The Capital Region does fair season right. From the middle of August straight through Labor Day weekend, the fairgrounds around Albany fill up with midway lights, livestock barns, grandstand pulls, and enough fried dough to get you through winter. Best of all, you don't have to go far. Here are the fairs coming later this season, each an easy drive from Albany.
Schoharie County Sunshine Fair (Cobleskill): August 11 to 16
Out in Cobleskill, the Sunshine Fair lives up to its cheerful name with tractor pulls, demolition derbies, grandstand music, and a pay-one-price gate that includes unlimited midway rides. That last part is a real money-saver for families. This year country hitmaker Joe Nichols headlines the grandstand on August 12, with live entertainment and agricultural demonstrations running all week long.
Find a fair near you at FindYourFair.com.
Altamont Fair (Altamont): August 18 to 23
The Altamont Fair has a claim no other fair in the state can make. It represents three counties at once (Albany, Schenectady and Greene), which is part of what gives it that big, everybody's-here feeling. A low gate admission gets you the Royal Hanneford Big Top Circus, world-famous racing pigs, and more daily shows, all included. The carnival rides on the Dreamland midway are one of the largest selections in the area, and this year the fair is rolling out all-new shows.
Find a fair near you at FindYourFair.com.
Washington County Fair (Greenwich): August 24 to 30
If you want the full agricultural experience, point the car toward Greenwich. The Washington County Fair is one of the biggest in the Northeast, with acres of youth livestock shows, a busy Amusements of America midway, demolition derbies, tractor pulls, and grandstand entertainment. It's a working farm-country fair at heart, so it's a great one for kids who want to meet the animals and watch the competitions up close.
Find a fair near you at FindYourFair.com.
Schaghticoke Fair (Schaghticoke): September 2 to 7
When the Schaghticoke Fair opens over Labor Day weekend, you know summer is giving its last big hurrah. This Rensselaer County tradition packs in premier livestock competitions, a sprawling vendor market, classic carnival action, and some of the best local food stands around. Advance tickets run a few dollars cheaper than the gate, so it pays to plan ahead.
Find a fair near you at FindYourFair.com.
So many fairs, one great summer
The hardest part is picking which weekends to go. Whether it's the racing pigs at Altamont or the livestock barns in Greenwich, every fair here has its full schedule and directions waiting at FindYourFair.com. Pick one, or make a whole Capital Region summer of it.