The 155th Lycoming County Fair is already underway in Hughesville, with events continuing through Saturday, July 18. That leaves plenty of fair week ahead, but the schedule is broad enough that trying to “see the fair” without a plan can mean arriving at the wrong time for the thing you wanted most.
The practical approach is to choose one anchor event first. That might be a livestock show, a free concert, a demolition derby, or an afternoon on the midway. Once that decision is made, the ride schedule, exhibit buildings, meals, and transportation become much easier to arrange.
This is the local playbook for doing exactly that.
The basics before you pick a day
Here are the fixed costs and hours to know:
- General gate admission is $4.
- Children 12 and younger enter free with a paid adult.
- On-site parking is $4.
- Rides and paid grandstand events are separate from gate admission.
- Grounds open at 10 a.m. on July 11, 12, 14, and 18.
- Grounds open at 4 p.m. on July 13 and July 15 through 17.
- The fair generally closes at 10 p.m.
- Rides open at 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and Tuesday.
- Rides open at 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Friday.
SunShine Shows operates the midway. On weekend dates, rides are scheduled to pause from 5 to 6 p.m. for a safety check. Treat that hour as part of the plan rather than an interruption. It is a useful window for food, livestock barns, competitive exhibits, or free entertainment.
The fair’s published information does not currently show prices for regular ride-ticket packages or most wristband specials. It does confirm a Tuesday promotion with $2 rides at one ticket per ride. Check the official fair schedule or contact the fair before setting a full midway budget.
Choose the event that sets your clock
A long schedule becomes manageable when one event determines your arrival time. The remaining fair dates divide naturally into three parts.
This weekend belongs to livestock, tractors, and demolition derbies
Saturday, July 11 starts early. The Open Rabbit and Cavies Show is scheduled for 9 a.m., followed by the Antique Tractor Pull at 10 a.m. The grounds officially open at 10 a.m., rides begin at 2 p.m., and the Draft Horse Show starts at 4 p.m.
The Tommy Hedrick Memorial Demolition Derby begins at 5 p.m. Grandstand and bleacher tickets are $12. The 4-H and VOC Sheep Show follows at 5:30 p.m., and Dan & Galla perform at 6 and 8 p.m.
That creates two reasonable plans. Arrive in the morning for agricultural events and add rides in the afternoon, or arrive later with the derby as the fixed event. If the derby is the priority, leave enough time for parking, gate admission, and the walk to your seats.
Sunday, July 12 offers another full morning. The Open Horse Show and rabbit show start at 9 a.m., with the Hillbilly Garden Tractor Pull at 10 a.m. The Youth Beef Blocking Contest begins at 2 p.m.
Dan & Galla perform at 2, 4, and 7 p.m. The demolition derby and figure-eight racing program starts at 5 p.m. and costs $12 for grandstand or bleacher seating. Since the rides pause from 5 to 6 p.m., the derby provides a natural alternative during that hour.
Monday through Thursday offer the best lower-cost anchors
Monday, July 13 is a music-centered evening. The grounds open at 4 p.m. and rides at 5 p.m. October Rose performs at 6 and 8 p.m. The Heartstrings take the grandstand stage at 6 p.m., followed by Isaac Cole at 7 p.m. Grandstand and bleacher admission for that concert is free.
There is no dedicated River Valley Transit Fair Bus on July 13, so anyone relying on that service should choose another date or arrange different transportation.
Tuesday, July 14 is Youth Day and $2 Tuesday. Gate admission is $2, while children 12 and younger still enter free with a paid adult. The grounds open at 10 a.m. and rides begin at 2 p.m.
The schedule includes Children’s Story Hour at 9:30 a.m., the School Day Program at 11 a.m., an Equine Dance Party at 5 p.m., a swine show at 6 p.m., and a mounted shooting demonstration at 7 p.m.
Northern Tier Wrestling also begins at 7 p.m. Front-row ringside tickets are $30, second- and third-row ringside seats are $25, and general admission is two tickets for $12. Those prices do not include fair gate admission.
Tuesday is the other date without dedicated RVT Fair Bus service. The lower gate and ride prices may draw interest, so transportation should be settled before leaving home.
Wednesday, July 15 is Senior Citizens Day. Visitors age 65 and older receive free gate admission with valid identification, though rides remain separate. The Double Tree Tractor Pull starts at 6 p.m. near Gate 7. At 7 p.m., the Mini School Bus Demo, first-timers compact demo, and figure-eight racing begin with free grandstand and bleacher seating.
Thursday, July 16 is Military Appreciation Day. Military visitors presenting valid identification receive free gate admission, with rides excluded. The schedule includes dairy and goat shows, Supreme Showmanship, an Open Stick Horse Show, and 4-H Family Fun Night. A demolition derby and figure-eight racing program begins at 7 p.m. with $12 seating.
The final two days bring the fair back to its agricultural roots
Friday, July 17 includes the Youth Livestock Sale at 6 p.m., following awards at 5:30 p.m. The Dale Wheeland Memorial Tractor Pull also starts at 6 p.m. and costs $12. Elijah Ward and Band perform at 6 and 8 p.m.
