By Christine Harkinson
The Burlington County Farm Fair will be held at the Burlington County Fairgrounds from Tuesday, July 16, through Saturday, July 20. Farm Fair hours are from 4 to 10:30 p.m. and daily admission is free.
Parking is available directly across the street from the fair entrance. A remote parking area is located at the Columbus Farmer’s Market parking lot with free shuttles to the main entrance of the fairgrounds.
There will be continuous free shuttles all day. Remote parking will only begin when the fairgrounds’ parking lot is full. Attendees are encouraged to come to the fairgrounds to attempt to park first. The buses will run between Columbus Market and the fairgrounds only when the fairgrounds lot is full. Handicapped parking is in the main parking lot.
“We just have such a huge network of people who work very hard through the year to make these five days happen,” said farm fair manager Rosemary Kay. “… I look forward to seeing these same people… I’ve become so in tune to these people and know so many of them on a personal basis… It has introduced me to people that I never would have known before and we’re like one, big tight family.”
This year’s ongoing events will include Plein Air painting on the fairgrounds; a children’s scavenger hunt; an antique farm equipment display; ax throwing; a children’s decorated wagon contest; a draft horse pull; and a recycled scarecrow contest display, among other activities.
The fair’s Kiss the Pig! event is sponsored by the Burlington County 4‑H Small Animal Advisory Council. The contestant with the most money in their jar will kiss the pig on July 20 in the North Show Tent. The money donated is used by the 4‑H Small Animal Advisory Council to provide support and equipment for the small animal clubs.
Live music is expected to include The Woodshop Band; Scott Gager; the Bullzeye Band; and Verbatim, among other acts.
Wristbands for the midway rides may not be used for multiple days. A new wristband must be purchased for each day of the fair. Dogs are allowed anywhere on the fairground’s property. Guests must pick up after their dog and it must be on a leash no longer than six-feet. Dogs are not allowed in the remote parking lot or on the shuttle buses.
“This year we have a new food court and it’s called the Southwest Food Court, and it has five new food vendors in it that have never been to this fair before, and the food is so diversified and it’s going to be located directly across from the animal tent,” Kay said. “Some of the food is chocolate covered strawberries, frozen candy and ice cream, red, white and boba tea… We just have a lot of new people.”
Pyrotecnico Fireworks will help to kick off the fair with a fireworks display on July 16 at 9:45 p.m. The theme for this year’s fair is Christmas in July, and attendees are welcome to stop at the Home Arts and Crafts Tent and the 4‑H Tent to see the displays of holiday themed entries.
“We’re going to have Christmas trees and decorations and the theme of the Home Arts tent is Christmas, so people are expected to make quilts and other items using Christmas materials,” Kay said.
For more information on the fair, visit https://www.burlingtoncountyfarmfair.com
