Monmouth County Fair Is All Set For 47th Year Of Summertime Fun

FREEHOLD, NJ – Be part of a tradition at the 47th annual Monmouth County Fair, which will get underway Wednesday, July 27, and run through Sunday, July 31 at the East Freehold Fairgrounds, 1500 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township.

Despite the recent spate of high temperatures, the county said the fair will go on, with the first three days beginning at 4 p.m. The fair returned in 2021 after it was cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic.

The annual fair is presented by the The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, in cooperation with the Monmouth County Park System and the Monmouth County 4-H Association, the Monmouth County Public Information Office said in a news release.

The fair will have "demonstrations from Deep Cut Garden in Middletown and the 'Trails, Trees and Tents of Turkey Swamp Park' display which will be featured during the entire length of the fair,” said Commissioner Ross F. Licitra, liaison to the Park System.

“We invite everyone to come visit our county fair and learn about all the sensational programs our park system has to offer,” Licitra said in the news release.

County employees will be distributing information about departmental services, giving demonstrations and answering questions at a tent located just inside the fair’s front entrance.

Here are the fair hours:

• 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
• 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday
• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday

Admission is $8 per person. Children who are 12 years old and under are provided free admission. Additionally, free admission is offered to seniors who are 65 and over, as well as active military with identification on Sunday, July 31.

Here are some fair highlights, but you can go here for the full fair schedule.

Daily attractions include:

• Rides by Campy’s Blue Star Amusements (wristbands available daily)
• Hell On Wheels BMX Stunt Show
• Robinson’s Racing Pigs
• Ready GO Dog Show
• Amazing Feats of Comedy Show with Michael Rosman
• The Raptor Project - Birds of Prey
• Bwana Jim Wildlife Show
• Hilby, The Skinny German Juggle Boy
• Jeff Wilson Horsemanship (Thursday to Sunday)
• Tara Jones Pieceful Solutions Riding & Training (Friday to Sunday)
• Touch-a-Truck
• 4-H Shows & Exhibits
• Living History Displays
• Home & Garden Demonstrations & Displays
• Commercial Vendors
• Food Vendors

On opening day, Wednesday, the festivities include:

• Opening Ceremony
• 4-H Cloverbud Court Ceremony from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
• Monmouth County Firefighter’s Competition at 7 p.m.
• The Haven from 8 to 8:45 p.m. and 9:30 to 10:15 p.m. on the Main Stage
• Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. (weather permitting)

On Thursday, look for:

• Gene Scheninger Herding Collie Dogs at 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• FFA Alumni Farm Stand selling Jersey Fresh produce (Available while supplies last.)
• 4-H Open Youth Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest from 6 to 6:30 p.m.
• The Chuck Lambert Band from 8:30 to 10 p.m. on the Main Stage

Friday events include:

• Traditional Rug Hooking Demonstration presented by ATHA from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Deep Cut Bonsai Society from 6 to 10 p.m.
• Yasgur’s Farm from 8:30 to 10 p.m. on the Main Stage
• 4-H Parade of Horse Breed from 9 to 10 p.m.

On Saturday, there is a full day of activities:

• FFA Alumni Farm Stand selling Jersey Fresh produce (Available while supplies last.)
• Pie Eating Contest from 1 to 2 p.m.
• Zydeco Revelators from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on the Main Stage
• Jeff Wilson & Tara Jones Joint Show at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
• Waiting on Mongo from 8:30 to 10 p.m. on the Main Stage

On Sunday, closing day, look for these highlights:

• Dark City Strings from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on the Main Stage
• 4-H Herpetology Demonstration from 1:20 to 2 p.m.
• Spinning, Knitting and Weaving Demonstration from 2 to 4 p.m.
• School of Rock Red Bank House Band from 4:15 to 5 p.m. on the Main Stage
• Funny Factory Clown Band at 4 p.m.

For general fair information, call 732-842-4000, ext. 4312.

The Monmouth County Government tent is dedicated to resources from various county departments, including Tourism, County Clerk, Surrogate, Human Resources, Health, Mosquito, Human Services, Transportation, Workforce Development, Library System, Brookdale Community College and Fire Marshal, the county said.

The Monmouth County Fair is presented by the Monmouth County Park System in cooperation with the Monmouth County 4-H Association. The fair maintains the agricultural nature of a traditional county fair with its Home and Garden Competition, petting farm and 4-H animal shows and exhibits.

“The Monmouth County 4-H Association is, once again, thrilled to be a part of the Monmouth County Fair,” said Commissioner Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

“The 4-H Association will have plenty of shows and exhibits such as the Home and Garden Competition and petting farm that highlight our County’s agricultural heritage while showcasing the dedication of our 4-H members.”