The 2025 New Jersey State Fair (Sussex County Farm & Horse Show) in Augusta, New Jersey, runs from August 1st to 9th. Held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, this nine-day event has been incredibly popular since its opening and is always bustling with activity.
Known as the “Garden State’s Summer Celebration,” this century-old state fair combines agriculture, equestrianism, culinary delights, family-friendly entertainment, and live performances — creating an educational and entertaining destination for families from both urban and rural areas.
Attracting over 220,000 visitors annually, it is one of New Jersey’s largest and most distinctively local comprehensive fairs. The fairgrounds cover a vast area rich with agricultural exhibitions and wholesome entertainment.
The agricultural and animal husbandry exhibitions feature various livestock — including cattle, sheep, pigs, rabbits and more — which visitors can interact with. Agricultural education programs, 4H competitions and equestrian activities all promote a greater appreciation for the art and science of agriculture.
Kathy Cafasso, a spokesperson for the New Jersey State Fair, said in a previous interview, “We’ve held our summer fair at this venue since 1976, and we’ve continuously improved it. We’re one of the most beautiful fairgrounds in New Jersey and the largest agricultural fair in the state.”
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Other fair amusement includes: carnival rides — like rotating swings, bumper cars and a large Ferris wheel; a wide variety of vendors featuring regional foods, agricultural products, and crafts displaying local character; live performances and uncommon competitions — like pig races, carving demonstrations and pet stunt shows; and interactive education.
This year, the fair debuted an “Endangered Livestock Exhibition Hall” exhibiting rare breeds of farm animals to promote their protection.
According to organizers, the fair attracts visitors not only from New Jersey but also from neighboring states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut — primarily families. Many parents say the state fair provides a valuable opportunity for their children to get up close and personal with farm animals and learn about nature and agriculture.
One Newark mother said, “We’ve brought our children here for three years in a row. It’s more than just an amusement park; it’s like a life lesson.”
Falun Dafa, a long-time vendor at the fair, promotes a powerful mind and body practice that has grown in popularity around the world since the 1990s — when it was first introduced in China. Based on the universal values of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance, practitioners offer learning materials and free instruction for the relaxing, yet energizing exercises.
Satisfied visitors, citing reasonable ticket prices and a diverse program, say the New Jersey State Fair is a great summer outing for all ages. The fair runs through August 9th.
For a full day of fun packed with varied education and entertainment, look no further than the New Jersey State Fair. Even the weather looks promising this year! For more information, please visit the official website at www.njstatefair.org.
