Bloomsburg Fair Association — Attraction in Bloomsburg

HUGE fair started in 1854. I've read it was (maybe still is) the largest State Fair runway in the country. It honors its past with old-time farm implements, demonstrations of crafting like blacksmithing & weaving, and an old one-room schoolhouse/garden. (While the Exhibits & most of the Fair is free, there are some things which are [AF=Additional Fee].)

There really is something for everyone: all kinds of animals in the barns, a free bandshell, many free mini-music spots (Peruvian panflute band!) tons of rides [AF] for all ages, a ski-lift-style airway for a bird's eye view of the fair [AF], helicopter rides [AF], harness racing & demolition derbies on the fairground track [AF], & wandering bands.

There are game stands, food stands, vendors selling virtually everything & several Exhibit Buildings (outside benches & rest rooms here) for agriculture, horticulture, foods, arts & crafts, etc. containing judged exhibits & vendors where I've gotten beautiful hand-made jewelry for early Christmas gifts.

And get your freebies from the military stands & local news stations, usually there daily handing out bags, hats & whatnots!

Be sure to come hungry! You'd never be able to eat your way through this fair, even if you attended every day! Along with the pizza, candy, doughnut & pastries, ice cream, fresh-pressed-on-site cider & salt-water taffy, there are many sit down places. I've heard a count of 1500 stands!

The Grandstand [AF] features nationally-known entertainment, usually heavy on country-music. I've seen Willie Nelson, John Denver, Taylor Swift, Lynyrd Skynyrd & Bill Engvall. NOTE: these acts sell out FAST well in advance so get on-line and book EARLY.

BTW - you can usually hear the Grandstand music while just walking around the Fair at night. It's a gorgeous sight with all of the lit stands & ride lights glowing everywhere. The fairgrounds have well-paved, well-lit streets (with street signs) & are always crowded & patrolled, so I've felt perfectly safe walking around the fair at night by myself.

Note that there's a price for on-site parking as well as the entry fee, & you pay for rides, so it's not "cheap" to attend, but it's still well-worth the price, even if you just want to sight-see & check out all of the free buildings or sit on a bench & hear music while you "people watch." Check for Senior Day/Students discounts. Get a hand stamp if leaving for a free return on that day. Lately, there have been quick bag checks upon entrance - nothing intrusive.

Pick up a free Fair map/schedule at Entrance Gate Info kiosks. This lists free entertainment, performances and attractions you might not expect. One year, we saw a free white tiger performance we never would have known about otherwise.

There are several large cinderblock basic rest room buildings with attendants throughout the Fair. It would be thoughtful to bring along some change for their tip box. They usually keep the places clean and the lines moving.

I don't believe there is a family-style rest room in those buildings. There may be one around the Fair Office, but not 100% on that. I don't know if you can rent/borrow a wheelchair or scooter. Call to pre-check if you need any of those services.

Some people park off-site & walk several blocks to the Fair. I prefer to park in the Fairground lots & use their FREE trams to get to the entrance. IMPORTANT! -- Write down the letter & number of your parking spot AND the name of your Entrace Gate where you pay to get in (there are many)! I'm not kidding, you'll think you'll remember but...

These parking lots are HUGE & busy but have lots of traffic directors. The parking lots are only partially paved and will be extremely dusty when it's hot & dry and very muddy if raining, so CLOSE YOUR CAR WINDOWS!

I also strongly suggest that you dress in layers. We're in a river valley & the weather can go from very chilly in the morning to really hot & humid in the afternoon. The buildings get very hot & will be jam-packed if it starts to rain. I suggest doing the inside viewings in the cooler...

So disappointed in the entertainment for my 2 year old granddaughter. Before going I checked the web site to see how many kiddie rides were available. It states they have 9 kiddie rides....what a joke. We walked beyond the grandstand where we only found 2 kiddie rides one of which was a ride that needed an adult to accompany them. Before riding I went to buy tickets with my 2 year old. Each ride was at least 3 tickets so economically the 25 dollar wrist band was the way to go. I asked where the kiddie rides were located and the ticket person told me it was at the other end of the fair. So we walked 2 miles back to the entrance where we couldn't find any kiddie rides. The only rides working were a carousel that I needed to ride with her, another train which I had to ride too and a slide which I needed to ride too. I asked the ticket lady where the little toddler rides were and she said there were none available. I was furious because they sold me a 25 dollar arm band without having any toddler rides. I even asked them. Also a baby cup of Knorrs vanilla orange cream soft serve with two small twirls cost me $3.50. Ridiculous. There was one thing worthwhile for my granddaughter...a real pony ride costing 5 dollars and they gave her a long ride for 5 dollars. Don't bother taking your little ones because there is nothing for them...

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions on this "fair". "Fair" is exactly what it is not. It is highway robbery. Pay to park pay to get in. Pay to do anything in this place other than breatbing. But you dont want to do that even because it stinks so badly of carnies and animals. It is a complete rip off and every year it seems you pay more to get less. I would love to just run in and buy a few things to eat from a few stands but they made it damn near impossibile si ce they want to charge me 5 dollars to park my own car a d another 8 dollars to enter this place... Make it free stop being greedy and allow people to enjoy this place. Obviously food drink and games would come at a price but entering and parking shouldnt have a cost. I dont go id rather save my money 👍 sorry for the poor saps that do go and waste their money on junk that they wouldnt intend on buying in the first place. But hey. Wg Here else can you go spend 10 dollars anf get a 28 cent gold fish? Haha...