Monmouth County Fair Guide 2025: What To Know

FREEHOLD, NJ — The Monmouth County Fair is set to return for its 50th anniversary this summer at the East Freehold Showgrounds.

Starting on Wednesday, July 23, and running until Sunday, July 27, the fair will feature hot air balloon rides, a fireworks display and more.

"On behalf of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, I’m thrilled to invite everyone to join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Monmouth County Fair,” Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone said.

"There will be special attractions to mark the occasion and also to launch the countdown to America’s 250th anniversary with historical performances and entertainment for all ages!” Arnone said. “You don’t want to miss this exciting event!"

As the fair prepares to open, here’s everything you need to know about fair hours, attractions and tickets:

Attractions

Packed with excitement, this year’s Monmouth County Fair will feature live entertainment, 4-H shows and exhibits, the Park System’s exhibit “Nature Through a Lens” and more.

Some of the featured acts include:

• Wonderzone Dinosaur Zoo
• DAWG Pro Wrestling presents “DAWG Days of Summer”
• Andrew’s Big Show
• Bwana Jim’s Wildlife Show
• Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy
• Mutts Gone Nuts
• Tommie Turvey’s Stunt Horses & Dogs

The fair will also feature live music, rides and games. Main stage entertainment includes performances by:

• Yasgur’s Farm (Wednesday night)
• Mission Dance Band (Thursday night)
• Nicole Atkins (Friday night)
• Yellow Brick Road – A Tribute to Elton John (Saturday night)
• Rock It Academy and Jackson Pines (Sunday)

For those looking for thrills at the fair, you can check out rides provided by Reithoffer Shows. Ride wristbands will be available daily and allow fairgoers the chance to enjoy unlimited rides during their visit.

At the heart of the fair is the Home & Garden Competition. Categories include crafts, needlework, art, photography, vegetables, flowers and baked goods.

Details on individual categories are listed in the Home & Garden Brochure, which can be accessed online here.

This year’s competition features Black Jar Honey and on-site native plant flower arranging competitions. After judging, entries will remain on display in the Home & Garden Tent.

"The Monmouth County Fair is a fantastic opportunity for both residents and visitors to experience the award-winning Park System and celebrate Monmouth County’s proud agricultural heritage," said Commissioner Ross Licitra, liaison to the Monmouth County Park System. "With live entertainment, the Home & Garden Competition, and a wide variety of vendors, the Monmouth County Fair truly has something for everyone to enjoy."

Tickets

General admission to the Monmouth County Fair is $10 per adult, while kids 12 and under are admitted for free.

Half-price admission will be offered during the first two hours of each day, which are:

• Wednesday-Friday: 4-6 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Veterans and active military with ID may also enter for free. On Sunday, seniors 65 and older and students with ID are free.

Ride wristbands are $30 each on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and $35 on Friday and Saturday. Rides are weather permitting.

Dates & Hours

The Monmouth County Fair will open to the public on Wednesday, July 23, and run through Sunday, July 27.

Fair hours are as follows:

• Wednesday-Friday: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Upcoming fair contests will be announced on the Monmouth County Parks System’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, offering an opportunity to win admission tickets and more.

The fair is presented by the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners in cooperation with the Monmouth County Park System and Monmouth County 4-H.

For the most recent information on the Monmouth County Fair, you can visit the fair website or call 732-842-4000. For those with hearing impairment, the TTY/TDD number is 711.

The fair will take place at the East Freehold Showgrounds, located on Kozloski Road, Freehold.