Erie County Fair lowers prices for 2026

New savings opportunities expected to reduce average family cost by 12%

Erie County Fair press release

Through strategic budgeting and collaboration with food vendors, ride provider Strates Shows, and suppliers, the Erie County Fair is lowering admission prices and introducing additional savings opportunities for food and rides throughout the event.

Overall, the cost for a family of four at the Erie County Fair (Aug. 12-23) will average 12% less. Fair officials emphasized the savings come without reducing the quality or the content that generations of guests have come to expect.

Fair management looked at the total cost of a family's day at the fair, and made changes where guests feel it most: Admission, food and rides.

“This is not one discount – it is a value strategy,” Erie County Fair CEO Jessica Underberg said. “We understand families must make choices. Every dollar matters. We do not take that for granted when people choose to spend part of their summer with us.”

Underberg credited the cooperation of food vendors, ride providers, and other partners for helping expand savings opportunities for guests.

Several admission options have been reduced for 2026, including:

√ Advance sale admission: $15 (fees included), an 11.8% savings from 2025.

√ Regular admission: $19 (fees included), a 16% savings from 2025.

√ New early bird admission: $16 when purchased and redeemed at the gate between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

√ Children 12 and under continue to receive free admission when accompanied by a responsible adult.

√ Parking will continue to be free.

Additional savings opportunities are available on select days, including opening day, Senior Discount Day, Firefighters Day, Veterans Day, Taste of the Fair and Double the Fun Gate Discount Day.

Recognizing that food is one of the primary reasons guests attend the Erie County Fair, officials worked with food concessionaires to offer value-priced options throughout the grounds.

“Food is the No. 1 reason guests attend the fair,” Underberg said. “We also know that it is one of the biggest expenses for families. That is why we worked with concessionaires to offer different price points so guests can enjoy the fair’s food tradition in a way that fits their budget.”

Fairgoers also continue to have the option of bringing their own food and nonalcoholic beverages onto the grounds. Guests may bring coolers, giving families additional flexibility in managing the cost of a day at the Erie County Fair.

The venue also worked with Strates Shows to create new opportunities for families to save on midway rides. New ride offers include:

√ $2 rides day on Thursday, Aug. 13, when all Strates Shows Midway rides will be just $2 each.

√ Sunday matinee pay-one-price wristband on Aug. 16 and 23, offering unlimited rides from noon to 5 p.m. for just $30.

The Erie County Fair will also continue to offer advance-sale weekday ride-all-day wristbands for $35 and the popular 120-credit “Fun Card” for $50. The “Fun Card” can be shared among family and friends, providing additional flexibility and value. Both are available for purchase before the fair at www.ECFair.org.

"Families told us they wanted more flexibility and value when it comes to rides," Underberg said. "Working with Strates Shows, we were able to create new promotions that help make the midway experience more affordable."

Faced with economic uncertainty and rising consumer prices, Erie County Fair officials felt these changes were important not only for 2026, but for the long-term health of the event. Maintaining affordability today helps ensure families continue making the Erie County Fair part of their summer traditions for years to come.

These changes do not affect the multiple offerings families have long enjoyed. Fairgoers will be ablet to enjoy more than 60 shows each day, hundreds of exhibits, educational demonstrations, interactive activities and family-friendly entertainment throughout the fairgrounds, all included with admission. Popular attractions such as “Sea Lion Splash,” “Swifty Swine Racing Pigs,” “Hilby the German Juggle Boy” and the “Benjamin Jackson Hypnotist Show” are just a few of the many experiences awaiting guests during the Erie County Fair.

“Everyone knows costs are rising and that is true for us, too,” Underberg explained. “Labor, utilities, insurance, security, equipment, supplies, entertainment, and just about everything it takes to operate a 12-day fair on a large property costs more. But affordability is also part of sustainability. We believe giving families more opportunities to save is the right decision for our guests, our community and the long-term health of the Erie County Fair.”

The Erie County Fair is produced by the Erie County Agricultural Society, a private, not-for-profit membership organization established in 1819. It is recognized as the oldest civic institution in Western New York. The society’s mission is to connect communities through agriculture, education and entertainment.