Ephrata Fair
July 14, 2016
Parades at the Ephrata Fair
Things will kick off on Tuesday, September 20 and continue through Saturday, September 24. One of the featured special events is a parade on Wednesday with floats, fire trucks, music, marching bands, baton twirlers, and more entertainment! There will also be a Parade Night Food Collection. You can donate non-perishable items to support the Ephrata Area Social Services Food Bank at the First United Methodist Church along the parade route. This is the 81st anniversary of the Ephrata parade, so you will be experiencing an event rooted in local tradition. Another Ephrata Fair is the Baby Parade on Saturday at 12pm. This is the 57th annual baby parade at the fair!
More Ephrata Fair Events!
The Ephrata Fair schedule for this September includes quite a few exhibits and demonstrations throughout each day. Be sure to make note of which events you want to attend, so you can plan your rides and food consumption around them! In between these major events, there will be plenty of contests and exhibits to peruse.
Monday: Registration starts off on Monday, while Tuesday marks the midway opening.
Tuesday: There will be swine judging, a petting zoo, a barbeque pork chop dinner at Tent City, and a delicious dessert judging. The rides open at 5pm, at the same time that Sneakers the Clown performs at Tent City. There will also be antique tractor games and entertainment from a local banjo group before some classic rock at the Whistle Stop Plaza.
Wednesday: Agricultural demonstrations will be happening on Wednesday, along with goat, sheep, and lamb judging. Rides then open at 4pm, while the parade kicks off at 7pm. Enjoy some country rock from Meadow Man at the Whistle Stop Plaza before the midway and rides close, per usual, at 10pm.
Thursday: Thursday is dairy cow judgment day! There will be a petting zoo open so you can get your farm animal petting fix, while a talking turkey contest will take place at Tent City at 6pm. The Pedal Tractor Pull is another exciting event, occurring at the same time as the BERG Pedal Go-Kart Race at Tent City. Finish things up with a performance by The Nomads at Whistle Stop Plaza or the Tug-of-War at Tent City.
Friday: The petting zoo will be back on Friday, along with rabbit judging. For some unique entertainment, there will be Barrels of Fun Train Rides and a Candy Scramble at Tent City. A mariachi band will be performing at 6pm at the Whistle Stop Plaza before another antique tractor pull or a juggling performance at Tent City. Family fun contests will kick off at 7pm, while Native American music will be played at the Whistle Stop Plaza at 7pm. The midway and rides close an hour later, at 11pm.
Saturday: Saturday marks the end of the Ephrata Fair festivities! A quoits tournament in the park will take place in the morning before the midway opens. The famous baby parade will take place at 1pm, and the next performance of the day will be some classic country by Division Highway at the Whistle Stop Plaza at 7pm. The midway and rides will close at 11pm!
Stay at Historic Smithton
Enjoy all the food and entertainment that the Ephrata Fair has to offer. It only comes once a year, after all! Once you’re finished with all the festivities, come back to the Historic Smithton Inn for a peaceful rest in the countryside. Our bed and breakfast provides charming accommodations and luxurious amenities to make your stay comfortable and wonderful. For more to see and do in Ephrata, PA, download our free vacation guide!