The 2023 Lebanon Area Fair was bustling with thousands of fairgoers, hundreds of volunteers and exhibitors, and dozens of vendors on its opening day. The fair will run at the Lebanon Expo Center, at 80 Rocherty Road, from Saturday, July 22 to Saturday, July 29.

Admission to the fair is free for children under 10. Admission is free between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. and is $5 after 3 p.m. for people 10 and older. Tickets for track events, like the demolition derby ($25), are sold separately, with tickets for all track events being free for children under 10.

Fair signage with fair or fair and track admission prices outside the Lebanon Expo Center. (Lexi Gonzalez)

Once through the gates, fairgoers can support youth in agriculture by attending their cow, horse, swine, sheep, goat, and small- and large-market animal shows.

When people purchase tickets for the ham and chicken barbecue dinners or donate to the 5K run or silent and quilt block auctions, the proceeds go towards the Lebanon Area Fair scholarships, many of which are awarded to young people who grow crops and rear animals.

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Morgan Cole poses with the Southwest Dairy Farmers mobile dairy classroom, which educates people on the importance of the dairy industry and its products. (Lexi Gonzalez)
The Southwest Dairy Farmers mobile dairy classroom cow, “Honey.” (Lexi Gonzalez)

During their time at the 67th annual celebration of the area’s agricultural and other types of contributions, fairgoers can experience the Giant and PA Friends of Agriculture Foundation’s Pennsylvania farms to families immersion lab.

Fairgoers can also enjoy the Eudora Farm petting zoo, line dancing, Penn Valley amusement rides, Iron Nature metalworking demonstrations, a line up of live performances, fireworks, and other events, exhibits, and non-food vendors.

Items for sale in Iron Nature’s vendor tent. (Lexi Gonzalez)
A first-place live beehive exhibit. (Lexi Gonzalez)
Coloring contest submissions cover the right wall heading up the ramp into the West Hall. (Lexi Gonzalez)

In between happenings at the fair, fairgoers can explore menus. The indoor eatery features hamburgers with the option to add cheese, chicken burgers, hot dogs with the option to add sauerkraut, pulled pork with sauce, soups, salads, fresh fruits and vegetables, cookies and whoopie pies, Swiss and Coke products, coffee, milk, and tea.

The outdoor eatery features grilled bologna or pork roll sandwiches with the option to add cheese or have it on pretzel rolls, subs, hot dogs, fresh-cut French fries, chips, ice cream, peach sundaes with locally grown fresh peaches, root beer floats, Italian ices, Swiss and Coke products, milk, and Icy meadow tea.

Other food vendors at the fair include Dave Norman Concessions, Coach’s Grill, On-Fire Youth Ministries, Faire Food Xpress, Down On The Farm Catering, Lebanon County Dairy Promotion, Gene’s Family Beef, Deimler’s Butcher Shop, Piper Belle’s BBQ, J.R.’s Brisket, Aunt Hocker’s Fish Fry, Top Gun Wings, Italian Oven On Wheels, Castaneda’s Mexican Restaurant, Uncle Paul’s Stuffed Pretzels, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Oola Bowls Lebanon, Mr. Sticky’s Famous Sticky Buns, Scoop O Dough, and Robin’s Ice.

FireBox Street Grill, the 2022 Lebanon Area Fair grand winner, is also in attendance.

The fair’s indoor eatery entry sign. (Lexi Gonzalez)

This year’s fair offers fairgoers – new and old – informational brochures and maps, ATM vendors, ticket booths, indoor and tented outdoor eating areas, baby comfort stations, hand sanitizer dispensers, bathrooms in the facilities, porta-potties on the fairgrounds, and on-site parking, ambulance services, and security.

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Lexi Gonzalez has worked as a reporter with LebTown since 2020. She is a Lancaster native and became acquainted with Lebanon while she earned her bachelor's degree at Lebanon Valley College.

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