Wayne County Fair

The Wayne County Fair in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, has been running since 1862 — 164 editions deep, organized by the Wayne County Agricultural Society on the same 22-acre parcel of Dyberry River bottomland purchased at the society’s founding. The 2026 fair runs August 7 through 15, nine consecutive days in the Pocono foothills, drawing nearly 100,000 visitors from across northeastern Pennsylvania and the New York tri-state area. At $12 per person — which covers parking, most shows, rides, animals, and entertainment — it remains one of the best-value fairs in the Northeast, and one of the few that still puts genuine agricultural heritage at the center of the experience.

164 Years and Still Going Strong

The Wayne County Fair does not try to be something it is not. Harness racing on the half-mile track brings real competition across multiple heats throughout the week, and the livestock shows — cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry — are judged by people who know the difference between good stock and great stock. For the crowd that wants adrenaline, Painted Pony bronc and bull riding draws serious competitors to a proper rodeo-format ring, and the demolition derby reliably produces the loudest hour of the entire fair. Big-name country music concerts headline the grandstand stage on select evenings — past years have featured national touring acts — and Prevo the Dinosaur wanders the midway with enough theatrical energy to keep children watching for twenty minutes at a stretch. Tractor pulls, truck pulls, and horse pulls round out the motorsport programming; fireworks close the final night of the fair.

Beyond the Fairgrounds

Honesdale sits twelve miles from Lake Wallenpaupack, a 5,700-acre lake built in 1926 that covers 13 miles of shoreline and represents the heart of Pocono lake country. After a fair day, the drive to Hawley — the small city at Wallenpaupack’s north shore — takes twenty minutes and puts you at Wallenpaupack Brewing Company, a 17,000-square-foot craft brewery and brewpub in a converted historic building, with house beers on tap and a menu built around locally sourced ingredients. For a full lake-view dinner, Gresham’s Chop House on Route 6 in Hawley has been serving steaks, seafood, and Italian specialties with a direct view of Lake Wallenpaupack for years — the cream of crab soup and the deck seats overlooking the water are the two things regulars come back for specifically. The Dock on Wallenpaupack, the waterside restaurant at Silver Birches Resort, offers a more casual approach with cocktails and weekly live music on a deck that sits practically on the water. For families spending the week at the fair, the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in downtown Honesdale covers the region’s railroad and canal heritage in a way that clicks for older children, and the nearby Stourbridge Rail Line offers excursion train rides along the Delaware River valley on select weekends in summer.

Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Admission is $12 per person per day and covers the vast majority of fair activities, including rides, parking, most shows, and livestock areas. Some headline concerts may carry separate grandstand tickets — check waynecountyfair.com for the 2026 entertainment schedule and any premium show pricing. The fairgrounds are located at 270 Miller Drive, one mile north of downtown Honesdale, with ample on-site parking included in admission. August in the Pocono foothills runs warm and occasionally humid — carry water, wear sun protection, and plan to be at the fairgrounds in the morning and evening, with a midday break during peak heat. Dogs are not typically permitted at county fairs due to livestock proximity; confirm the current policy at waynecountyfair.com before bringing pets.

Quick Tips
– The demolition derby and bull riding sessions draw the largest grandstand crowds — arrive 45 minutes early for seating.
– Harness racing is typically scheduled for afternoon heats; check the daily program posted at the main gate.
– The Dyberry River runs along the fairground’s north edge — a short walk for a cool-down between events.

Pocono Lake Country is Waiting on Lake.com

Lake Wallenpaupack and the surrounding Pocono lake district offer some of the most accessible waterfront rental inventory in the Northeast — and August is the month when it all hums at full power. Cabins, lakefront cottages, and larger family homes with dock access are available through Lake.com within fifteen minutes of the Wayne County Fairgrounds. If you are planning a full-week stay around the fair, book by late spring; peak August inventory in the Poconos goes quickly.