What people love about the Lebanon Area Fair

Around 60,000 people visit the Lebanon Area Fair each year, drawn from Lebanon County and beyond to see farm animals, eat fair food, watch live entertainment, and see exhibits.

LebTown asked fair attendees and exhibitors, “What is your favorite thing about the Lebanon Area Fair?” Here’s what they said.

With exhibitors traveling from throughout the state and, in some cases, from out of state, many friendships are built at the fair between people who otherwise might not have met. Multiple exhibitors said that community is their favorite part of the fair.

For youth exhibitors, the fair represents the culmination of months and months of consistent work taking care of their animals. However, most of their time at the fair isn’t spent showing. Throughout fair week, exhibitors take care of their animals in pens and cages and, in their free time, can sit and catch up with friends and family.

Jeffrey McClung, who has been showing sheep for four years, said that “Hanging out with the animals and our friends is the best part.”

Kaiden Zimmerman, who shows dairy beef, said that “my favorite part is probably hanging out with my friends and family.”

Zimmerman is showing alongside cousin Dane Horning, who said his favorite part of the fair is the food. When not showing, the boys are spending time with family by their animals.

Ellie Weidman, a member of the 4-H poultry club from age five who shows turkeys, said her favorite part is “watching kids get educated with their birds.”

Patty Pikna, a 4-H poultry club leader, said her favorite part is the chickens. After a four-year hiatus of poultry showing due to the avian flu, which ended in 2025, Pikna said she is glad kids can show their chickens again. Weidman added that there are still some restrictions on how long turkeys can be at the fair.

Britta Armstrong, who came to the fair to visit with family members who are showing animals, said her favorite part is seeing the animals.

Amber and Abby Debree said they enjoyed the animals, both specifically mentioning the parakeets. Sarah Debree said the indoor exhibits, ranging from photography to quiltwork to food goods, were her favorite part.

A common answer among fair-goers was some variation of “milkshakes and fries,” referencing the fair’s two most famous concessions.

Others had trouble pinning down their favorite part.

Deb Hix, a lifetime Lebanon resident, said she started coming with her parents, who were farmers and showed dairy cattle, when she was a child. She still returns with husband Ralph Hix each year to enjoy the festivities.

“I like everything really: we always come for the food, we love the french fries. We like looking at the exhibits and the animals,” explained Deb. “We enjoy just sitting here and talking to people.”

Jean Pierre Santos described the fair as a “unifying event” bringing together the people of Lebanon county.

Santos’ favorite part, he said, is “the joy in everybody’s faces and knowing this is something that has been part of the community for a long time.”