The 164th annual Essex County Fair in Westport, NY, will be held on August 8- 12. That’s Wednesday-Sunday!
Daily Admission including Shows and Carnival Rides is $10.
Special $25 for a carload on Thursday from 3 PM to 9 PM (includes carnival rides).
History of Essex County Fair
The first Essex County-Clinton County Fair was organized by Elkanah Watson in 1848. It was held on the Port Kent Road, on the plains east of the Town of Keeseville. The most important event was horse racing, which is still a component of the fair.
In 1850, Essex and Clinton Counties separated and the Essex County Fair moved to Elizabethtown where it was held annually until 1865. In 1865, the fair committee decided to move the fair to Westport where it would be closer to the lake. They hoped that the accessibility of lake transportation would boost attendance. (Essex County Fair History)

Featured Events
- Essex County Fair Idol Contest (Contest Application)
- Roll Over Contest (Rules & Regulations)
- Live Music
- Open Horse Shows
- Livestock Shows
- Senior Days (over 60) – $2.00 Off Food Coupon with $10 Admission (Wednesday & Thursday)
- Fireworks Friday Night
- 4-H Demonstrations
- Demolition Derby (Rules & Regulations)
- Tractor Pulls (Rules & Regulations)
- Truck Pulls ATV & Garden Tractor Pulls
- Harness Racing
See the full schedule of the fair’s events to figure out the best day for you to go!
Want to Exhibit?

Do you want to exhibit at the Essex County Fair? Plants, vegetables, artwork, photographs, collections, quilts, crafts and more are wanted to showcase local products! Information and entry forms are available online!
Items to enter “have to have been grown or created within the calendar year leading up to the fair, meaning nothing that was made before Aug. 12, 2011” (Valley News).
You can also check out the Essex County Fair on Facebook. Invite your friends!
If you’ve never been to the fairgrounds before make this your first time! Here are some directions to the fair.
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