FREEHOLD, NJ - Whether it’s from watching the highwire act, walking through hundreds of butterflies, or dancing the night away, the 49^th Annual Monmouth County Fair will take your breath away.  Held at East Freehold Showgrounds, 1500 Kozloski Road, Freehold, Wednesday-Sunday, July 24-28, the Monmouth County Fair offers five days of exciting entertainment, thrilling rides, tasty food, and so much more!  And this year promises to be better than ever thanks to new acts joining the lineup.

Topping that list is the Wallenda Productions Aerial Thrill Show.  Audiences will be amazed by Blake Wallenda, a member of the legendary family, as he performs death-defying feats on the highwire.  The thrills continue during the WonderZone Dinosaour Zoo.  This traveling children's museum presents an interactive and educational puppet show that will delight families. The Fair also welcomes the Butterfly Encounter for the first time.  This exhibit allows visitors to feed and enjoy hundreds of butterflies - including six different species! 

Those looking for their favorite acts won’t be disappointed!  Returning this year are Robinson’s Racing Pigs, Bwana Jim Wildlife Show, Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy and Mutts Gone Nuts.  Tommie Turvey’s Stunt Horses & Dogs will also be there Thursday-Sunday.

Some acts are joining the festivities for a few days.  The NOLA-influenced and Jersey-based brass band Ocean Avenue Stompers is performing on Wednesday and Thursday.  Ultrabot will stroll the fairgrounds Wednesday-Saturday while Crunchy the T-Rex will stomp through on Thursday and Friday. Saturday and Sunday bring Bluey and Bingo. 

One of the Fair’s entertainment highlights is live music on the main stage. This year’s lineup includes The Counterfeiters on Wednesday night; Brian Kirk & the Jirks on Thursday night; Super Trans Am on Friday night; CC & The Boys on Saturday night; and Rock It Academy and Magnolia Street String Band on Sunday. Be sure to wear your dancing shoes because these dynamic performances will get you dancing.  Need a little help with your moves? Check out Country Line Dancing provided by BTK Entertainment on Saturday.

Each day of the Monmouth County Fair also brings rides provided by Campy’s Blue Star Amusements, 4-H shows and exhibits, the Home & Garden Competition, the New Jersey Fire Museum display, Touch-a-Truck, and so much more! 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 & Sunday.

The Monmouth County Fair is presented by the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners in cooperation with the Monmouth County Park System and the Monmouth County 4-H Association. Be sure to follow the Monmouth County Park System on social media. Upcoming Fair contests will be announced on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, offering an opportunity to win admission tickets and more.

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.