Set Sail for Adventure at the 2025 Herkimer County Fair in Frankfort, August 13 – 17
Opening Tuesday, August 12 (Preview Day, no rides) with opening ceremonies at 3 p.m. and gates open to the public with free admission at 4 p.m., the adventure begins as, according to the fair’s website, upwards of 70,000 people will gather in Frankfort, NY – 10 times the town’s population – to revel for six days in the almost 200-year tradition that is the Herkimer County Fair.
The 2025 theme is “Set Sail for Adventure,’ and according to the secretary of the Herkimer County Fair organization, Kathy Elthorp, fairgoers can look forward to a “pirate” motif, including a pirate ship.
“There will be pirates everywhere,” promised Elthorp.
A look at the fair
From opening day on Tuesday through the finale on Sunday, August 17, thousands of fairgoers will indulge in county fair fare ranging from food trucks and live music to carnival rides and games to pageants where local lads and lasses compete to be crowned the Queen, Prince, and Princess of the Fair and their courts.
Other entertainment includes a Demolition Derby, Horse Shows, and Truck and Tractor Pulls. Local farmers compete for agricultural honors from goats and cows to flowers and crops to decorative vegetables.
Also see displays highlighting homemaking, antiques, arts & crafts, as well as entries in a Lego competition.
The beloved Mohawk Valley event began in 1841 as the Herkimer County Agricultural Society and traveled between county villages. At the turn of the 20th century, it was located centrally at what is now the NY Thruway Herkimer interchange, untill a fire destroyed some of its most established structures.
It became annual in 1950, when it moved to the cozy farm community of Frankfort. it put down roots in its current location on Cemetery Hill in 1958, where it now sprawls over 26 acres and occupies 10 permanent buildings, including an event show ring with seating for almost 2,000 spectators.
The event is guided by the president of the Herkimer County Fair, Inc., Richard Elthorp, Jr., who has served for four years after the passing of his father, who curated the annual event for over 30 years before him.
“The fair is run entirely by volunteers,” aid Kathy Elthorp, Rick, Jr.’s wife, “It’s gotta be in your blood. I just love it.”
Elthorp said the Ag Awareness Building is not to be missed when visiting the 2025 fair, crediting Audrey Donahoe for transforming the space into something special.
The fete is set to live music, with headliners performing two shows a night beginning with the Jake Lozo Band on Wednesday, Fas4ward on Thursday, and Eric Anthony Labarbara on Friday. The weekend features Eric Ashley for Saturday afternoon shows and a finale performance by Country Justice on Saturday night.
Note that, per the Mayor’s Office, Grandview Avenue in Frankfort will be closed the week of the fair. The alternative route recommended is through the park off of Litchfield Street to the back gate. Organizers ask that fairgoers do not
Notable days
Pay one prce for rides
Pay one price for unlimited rides on the following fair days/timeframes:
Wednesday, August 13th – Noon-4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.
Thursday, August 14th -Noon-4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.
Sunday, August 17th – 1-7 p.m.
Further to the special admission deals, admission at the gate for children under 5 years old – free, children 5 – 12 years old – $5, general admission 13 years old+ $12.
Parking
Ample parking is free. Fair volunteer attendants will direct arriving cars to available lots and parking spaces.
For more information, visit www.herkimercountyfair.com or find the event page on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: The Herkimer County Fair set for August 12-17
Reporting by Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
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