FREEHOLD – The Monmouth County Fair is back for another year of food, fun, and tradition from July 24 through July 28. Join in an old-fashioned pie-eating contest, visit 4-H exhibits, and be entertained by live music!
The Monmouth County Fair is held at East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road in Freehold. Fair hours are:
- 5-11 p.m. on Wednesday-Friday, July 24-26
- 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday, July 27
- 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, July 28.
Admission is $8 per person. Children 12 and under are free. On Sunday, seniors 65 and older and active military with an ID card get in free.
This year’s event will feature family fun with 4-H exhibits, rides provided by Reithoffer Shows, entertainment, home and garden competitions, opening night fireworks (weather permitting), and more.
Pie-Eating Contest
Dig in to one of the main attractions: the pie-eating contest! The pie-eating contest will take place on the last day of the fair, Sunday, July 28. Eat as many of the delicious treats as you can, donated by Wemrock Orchards. The first person done takes home the trophy.
Children 12 and under will compete at 1 p.m. Those 13 and up will compete at 1:15 p.m. If you aren’t sure now, there is still time to sign up! On-site registration for both contests begins 11 a.m. inside the dining tent by the Main Stage.
Live Entertainment
Enjoy live entertainment each day of the fair on the Main Stage.
- Wednesday, July 24: “Start Making Sense,” Talking Heads Tribute Band
- Thursday, July 25: “Big House Band”
- Friday, July 26: “Jake’s Rockin’ Country Band”
- Saturday, July 27: “School of Rock”
- Saturday, July 27: “Jobonanno & The Godsons presents ‘The Spirit of Asbury Revue’”
- Sunday, July 28: “Last Whippoorwill”
Home & Garden
Calling all bakers, gardeners and crafters! This year is your time to shine in the Monmouth County Fair Home & Garden Competition. Bring home a blue ribbon by showing off your skills in art, photography, crafting, canning, needlework, honey, flowers, vegetables, or baking.
General registration and drop off will be held on July 22, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. for art, photography, crafting, canning, needlework, and honey. For flowers and vegetables, registration and drop off will be held on July 26, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Baked goods will be accepted during registration on July 27, 8 a.m.-11 a.m.
A Long-Standing Tradition
“The Monmouth County Fair is a longstanding, midsummer tradition where generations of families have gathered at the East Freehold Showgrounds to create memories and see what Monmouth County has to offer,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Park System and 4-H Association. “Families are able to enjoy all of the fun amenities of the County Fair while learning about local agriculture and County services available to residents. The Fair maintains the agricultural nature of a traditional county fair with its Home and Garden Competition, petting farm and 4-H animal shows and exhibits.”
Not only is the fair a fun, family-friendly event, but it is also informative. County employees will be stationed at tents inside the fair distributing information about departmental services, giving demonstrations and answering questions. Learn more about County Tourism, County Clerk, Surrogate, Human Resources, Health, Mosquito, Human Services, Transportation, Workforce Development, Library System, Brookdale Community College and Fire Marshal.
“Each summer, everyone looks forward to the latter part of July because of the fun that the Fair delivers,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone. “I commend the entire County of Monmouth and its employees for their wholehearted commitment to making the County Fair one of the top choices for summertime fairs in New Jersey.”
