Elkhart County 4-H Fair

The Elkhart County 4-H Fair is one of the largest and most celebrated county fairs in the United States, held annually in Goshen, Indiana, at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds. The 2025 iteration runs from July 18 to July 26, lasting nine days filled with extensive family-friendly attractions and events.

Event Atmosphere and Surroundings:
The fairgrounds are a hub of agricultural heritage and community fun, deep-rooted in local farming traditions since the fair’s founding in 1851. Initially located on Goshen’s courthouse square, the fair evolved from a farmers’ gathering into a dynamic, modern festival featuring entertainment and amusement rides alongside traditional agricultural displays. The venue offers a vibrant, bustling environment with a celebratory and wholesome vibe that draws over 200,000 visitors annually. The fair includes carnival rides, a rodeo, demolition derby, tractor pulls, and family-focused entertainment, making it a lively social gathering with something for all ages.

History and Founding:
The fair was founded to provide local farmers with a platform to learn new agricultural techniques and showcase their work competitively. Over time, it expanded activities to attract a broader audience, including urban visitors, by adding baseball games, horse racing, sideshow performances, and a midway with rides. The fair experienced breaks during major national crises such as World War I, World War II, and the 2020 pandemic. Its long legacy reflects its central role in Elkhart County’s culture and youth development through 4-H programs, with over 4,000 youth participants annually displaying around 8,000 projects.

Activities and Attractions:

• Multi-night concert series: Headlined by well-known bands like Barenaked Ladies and Sugar Ray, providing nightly entertainment at the grandstand.
• Carnival rides and midway: Operating daily from noon to 11 p.m., offering traditional and modern amusement rides.
• Famous food row: Featuring over 75 vendors presenting a wide and diverse selection of fair food, highlighted by the 2025 theme “Taste the Flavor, Share the Fun.”
• Rodeo and demolition derby: Staple fair competitions showcasing livestock skills and thrilling automotive events.
• PPL tractor pulls: Competitive and exciting tractor-pulling contests.
• Farmstead Barn: Interactive, family-friendly exhibits where visitors can see and engage with farm animals like goats.
• Mobile dinosaur museum: A popular educational infusion.
• Drone show: A modern entertainment highlight on Monday night.
• $5 First Friday: The opening day offers discounted admission and free rides for an hour, encouraging early attendance.

Schedule and Timing:

• Fair opens daily at 9 a.m.
• Carnival rides start at noon and run until 11 p.m.
• The fair closes each night at 11 p.m.
• Special wristband days allowing unlimited rides include Fridays, Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
• The event’s nine-day duration provides a variety of scheduling opportunities for all events, from livestock competitions to concerts and specialty shows.

The fair is accessible and includes accommodations for handicapped visitors. Admission is charged, with some special discount days such as the “First Friday” $5 admission.

This fair combines deep agricultural roots with modern entertainment, aiming to educate, entertain, and foster community spirit in Elkhart County and beyond. It is organized by the Elkhart County 4-H & Agricultural Exposition, a nonprofit dedicated to youth development and agriculture promotion.