For hundreds of thousands across northwest Ohio and surrounding regions, county fairs are best spent with loved ones.
“Fairs are your annual reunion,” Darryl Diamond, manager of the Monroe County Fair said. “It’s an opportunity for families and friends to gather, eat the food, see their grandkids and their kids showing animals. It’s like a family tradition.”
From July to September, a range of fairs take place in the areas surrounding Toledo, spanning urban to rural counties, with attendance ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 fairgoers. Many of the area’s county fairs have been operational for well over a century.
“When fairs first started over 100 years ago, it was a way for the community to come together as a whole and highlight what has been going on in the community for the year,” said Shane Warner, president of the Lucas County Agricultural Society which oversees the Lucas County Fair. “That’s what we’re really trying to get back to.”
For fairs in more urban counties, the event can be a way to highlight local businesses, food trucks, and performers. For rural fairs, the event can be a way of celebrating and preserving an agricultural lifestyle.
Paul Perry, second vice president of the Wood County Fair Board, finds that county fairs bring families together across generations. He often encounters parents and grandparents reminiscing about their fair experiences as they watch their children and grandchildren.
“A lot of people that come to the fair are people who have come year after year after year,” said Perry. “It's really cool to watch the kids showing, and seeing their parents and grandparents in the stands.”
Derek Rowe, president of the Seneca County Agricultural Society, agrees that time spent with family is the highlight of the weeklong event.
“For a lot of our families, including myself, it’s like our vacation,” Rowe said.
In total, there will be 13 county fairs in the area, filling the hot months from early June to late September this year.
Lucas County Fair
Date: Monday - July 14
Location: 1406 Key St., Maumee
Admission: $7, children 9 years old and younger admitted free.
The Lucas County Fair is one of the smaller in the area: Last year, the fair drew some 10,000 attendees. On July 13, visitors to this year’s fair will have the chance to see Chayce Beckham, the 2021 American Idol winner, whose single “23” topped Billboard's Country Airplay chart in April.
This year, the Lucas County Fair will introduce new larger rides and bring back a demolition derby. The fair will also feature local food trucks and craft breweries.
“We’re trying to highlight and showcase everything that's good in Lucas County throughout the year, and be able to showcase it all in one week,” said Warner.
Ottawa County Fair
Date: July 15-21
Location: 7870 W. State Rt. 163, Oak Harbor, Ohio
Admission: $8, children 8 years old and younger are admitted free. Free admission for veterans July 16, free admission for seniors 60 years and older July 17.
The Ottawa County Fair, one of the youngest county fairs in Ohio, celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Located near the bank of the Portage River off State Rt. 163, the Ottawa County Fair prides itself for its rural setting.
Mike Libben, the fair board’s second vice president, estimates that the fair usually attracts 25,000 to 30,000 visitors. This year’s fair will feature a tractor pull, harness racing, and a cornhole tournament. Fairgoers can attend a demolition derby on July 19.
“We’re trying to put in a little extra effort into more entertainment and more things for everybody to do, to make it a great week for everybody to come out,” said Libben.
Grandstand entertainment is free Monday through Thursday; Friday and Saturday are $15 for general seating. Rides are included with admission.
Lenawee County Fair
Date: July 21-27
Location: 602 N. Dean St., Adrian
Admission: General admission: $7. Children 9 years old and younger are admitted free. Free admission for seniors 65 years and older July 23, free admission for veterans July 24.
Michigan’s oldest county fair first began in 1839. 185 years later, Lenawee County Fair is still thrumming. This year, the fair will host its first concert in several years: On July 23, rapper Tone Loc and Oakland-based hip-hop group Digital Underground will join other performers for a ’90s Throwback Concert. On July 24, grandstand attendees can see a popular Figure 8 car and truck demolition derby.
According to office manager Heather Downs, last year’s fair attracted around 55,000 visitors.
“We are very family-oriented,” said Downs. “We want everyone to eat some great foods and ride the rides.”
Seneca County Fair
Date: July 21-28
Location: 100 Hopewell Ave., Tiffin
Admission: Presale general admission: $8; daily general admission: $10. Sunday: free; Children 8 years and younger admitted free.
Headlining this year’s 182nd Seneca County Fair is Wyoming country crooner Ian Munsick, with support from pastor-songwriter Cory Asbury. The two will perform on July 26 at 7:30 p.m. Beyond the concert, fairgoers can enjoy a demolition derby on July 28 at 3 p.m. and a pig scramble, July 23 at 8 p.m. Other events include harness racing and a tractor pull.
Rowe highlighted the fair’s effort to increase free entertainment, including roaming acts, a free circus show, and an ax-throwing exhibit which will be partially open to the public.
Monroe County Fair
Date: July 28 - Aug. 3
Location: 3775 S. Custer Rd., Monroe
Admission: General admission: $10, children 12 years old and younger: $5. Tickets for Ludacris and Demolition Derby sold separately.
Calling all fans of monster trucks, rodeos, and Ludacris — the rapper is coming to the Monroe County Fair. On Aug. 3, Ludacris will perform with tickets priced at $50-$60.
“Ludacris happened to be in our area, and the schedule worked for us,” said Darryl Diamond, fair manager. “So we were pretty lucky and fortunate this year.”
Last year, the fair brought in around 220,000 attendees. This year, fairgoers will have the opportunity to try out the “Ninja Experience,” an American Ninja Warrior-style parkour course. Additionally, Ben Risney will be at the fair chainsaw wood carving, and the unicyclist Rufus the Dufus will be roaming the grounds.
