You can hear the season before you see it. A distant pop song on the breeze. The clang of a game bell. The sharp, sweet smell of funnel cake. In Mifflin County, fair season doesn’t so much begin as it blooms–one event spilling into the next, each with its own character, its own traditions, and its own pull on the community.

This summer, the Embassy Fair’s bright lights and music once again fill Kish Park, marking the unofficial start of the fair season. And it’s only the first of many. From Reedsville to Newport to Port Royal and beyond, a circuit of fairs stretches out, giving families a reason to step outside and gather.

In a time when genuine connection can feel rare, the local fair endures. These weeks on the calendar are not only about food and rides but about community–the act of showing up face-to-face to share a moment or create a memory. In the coming months, Mifflin County and its neighbors invite you to join in, whether for one evening or the whole run. Here’s what to expect as fair season unfolds in our region.

Embassy Fair – Lewistown, PA

June 3-7, 2025 Kish Park

After a few years away from Kish Park, the Embassy Fair returns to familiar ground for its 28th year. If you walk past the gates this week, you’ll find classic carnival rides, midway games, and the comfort of local food vendors lining the park’s main paths. While the Embassy hasn’t announced flashy new attractions this year, the fair’s simple formula still works: a place for families to reconnect, teenagers to test their luck at the ring toss, and kids to collect stories they’ll retell until school starts again.

Though not a livestock showcase, the Embassy is a celebration of summer’s return, setting the tone for the events that follow. Admission is free, and you’ll find something to suit all ages, whether you want to sample food, listen to music, or take in the scene from a bench in the evening light.

Mifflin County Youth Fair – Reedsville, PA

Mifflin County Youth Park

If you want to experience the agricultural heart of Mifflin County, this is your stop. For 71 years, the Mifflin County Youth Fair has given young people a stage for their efforts in farming, crafts, and animal husbandry. Each day, the fairgrounds fill with livestock–goats, rabbits, dairy feeders, steers, lambs, hogs, and poultry–culminating in the Junior Livestock Auction on August 9. For many, it’s the finish line of months of preparation, early mornings, and daily chores.

New for 2025, the fair features a Power Wheels Derby for kids, a Cloverbud Livestock Show, and rodeo-style children’s events. Beyond the barns, you’ll find amusement rides, chainsaw carving demonstrations, watermelon-eating contests, and nightly stage entertainment. Admission is free, making it an accessible choice for families interested in a day of learning, fun, and local flavor.

Huntingdon County Fair – Huntingdon, PA

Huntingdon County Fairgrounds

Huntingdon County’s fair is the region’s largest, with a reputation for extensive agricultural displays. This is where you’ll find row after row of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and poultry. For kids and adults who grew up around barns, these competitions are a chance to see how their work stacks up.

But the fair isn’t only about the animals. It offers classic entertainment–demolition derbies on both Monday and Saturday nights, a talent show midweek, and live music each evening. General admission is $5, with children 10 and under admitted free. Whether you’re in it for the livestock, the roar of engines, or the food, this fair remains a highlight of the summer.

Perry County Community Fair – Newport, PA

Perry County Fairgrounds

Perry County’s fair, now in its 72nd year, continues the tradition with amusement rides, food vendors, and a popular craft and vendor show on August 16. While 2025 brings a change–no open-class competitions for cattle, sheep, or swine–there are still plenty of ways for families to take part, from youth livestock competitions to exploring the food and craft stalls.

Parking is $5, but admission is free, and the fair’s layout makes it easy for families with kids to navigate from one attraction to the next. Whether you’re catching up with friends or trying to win a stuffed animal, it’s a classic county fair experience.

Juniata County Fair – Port Royal, PA

Juniata County Fairgrounds

As Labor Day approaches, the Juniata County Fair brings summer to a close with a week of events that mix agriculture and entertainment. For families, the daily livestock shows–cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and poultry–remain a draw. The fair balances these with a full schedule of concerts and performances, including Dialed Action BMX, Central K9 Performance Dogs, and a concert by Parmalee on August 31.

Motorsports fans will find their fix, and children have a variety of rides and games to choose from. Admission is free, making it one of the best values for families looking to end the summer on a high note.

What all these fairs share is the promise of something real. At a time when much of life feels digital or distant, the fair is a place where neighbors gather, kids compete, and families find each other in the crowd. Whether you’re drawn to livestock barns, fried dough, demolition derbies, or music under the stars, these events give the summer its rhythm.

Take the family out for a night, an afternoon, or even a whole week. This is your invitation to be part of something lasting–a tradition built not by spectacle but by the simple act of coming together, year after year.

Don’t let summer slip by in a blur of errands and appointments. Mark your calendar, plan an evening, and give yourself–and your family–the gift of showing up. Try a new fair this year. Enter a contest. Cheer for a neighbor. Buy a funnel cake from a volunteer firefighter.

Because in a world that moves too fast, the fair is still waiting. It’s calling you by name.