The Albany Independent Fair Promises Down-Home Fun

There’s something about fairs that capture the spirit of americana perfectly—fried food, farm animals, baked goods, and live music stir up feelings of nostalgia from childhood while attending local county fairs during the summer. 

If you can’t shake that feeling of nostalgia in September, be sure to check out the Albany Independent Fair for a rousing good time of classic fair activities and contests from Wednesday, September 18th to Sunday, September 22nd. Here’s what happened in years past that you can expect to return.

Enough Events to Last a Week

Like a lot of fairs, the Albany Independent Fair features a wide variety of contests for its guests to enter. In the livestock barn, you’ll be able to find your standard fare of farm animals, including goats, pigs, sheep, cows, rabbits, and poultry. The latter two get judged together in a contest based on size and appearance, while the larger animals are collectively part of a show where entered animals are able to be shown off to fair-goers. It’s sort of like that petting zoo from childhood, but only better with a ton of different animals too ooh and ahh over.

A fair wouldn’t be complete without a baked goods contest. The Albany Independent Fair takes things up a notch and accepts agriculture products, art, canned goods, horticulture products, sewing pieces, and more for judging. It might sound super small town to have these contests, but it’s actually a great opportunity to bear witness to some incredible local talent. You might never have seen a quilt so ornately stitched or tasted a cherry pie so divine before. If there were any baked goods you have your eyes on, the Albany Independent Fair auctions them off to eager fair-goers later in the day. After all, they are perishables—someone’s got to eat them.

You’ll also find your standard fair fare—that is, delicious pre-prepared foods, and plenty of rides to hop on. Everyone loves a good ferris wheel ride, and the Albany Independent Fair doesn’t disappoint. Being in the Midwest, the fair wouldn’t be complete without iconic activities like tractor pulls, demolition derbies, and other rough-and-tumble contests. 

On the Sunday that the fair concludes, it gets a proper sendoff with some fan favorite events. The fair takes a parade through town, bringing the spirit of the fair to everyone who didn’t get a chance to go, plus they have a horse show and a final prize drawing to end the week of festivities.

If you’re ready for a fun way to spend a mid-September day with friends or family, stay on the lookout for the Albany Independent Fair, which takes place at 5201 Washington Road in Albany, Ohio. Tickets and more can be purchased on-site.