Anyone who usually thinks of the fair as rides and grandstand noise should give the livestock sale and show schedule a closer look. Sheep, dairy cattle, swine, goats, beef cattle, horses, rabbits, and ponies remain central to the week.
Saturday, July 18 is the final day. The grounds open at 10 a.m. and rides at 2 p.m. The Pony Pull begins at 1 p.m. The 16th annual PATPA 4x4 Gas and Diesel Truck Pull starts at 4 p.m., with tickets priced at $12. Mack Berry performs at 6 and 8 p.m.
Use the spaces between major events
The most overlooked part of a good fair plan is what happens between the headline events.
Recurring programming includes Starfire Entertainment, pig races, the Hughesville High School Theatre Club, Magic with Miss Ashlyn, a petting zoo, and activities along the Amelia Earhart Funway. The Red Dog Mobile Storage Stage provides free music throughout the week.
Competitive exhibits offer a quieter look at local work. Entries cover baking, posters, aprons, quilts, canned goods, produce, and other projects. These exhibits and the livestock areas are especially useful when the rides pause, when a group has mixed interests, or when the afternoon heat calls for a slower pace.
Food is part of fair week, but a complete 2026 vendor roster has not been published. Some named concessions appear among event sponsors, but sponsorship does not confirm daily menus, locations, or hours. Arrive with room in the plan rather than building the entire visit around one unconfirmed food stop.
Set a real budget before entering the gate
A basic visit for two adults starts at $12, based on $8 in gate admission and $4 for parking. That total does not include rides, food, games, or special events.
For two adults attending one of the $12 grandstand programs, the predictable starting cost is $36:
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Two adult admissions | $8 |
| On-site parking | $4 |
| Two grandstand tickets | $24 |
| Starting total | $36 |
That calculation does not include online ticket fees or other spending. It is still a useful baseline because it separates known costs from the flexible part of the evening.
A 10-day gate pass is listed at $30. Since the fair is already in progress, compare that price against the number of remaining visits before buying one.
Decide whether to drive or ride RVT
For driving directions, the fair’s designated GPS address is:
501 Route 405 Highway, Hughesville, PA 17737
Other fair materials use 499 South Main Street, and the association has a separate East Park Street mailing address. Using the official GPS address helps avoid confusion among the different published locations.
On-site parking costs $4. Accessible parking is located next to gate entrances, and the fair says wheelchair and scooter rentals are available.
River Valley Transit’s 2026 Fair Bus is another option on service dates. The Evening Express runs from 5 to 10 p.m. on weeknights and Saturdays, traveling nonstop between Transit Drive and Gate 2. Regular fares apply, and there is no Fair Bus on July 13 or 14.
Saturday daytime riders can take The District Lycoming Crossing route, transfer at Lycoming Mall, and continue on the Tri-Town Connector serving Muncy and Hughesville. Those connections are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
RVT is also offering complimentary fair admission to the first 100 Fair Bus passengers while supplies last. For a park-and-ride option, drivers can use the Church Street Parking Garage at 11 West Church Street in Williamsport. Garage parking is free when the bus operator validates the parking ticket.
Keep the weather plan simple
As of July 11, the Hughesville forecast points to warm conditions, potentially hotter weather in the middle of the week, and possible thunderstorms closer to the final days. Forecasts can shift quickly, so check the National Weather Service forecast for Hughesville on the morning of your visit.
Bring water, plan breaks, and consider morning livestock programming when possible. On weekends, the scheduled 5 to 6 p.m. ride pause is a sensible time to slow down, eat, or visit the exhibits.
Why the Amelia Earhart name belongs here
The Amelia Earhart Funway carries a piece of Hughesville history that is easy to miss.
The fair traces its roots to the Muncy Valley Farmers’ Club, organized in 1868. Its first agricultural exhibition was held at the Hughesville Trotting Park in 1870. Hughesville later became the permanent county-fair location, and records indicate the fair association began purchasing property in 1915.
The fairgrounds once included an airstrip. On May 14, 1929, Amelia Earhart became lost while flying between Wilkes-Barre and State College and landed at the Hughesville fairgrounds. That connection gives the Funway name a local meaning beyond the daily entertainment scheduled there.
A short checklist before leaving home
- Pick one anchor event and work backward from its start time.
- Confirm whether the event requires a separate ticket.
- Check ride opening hours and the weekend safety pause.
- Verify RVT service if you are not driving.
- Use 501 Route 405 Highway for GPS directions.
- Check the day’s weather and schedule updates.
- Bring valid identification for Senior Citizens Day or Military Appreciation Day.
- Leave room for the livestock barns and competitive exhibits.
Fair week in Hughesville works best when you do not try to fit all eleven days into one visit. Choose the part that matters most, build a simple plan around it, and let the rest of the fair fill the open time.
Century 21 Colonial Real Estate has served Muncy and communities across north-central Pennsylvania for decades. When a housing, land, farm, investment, or commercial question comes up after fair week, Century 21 Colonial Real Estate is ready to help with practical local guidance. Contact Us to start the conversation.
