Pie Eating Contest, Rides & More Planned At The Monmouth County Fair

FREEHOLD, NJ — As Monmouth County prepares to host the 50th annual county fair, there are plenty of events, competitions, rides and more for attendees to look forward to at this year's event.

Starting on Wednesday, July 23, and running through Sunday, July 27, the fair will take place at the East Freehold Showgrounds and feature hot air balloon rides, a fireworks display, rides and more.

General admission to the fair is $10 per adult, while kids 12 years old and under are admitted for free. Half-price admission will also be offered during the first two hours of each day.

Here are some of the events and attractions you can look forward to:

Rides
Whether you’re a thrill seeker or looking to check out classic rides like the ferris wheel, there are plenty of rides coming to the Monmouth County Fair this year, including:

• Zero Gravity
• Rip Tide
• Sky Flyer
• The Super Himalaya
• Pharaoh’s Fury
• Rock Star
• The Tilt-A-Whirl
• Ferris Wheel
• Carousel

There will also be separate Kiddie Area rides such as the Fun Slide, Wiggle Worm and the Mini Wave Swinger. In total, the fair will feature 25 rides.

Rides at the fair require wristbands. For those interested, riders can purchase one-day unlimited rides wristbands for $30 on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and $35 on Friday and Saturday.

Rides are weather permitting and certain rides may also have height requirements.

Pie-Eating Contest
On Sunday, July 27, attendees can take part in some old-fashioned fun with the fair’s pie-eating contest, with pies donated by Wemrock Orchards.

Children ages 12 years old and under will compete at 12:30 p.m., and those ages 13 and up will compete at 12:45 p.m. On-site registration for both contests begins at 11 a.m. at the Main Stage.

All participants will receive a t-shirt to wear during the competition, and the winners will take home a trophy.

Countdown Kick-Off To America’s 250th Birthday
The 250th birthday of the United States falls on July 4, 2026.

To kick off a countdown to the national celebration, Monmouth County will host a “Kick-Off the Countdown” event on the opening night of the fair, Wednesday, July 23, at 7 p.m. on the main stage.

The special event will feature Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard, re-enactors, remarks, music, and entertainment, including the Washington Crossing Fifes and Drums. A fireworks display will top off the event at 9 p.m.

“We are so excited to be kicking off the one-year countdown to America’s 250th birthday with a special event for people of all ages at the annual Monmouth County Fair,” said Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon, Co-Chair of the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee.

“Our committee has been working hard over the past two years to create a fitting celebration of the birth of the greatest nation on Earth,” Hanlon continued. “We are now officially less than one year away from America’s Semiquincentennial, so it is time to begin the countdown with a ceremony filled with patriotism and pride for our country!”

The MonmouthNJ 250 Truck and tent will also be at the fair all week long, where visitors can see a traveling exhibit about life in Monmouth County during the Revolutionary War, pick up a free Monmouth County Revolutionary History booklet and coloring book, take part in themed giveaways and more.

The MonmouthNJ 250 Truck and tent will be set up near the fair entrance. To learn more, you can click here.

To learn more about the Monmouth County Fair, you can visit their website.

Related

• Monmouth County Fair Guide 2025: What To Know