberland County Fairgrounds, Millville
Price: $10
Main attractions: Demolition derby, truck pull, Monster truck event, watermelon-eating contest, fire eaters, magicians, pig races, live music, fireworks on July 6

Ocean County Fair 

Dates: July 11-15
Location: Robert J. Miller Air Park, Berkeley Township
Price: $8; parking is free, ride tickets cost extra
Main attractions: Cowboy demonstrations, live music, 4-H horse show,  dinosaur rock exhibit, pig races, pony rides

Freedom Fest State Fair

Dates: July 11-15
Location: Mercer County Park, West Windsor
Price: $12.50-$17.50, access to all rides included with admission ticket
Main attractions: Magic shows, pig races, petting zoo, live music, Cowtown (agriculture exhibit with live cow milking), farmer’s market, tractor show, fireworks on July 14

Burlington County Farm Fair

Dates: July 17-21
Location: Burlington County Fairgrounds, Springfield Township
Price: admission is free; $10 parking donation per car; ride tickets cost extra
Main attractions: Horse shows, farm animal displays, milking tent (watch dairy cows being milked twice daily), tractor pull, Farmer for a Day exhibit, antique machinery parade, children’s decorated wagon contest, Farm Fair Queen Pageant, build-a-scarecrow contest, home arts competition (quilting, knitting, crocheting, needlework, woodworking, ceramics, culinary arts), live music

Courtesy of Burlington County Farm Fair

Cape May County 4-H Fair

Dates: July 19-21
Location: 355 Court House South Dennie Road, Cape May Courthouse

Monmouth County Fair

Dates: July 25-29
Location: East Freehold Showgrounds, Freehold
Price: $8; free parking, ride tickets cost extra
Main attractions: Home & garden competition, pig races, wildlife show, history displays, BMX stunt show, produce stand, live music, fireworks on July 25

Gloucester County 4-H Fair

Dates: July 26–29
Location: 4-H Fairgrounds, 275 Bridgeton Pike (Route 77), Mullica Hill
Price: $10 parking donation, good for all four days
Main attractions: Equestrian and livestock 4-H projects, animal shows, livestock auction, horticultural competition, Jersey fresh baking contest, craft and food vendors, horse pull, live music

81st Annual Warren County Farmer’s Fair

Dates: July 28-Aug 4
Location: 1350 Stryker Road, Phillipsburg
Price: $4-$7, special events cost extra
Main attractions: Demolition derby, truck pull, mud bog, livestock exhibit, antique tractors, traditional arts expo (basket-weaving demonstrations), baking contest, BBQ ribs cook off, hot-air balloons, car show, archery match, obstacle course, tortoise and the hare race, country idol contest, fair queen and princess competition, cutest baby contest, alpaca show

Courtesy fo Warren County Farm Fair

New Jersey State Fair/ Sussex County Farm & Horse Show 

Dates: Aug 3-12
Location: Sussex county Fairgrounds, Augusta
Price: online sales begin on June 25
Main attractions: Monster truck show, demolition derby, touch-a-truck, mud bog, tractor pull, pig races, petting zoo, chainsaw artist, tractor parade, farmers’ market, agriculture competitions, lumberjack competitions, chili contest, speed crochet and chopstick knitting contest

Middlesex County Fair

Dates: Aug 6-12
Location: 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick
Price: $1-$7, free parking, ride tickets cost extra
Main attractions: Barnyard Express (mobile educational farm center), BMX show, Axe Women Loggers of Maine (world champion choppers, axe throwers, sawyers and log rollers), live music, king and queen of the fair contest, 4-H exhibits and performances, fireworks on Monday and Sunday

Salem County Fair

Dates: Aug 7-10
Location:
Price: free; $10 per vehicle for all 4 days;
Main attractions: Salem County Fair Queen competition, horse show, produce show and contests, poultry show, pony rides, archery and blacksmith demonstrations, mechanical bull rides, pig races, antique tractor pull, fireworks (TBD)

Courtesy of NJ State Fair

Atlantic County 4-H Fair

Dates: August 9-11
Location: David C. Wood 4-H Center & Fairgrounds on Route 50 in Mays Landing
Price: free; $4 parking
Main attractions: 4-H projects and demonstrations, see and interact with animals, live music, baby parade, tractor pull, pet parade

Passaic County Fair 2018

Dates: Aug 16-19
Location: Garrett Mountain Reservation, Woodland Park
Price: $5 parking
Main attractions: live music, chess tournament, beer and wine garden, fireworks on Friday and Saturday

Hunterdon County 4-H & Agricultural Fair

Dates: August 22-26
Location:  Hunterdon County Fairgrounds, off Route 179 in Ringoes
Price: free; $10 parking

Camden County Fair

Dates: September 22-23
Location: Lakeland Complex, Blackwood
Price: Free parking and admission
Main attractions: 4-H youth projects and animal exhibits, pony rides, live music

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  1. David A. Morgan

    Don’t fergit 2 go 2 Hammonton 4 the Lady of Mt Carmel Celebration ! 7/16 ! Best summer event in Jersey !