Ocean County Fair Opens Today In Berkeley Township

The Ocean County Fair, now in its 59th year, opens today at Robert J. Miller Airpark off Route 530 in Berkeley Township.

The fair hours on Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Here's the 4-H schedule for tomorrow:

Fair Opens 5:00 pm
Fair Opening Ceremony Fair Event Tent 5:00 pm
Puppy Power Seeing Eye Dog Show 4-H Show Tent 7:00 pm
Fair Closes 11:00 p.m.

Also on tap for Wednesday are two performances by The Amish Outlaws at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., a K-9 demonstration at 6 p.m., a chainsaw carver and piglet races, which have become a fair staple in recent years.

The fair also has a stellar entertainment lineup, including the popular group the Amish Outlaws (Wednesday night); a comedy hypnosis show (Saturday night); and the country band After the Reign, which hails from Monmouth County (Friday night).

There will be horse riding competitions in both English and Western style riding, bull riding (Friday night) and a corn hole competition on Thursday, for those who enjoy the popular lawn game (you can get a registration form to participate by clicking here). Registration is $20 per team, and cash prizes will be awarded.Both horse shows are open competitions as well.Registration information can be found here.

In addition to the 4-H exhibits of animals, there is a robust 4-H schedule that includes bunny-hop competitions, a poultry costume contest, a reptile show and a rooster crowing competition. Check out the 4-H schedule here.

If your favorite part of the fair is the midway, the rides and games are back again to thrill riders young and old. Don't forget to grab a funnel cake as you meander the grounds.

Admission to the fair is $7 for anyone age 10 or older. Children younger than 10 get in free.

Robert J. Miller Airpark is on Route 530, five miles west of the Garden State Parkway. Take Exit 77. Coming southbound, turn left off the exit ramp onto Double Trouble Road; at the traffic light turn right and go 5 miles to the airpark. Coming northbound, take Exit 77 and turn left at the traffic light at the end of the exit ramp onto Route 530; go under the Parkway and proceed to the airpark.The fair is open Wednesday and Thursday, 5-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The preliminary weather report says there's a slight chance of rain Wednesday evening, but the remainder of the week should be clear and pleasant in the evenings.