By 1808Delaware
For eight days in September, the Delaware County Fairgrounds becomes a place where livestock projects, handmade exhibits, midway rides, and one of harness racing’s signature events share the same calendar.
The 2026 Delaware County Fair will run from Saturday, September 19, through Saturday, September 26. Gates open at 8:00 AM daily, exhibit buildings are scheduled to operate from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and rides are scheduled from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, weather permitting. Visit the official fair website.
Opening Day Starts In The Barns
The public opening ceremony is scheduled for 10:00 AM on September 19 outside the Merchants Building, but work begins earlier for many Junior Fair participants. The 2026 Junior Fair schedule lists animal check-ins, weigh-ins, exhibitor meetings, judging, and shows throughout opening weekend.
Saturday’s schedule includes alpaca and llama showmanship, poultry competition, dairy shows, 4-H and FFA horse events, and interviews for flower, vegetable, and crop projects. The Junior Fair royalty coronation is scheduled for 4:00 PM, followed by a Horse Parade of Colors at 6:00 PM and still-exhibit awards at 6:30 PM.
Sunday brings dog showmanship, swine showmanship, horse and pony competition, animal costume contests, and 4-H and FFA demonstrations.
That range illustrates how much of the fair takes place beyond the midway. Projects include livestock and agriculture, but also food and nutrition, clothing and textiles, creative arts, natural resources, leadership, communication, healthy living, and STEM subjects.
A Tradition Older Than The Fairgrounds
The organization behind the fair traces its roots to 1833, when local residents formed the Delaware County Agricultural Society. Its first exhibition was held in October 1834 and featured domestic animals and locally produced goods. Premiums were offered for horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, cloth, socks, linen, flannel, and cheese. The dollar amounts were modest by modern standards. The top premium for a stud horse was $7, while the award for the best pair of woolen socks was 75 cents. The underlying idea, however, remains recognizable: bring the county together to display work, compare skills, and recognize achievement. Read the Agricultural Society’s early history.
Nearly two centuries later, that connection between agriculture, education, competition, and community remains at the fair’s center.
Racing Toward Jug Day
Live harness racing is scheduled from Sunday, September 20, through Thursday, September 24. The week culminates with the 81st Little Brown Jug, the fair’s nationally known pacing classic for three-year-old horses. The race is part of harness racing’s Triple Crown and is contested on Delaware’s half-mile track. Follow the 2026 Little Brown Jug.
The fair’s general admission rules change on Jug Day. On Thursday, September 24, admission for visitors 18 and older is currently listed at $20 between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Regular admission resumes after 5:00 PM. Reserved racing and grandstand tickets have separate prices.
Planning The Cost Of A Visit
The fair’s admission page currently lists daily general admission at $8, with children younger than eight admitted free. A weekly pass for September 19 through September 26 is listed at $50. Tuesday, September 22, is Senior Day, with free admission for visitors 55 and older who show identification. Friday, September 25, is Military Day, with free admission for military personnel and veterans who present identification. General parking is included with fair admission, including on Jug Day. Review parking information.
Midway tickets are listed at $2 each or $30 for 20 tickets. Most children’s rides require two tickets, while most major rides require three. An all-day ride wristband is listed at $22 and is valid from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Admission, ride, and reserved-seat information should be checked again before leaving home, particularly for Jug Day. The latest prices and purchasing links are available through the fair’s admission page.
Whether the destination is a livestock barn, an exhibit hall, the midway, or the racetrack, the fair remains one of the few weeks when so many different parts of Delaware County gather in the same place.
