NYC’s Oldest County Fair Returns This Weekend — With 100+ Food Vendors, Historic Demos & Live Music

Still looking for something to do this Labor Day Weekend? Well, one of New York City’s oldest and most iconic traditions is returning this weekend: the Richmond County Fair , Staten Island’s beloved annual celebration and Historic Richmond Town’s biggest fundraiser of the year . For more than 45 years , Historic Richmond Town has hosted the fair, opening its landmark campus to over 15,000 visitors each Labor Day Weekend . And this year it’s back again on August 30th – September 1st . The fair dates all the way back to 1895 , and has long been a staple of Staten Island life— showcasing local products, entertainment, and community pride. But this isn’t your average fair — it’s part carnival, part music festival, part living history experience . What to do at the Richmond County Fair -------------------------------------- Starting this Saturday, visitors will find over 100 vendors lining the streets, selling everything from classic fair food and sweet treats to antiques and handmade crafts. You’ll also discover cultural organizations and Staten Island non-profits as part of the Staten Island Culture Crawl . Bringing the full “fair” vibe to fruition, families can spend hours trying out the following things: * Carnival rides & games * Pony rides, inflatables, face painting & balloon art * A Butterfly Vivarium * Roving aerialists & stilt walkers * Rope bridge, obstacle courses & kid contests courtesy of NYC Parks And yes — it wouldn’t be a fair without eating contests . Even the bravest of souls can enter hot dog, chicken wing, donut, and pie-eating competitions , held throughout the weekend. Live music all weekend long --------------------------- The fair also doubles as a three-day music festival , with Staten Island-based acts performing everything from old-school doo-wop to rock, funk, and covers. This year’s festival highlights include: * Vinnie Medugno (Saturday) * Chain Reaction (Sunday) * Vito Picone & The Elegants (Monday) Plus DJs and live performances every afternoon into the evening. Step back in time with living history ------------------------------------- What really sets the Richmond County Fair apart is its living history village . Costumed interpreters will bring centuries-old traditions to life with demonstrations in blacksmithing, tinsmithing, carpentry, hearth cooking, basket making, and more . You can even explore a recreated Revolutionary War camp or try your hand at historic kids crafts. A county fair for a great cause ------------------------------- Tickets to the Richmond County Fair don’t just get you a weekend of fun — they also directly support Historic Richmond Town , NYC’s most complete living history museum. Proceeds help preserve over 38 historic buildings, 112 acres of parkland and wetlands, and more than 100,000 artifacts , while funding educational programming for over 25,000 students each year. Richmond County Fair full details --------------------------------- 📍 Location: Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave, Staten Island 🕖 Dates & times: August 30 – September 1 (12 – 8 pm). Tickets sold until 7 pm daily (last shuttle departs at 7:45 pm). 🚗 Parking: Available at Staten Island Mall Commuter Lot (Marsh Ave & Richmond Hill Rd) with free shuttle service to the fair. 🎟️ Tickets: Available online now — discounted admission for Historic Richmond Town members. Source: https://secretnyc.co/richmond-county-fair-staten-island-2025/