New happenings, eats at 2024 Erie County Fair

Hamburg, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's that time of year again, Erie County!

Gates will open at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at the Hamburg Fairgrounds for the 184th Erie County Fair. This year's fair will feature plenty of new foods, attractions and full days of fun for all ages through Sunday, Aug. 18.

CEO of the Erie County Fair, Jessica Underberg says 2024 is a special year, as this year celebrates a 100-year partnership between the Erie County Fair and James E. Strates Shows. It's an exclusive partnership which Underberg notes is historic in the modern amusement industry, and considered to be the longest continuous run of any one carnival midway at any one fair in the United States.

"We will celebrate this special milestone this year in a few ways," said Underberg during Thursday's preview event.

"Strate Shows is returning to the rails for a celebratory stop in Hamburg. After a four-year hiatus, the train day will return Thursday, Aug. 1, and fair fans can visit the historic Erie Depot to watch the Strate cars roll into Hamburg. It should be a really great event. On opening day, we will host a special ribbon cutting and a pyrotechnic display at the top of the midway to usher in the 100th year of the Strate Shows midway at the Erie County Fair. Fairgoers can join us for this special moment at noon on Aug. 7."

In addition, the Heritage and History Center will have on display a working miniature Strate Show midway, just one of many new free exhibit spanning the 275 acres of the fair.

Another interesting feature at the fair this year is the new Erie County FAIRway, a new mini-golf course built by members of the community.

Danny Weil's Wild Wheels Thrill Arena is coming to the fair this year, a vintage "wall of death" motordrome show returning to the fair for the first time since the 1970s.

Every year at the fair, there are over 100 free daily performances to see. This year, 10 new acts will be introduced to the lineup this year. This includes very talented all star stunt dogs, a chainsaw carver and a jetpack flying water circus.

And, of course, it isn't a true fair experience without the out-of-the-box, special summer treats that are the fair foods! This year, the Erie County Fair boasts over 130 food stands, complete with over 500 menu items from the staples to the items only found at a Western New York fair!

Some of the delectable features at this year's Erie County Fair includes stuffed asiago gnocchi by Salvatores Pizza, deep fried cookie dough by The Big Freeze, buffalo-shaped pretzels with loganberry cream cheese from Pretzalo, and the Piggyback Mac from Brody's Mac and Cheese. There's also plenty of refreshing drinks available to enjoy, including Boba Strawberry Lemonade Tea from Beyond Boba.

As always, there are many ways to save at the fair this year, whether that be on Monday, Aug. 12 with the $3 Taste of the Fair samples, or getting free admission on opening day by bringing four or more canned goods donate to Feedmore WNY.

If you go to the fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14, you can get two gate admission tickets for the price of one. The next day on Thursday, Aug. 15, you can get two ride wristbands for $50.

Click here for more details on how to save and other special fair days.

Click here for a map.