The summer fair season continues in high fashion when the 46th annual Clinton County Fair is held July 28 to August 4 at the fairgrounds, near Mackeyville. As with all county fairs there will be an ample variety of great food and craft vendors, agricultural exhibits, amusement rides, and popular events such as tractor pulls, figure 8 races and demolition derby.

They also crown an annual “Fair Queen.” In 2017 it was Kennedey Courter. The purpose of the Clinton County Fair Queen Competition Program is to encourage the promotion of agriculture through the Clinton County fair and to create better relations between youth and adults in both rural and urban settings. Contestants DO NOT need to live on a farm or be a member of an agricultural organization to participate.

They also hold a “Little Princess” contest.

During 1971 and the early part of 1972, a small group of Clinton County residents explored the feasibility of developing an annual event based on agricultural, 4-H and commercial exhibits.
In August of 1972, this group, which had become known as the Clinton County Fair Committee, held the first Clinton County Fair on a small plot of ground, which was borrowed from a farmer in Pine Creek.

The following year, August 1973, this event was moved to a five-acre community park in Mill Hall, where it remained until 1979. This site was more centrally located in the county and had the advantage of sewage and water. At the completion of the 1979 fair, it was evident that the fair had outgrown the five acres and a search was begun for a new, and hopefully, permanent site. However, the combination of high prices and meager funds forced the Association to once again settle for a temporary fairground.

The third move was to a 28-acre site located in Castanea Township, which was leased on an annual basis for approximately $3,500 per year. During the time the fair was located in Castanea, the Fair Association conducted a diligent search for a permanent site. This goal was reached in December 1983 when the Association, under the auspices of the Clinton County Commissioners, purchased a 66-acre site in Lamar Township for $75,000.

During the time the fair was held on a temporary site, housing for the fair’s activities were also temporary. By mid-July the Association’s Directors and other volunteers would begin to ready the site for the annual event. Office and first aid trailers were moved on the site, fences were built, water lines installed, temporary pole barns and tents were erected, display space and animal pens were built. By the end of August, all traces of the Fair were removed. Trailers were returned to storage, fences, water lines, animal pens, display areas and buildings were dismantled and returned to storage areas.

Since the Association purchased a permanent site, some permanent construction has been done. A roadway on the site was built; a track used for tractor and four-wheeled drive vehicle pulls was constructed. A racetrack was built for all-terrain vehicles, a permanent building was constructed to be used for registration for the pulls and races and to house the announcer for those events.
Ten year long-range plans include building permanent sanitation, commercial, administrative and show facilities.

The purpose of the Association is to conduct an annual County Fair which provides all the activities normally associated with a county fair; competition for recognition and premiums, entertainment, promotion of county agriculture, home economics and animal husbandry. Future activities will be based on these components.

The Mission Statement of the Clinton County Fair states: “To promote agriculture by providing a place for 4-H Youth and area residents to exhibit and participate so that all Fair visitors can benefit; and to maintain the grounds and buildings in good condition for year round use.”
Fair officials take this statement seriously, and do their utmost to follow it and provide a venue and an event that reflects this.

Some of the days, the fair has special themes to it. July 28 is “First Responders Day. July 30 is “Pennsylvania Lottery and Senior Citizens Day.” August 1 is “Youth Day.” August 2 is “Clinton County Foundation Day” and “Junior Fair Board Day.” August 3 is “Veterans Day.” And finally, August 4 is Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge #4298 Day.”

The Clinton County Fair Board works long and hard throughout the year to present this extravaganza, so come and enjoy it. Non-Ride Admission is $5 and Ride and Admission is $7. There is an additional $2 charge for parking.