Wood County Fair
Date: July 28 - Aug. 4
Location: 13800 W. Poe Rd., Bowling Green
Admission: Week passes: $30; Daily gate admission: $10. Ride wristbands: $20. Senior Day: Seniors 65 years and older get free admission with ID; Veterans Day: all veterans and active duty military admitted with ID.
The Wood County Fair emphasizes its junior fair and large 4-H programming.
“I refer to it as their Super Bowl,” said Perry. “A lot of these kids that are really big into the cattles and the swine and the goats — they don't play sports, their sports are their animals. So the county fairs are a great way every year for those kids to exhibit their work to show what they've been working on all year long.”
Animal lovers can also visit the fair’s shark exhibition and a petting zoo.
Aug. 1 is dedicated to residents of Wood County with developmental disabilities. Thursday evening will feature a “Ring of Dreams” show, where fairgoers with developmental disabilities who might not otherwise be able to participate in livestock shows show their animals.
Wood County Fair usually draws some 100,000 over the week.
Henry County Fair
Date: Aug. 8-15
Location: 821 S. Perry St., Napoleon
Admission: General admission: $10; Season tickets: $30; Children 12 and younger admitted free.
The 171st Henry County Fair will run from Aug. 8, to the following Thursday. The fair’s signature Henry County Tomato Festival Parade — accompanied by the Tomato Festival Scholarship Pageant — will occur on Aug. 11.
Other grandstand events include truck pulls, tractor pulls, and a car show. Aug. 12 will feature a country concert by Jake Hoot, champion of Season 17 of The Voice , and country singer Mark Willis. The fair will close out with a demolition derby on August 15.
Seniors 65 years and older receive free admission on Tuesday, and veterans and people with developmental disabilities enter free on Wednesday. Gates open at 7 a.m.
Defiance County Fair
Date: Aug. 17-24
Location: 530 S. Main St., Hicksville, Ohio
Admission: General admission: $5; students 12 years and under free.
Defiance County fair has an array of entertainment planned, including a petting zoo, pig races, glass artwork, and live music from Marc Dobson, a “Real Life One Man Band.” The fair is also collecting quilt donations to donate to veterans.
Some 15,000 people visited the Defiance County Fair last year. This year, the National Tractor Pullers Association will be back this year for the first time since 2008, with a tractor pull on Aug. 22.
“We try to have the most family activities that our economy can afford,” said Desirae Mack, secretary for the Defiance County Agricultural Society. “So we try to make some events free, especially free access to the grandstand for a majority of the events. So those with larger families can come enjoy the fair.”
Starting this year, the last Saturday of the fair will be free admission.
Sandusky County Fair
Date: Aug. 19-25
Location: 901 Rawson Ave., Fremont
Admission: Single day pass: $11. Weekly pass: $30.
Jeanne Mathias, fair board director, highlighted the Sandusky County Fair’s “vibrant” junior fair, and the construction of a new livestock barn expected to be completed by the fair opening.
This year, the fair has moved the annual concert to Tuesday, to avoid conflicts with Friday night football. The concert’s headliner will be country artist Cooper Alan — an independent artist who has leveraged social media (he currently counts 9.8 million TikTok followers) into a music career. Ohio-based singer Nick Foos will open.
All rides are included with the price of admission.
“We try to offer a lot of free entertainment at our fairgrounds, such as a log cabin area and our beer garden stage,” said Mathias.
On Aug. 22, seniors 62 and older receive free admission.
Hancock County Fair
Date: Aug. 27 - Sept. 2
Location: 1017 E. Sandusky St., Findlay
Admission: Adults: $10, youth and seniors 65 years and older: $5.
Hancock County Fair has an array of livestock showing programming scheduled for the 2024 fair. The fair will also feature a concert by Nashville singer-songwriter Travis Denning. Denning will play on Aug. 29, and tickets are free with the price of admission to the fair. The fair will close on Sept. 2 at noon with a Figure 8 Demolition Derby.
Fulton County Fair
Date: Aug. 30 - Sept. 5
Location: 8513 State Rt. 108, Wauseon
Admission: General admission: $5. Children 15 years and under: free.
The Fulton County Fair will put on two grandstand concerts this year. Sept. 1 is a classic rock concert featuring Vince Neil and Ace Frehley; Sept. 2 is a country concert with Scotty McCreery. Other grandstand events include Thursday’s Demolition & Power Wheels Derby, Saturday’s Harness Racing, and Wednesday’s MXR Supercross motorcycle racing.
Williams County Fair
Date: Sept. 7-14
Location: 619 E. Main St., Montpelier, Ohio
Admission: Rodeo tickets: $6.50 - $11.50; Car Demo Derby: $16.50.
The Williams County Fair will take place in Montpelier from Sept. 7, to the following Saturday. Information about fair events is forthcoming.
Hillsdale County Fair
Date: Sept. 22-28
Location: 115 S. Broad St., Hillsdale
Admission: Grandstand events range from $5-20.
The first Hillsdale County Fair took place 173 years ago. Now, the fair self-proclaims as “The Most Popular Fair on Earth.”
This year, the fair’s biggest draw is country pop star Chris Land. The concert will take place Sept. 23, and tickets are priced at $29 to $69.
Tuesday and Saturday’s grandstand will feature demolition derbies; on Thursday and Friday fairgoers can watch tractor pulls.
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