Now in its 164th year, the Wayne County Fair is the high point of summer in Honesdale. Close to 100,000 people pass through the gates each August for nine days where, as the fair puts it, farm meets food and fun. At heart it is an agricultural fair, and the animals are the reason to come early and stay late. Here is what to know before you go.
The essentials
| Dates | Friday, August 7 – Saturday, August 15, 2026 (nine days) |
|---|---|
| Admission | $12 per person, Pay One Price — includes parking, all-day rides, animals, shows, and most entertainment |
| Where | Wayne County Fairgrounds, 270 Miller Drive (Route 191 North), Honesdale, PA 18431 |
| Animal barns & 4-H arena | North end of the fairgrounds |
| Tickets & daily schedule | waynecountyfair.com |
| Fair office | (570) 253-5486 |
The animals and the 4-H kids come first
The Wayne County Fair is a working agricultural fair, not just a midway. The north end of the fairgrounds is home to the animal barns and the 4-H arena, where competitions run all week. The 4-H'ers are the hardest-working kids at the fair, showing the animals they have raised and prepared for months. Walk the barns, watch a show, and see the work these young people put in. It is the best part of the fair, and the easiest to miss if you only come for the rides.
Across the rest of the grounds you will also find:
- Harness racing & grandstand — evening grandstand entertainment and the fair's longstanding harness racing tradition.
- Rides & midway — all-day rides included with Pay One Price admission.
- Fair food — the local church stands, fresh corn, and the classics.
- Contests & exhibits — produce, baking, crafts, homemaking, and antique equipment.
Getting there
The fairgrounds sit just north of downtown Honesdale at 270 Miller Drive (Route 191 North), Honesdale, PA 18431, on Route 191. From downtown, head north on Main Street and follow the signs. For the daily schedule, admission, and grandstand lineup, the official Wayne County Fair website is the authority; dates and admission are set each year by the Wayne County Agricultural Society.
For Honesdale businesses
The families at the fair are your neighbors the other 51 weeks.
Common Sense Quarterly is a 9x12 postcard that reaches as many as 5,000 Honesdale homes per day, with real civic education on one side and local businesses on the other. One category-exclusive spot is $549, and no competitor shares your card. Reaching every door yourself would cost about $2,750.
Fair dates and details compiled from the official Wayne County Fair website and regional event listings. Always confirm the current-year schedule and admission at waynecountyfair.com. Common Sense Quarterly is not affiliated with the Wayne County Fair or the Wayne County Agricultural Society.