FREEHOLD --- From start to finish, every day is a great day at the Monmouth County Fair! Presented by the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners in cooperation with the Monmouth County Park System and the Monmouth County 4-H Association, this annual tradition runs Wednesday-Sunday, July 24-28.  Held at East Freehold Showgrounds, 1500 Kozloski Road, Freehold, the Monmouth County Fair boasts five days of live entertainment, thrilling rides, tasty food, 4-H shows and exhibits, Home & Garden competitions and demonstrations, touch-a-truck, a NJ Fire Museum exhibit, and so much more!    

Each day of the Fair also brings something new and fun for fairgoers to enjoy. Opening night on Wednesday, July 24, features the ribbon-cutting ceremony; performances by The Counterfeiters at 8:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. (weather-permitting).  Root for local volunteer firefighters as they race to replace a section of hose and shoot at a target during the Firefighters’ Competition at 7 p.m. 

Then on Thursday, July 25, the Fair welcomes Tommie Turvey’s Stunt Horses & Dogs for the remainder of its run. Music lovers should be sure to catch the brass band Ocean Avenue Stompers marching through the fairgrounds throughout the evening as well as a performance by Brian Kirk & the Jirks at 8:30 p.m. on the Main Stage. 

Friday, July 26, brings the On-Site Native Plant Flower Arranging Competition, hosted by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey, at 7 p.m. (Those interested in participating should see details in the Fair's Home & Garden Brochure available online at www.MonmouthCountyFair.com.)  Then flashback to the ‘70s when Super Trans Am performs the decade’s biggest hits on the Main Stage at 8:30 p.m.

Come ready to dance on Saturday, July 27!  Fairgoers are invited to join in Country Line Dancing provided by BTK Entertainment from 1-3 p.m. There will be plenty of opportunities to put their new moves to use when CC & the Boys take the Main Stage at 8:30 p.m. The day also features a Corn-Eating Contest in the Living History Tent at 5:45 p.m.

The Fair ends on a sweet note on Sunday, July 28 with the Pie-Eating Contest!  Children ages 12 years and under will compete at 12:30 p.m. and ages 13 and up at 12:45 p.m. Registration opens at 11 a.m. at the Main Stage for both contests. All registrants will get a t-shirt and winners will receive a trophy.  Pies for this delicious tradition are donated by Wemrock Orchards of Freehold.  The day also features the Antique Motoring Club of Monmouth County Show.  Other highlights include performances by the Magnolia Street String Band at 2 p.m., the Funny Factory Clown Band at 4 p.m., and students from Rockit Academy at 4:15 p.m. 

There are also plenty of acts that will be at the Fair all five days including Wallenda Productions Aerial Thrill Show, Wonderzone Dinosaur Zoo, Robinson’s Racing Pigs, Bwana Jim Wildlife Show, The Butterfly Encounter, Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy and Mutts Gone Nuts.

Campy’s Blue Star Amusements will also be there with rides for the whole family to enjoy!  Rides require wristbands. Riders can load credits onto their wristbands or purchase a one-day unlimited rides option for $25* on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; and $30* on Friday and Saturday. (*Convenience fee may apply.) Rides are weather permitting. Please note that kiddie rides require riders to be at least 36” tall; other rides have additional height requirements.

The Fair is open 4-11 p.m. on Wednesday-Friday, July 24-26; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday, July 27; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, July 28.  General daily admission to the Monmouth County Fair is $10 per adult; children 12 and under are admitted free. Veterans and active military with ID also enter for free. On Sunday, seniors 65 and older and students with ID are free. New for this year is half price admission during the first two hours of each day; 4-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

For the most current information about the Monmouth County Fair, visit www.MonmouthCountyFair.com or call 732-842-4000.  For persons with hearing impairment, the TTY/TDD number is 711.