A day at the fair, especially with a family in tow, can be pricey. But there are Ways 2 Save.

HAMBURG, N.Y. — Thousands of visitors will make their way to the Erie County Fair for its annual run at the Hamburg fairgrounds.

There’s plenty to see and do, but a day at the fair can add up fast, especially for families.

Recognizing this, the first thing fair organizers say they did at the conclusion of last year’s fair, was to set about ways to make this year’s fair more affordable.



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According to CEO and Fair Manager Jessica Underberg, this involved the use of surveys.

“We took a look at those surveys, and it came back that it’s expensive for a family to come to the fair. And we also heard that from our vendors. They were saying that they were hearing from our guests that it’s expensive, so we brought everybody together, and we talked about what can we do to help make it less expensive,” Underberg told 2 On Your Side. 

Part of this involved admission prices, and a variety of ways for groups to plan their visit.

Presale tickets were priced at $15 for adults, which according to Underberg is “the cheapest it’s been in years.” 

And while a walk up ticket for an adult is $19 (children under 12 are free) those who arrive between 11am and 1pm can be admitted for $16.

New this year: Senior Day, with $12 admission for those 62 years of age and older on Tuesday August 18.

You can find complete admission price information here.

Amusement ride tickets can add up quickly so if you are a thrill seeker, Sundays may be your bets days to attend.

“Both Sundays of the fair, from noon until five, we will have a pay one price band for $30, which is the cheapest price point,” said Underberg.  “And this is the first time we’ve offered this on a weekend, because our customers and families told us it’s hard for them to get here during the week.

You can find complete information on ride prices here.

Food can be more than fairly expensive at the fair to say the least .

On that front, according to Underberg, every food vendor is offering at least one item from their menu for $7 or less.

And, on Monday August 17 during Taste of the Fair Day, there will be additional morsels for the money conscious.

“On that day every food vendor is going to offer a sample size item for $3,” said Underberg.

There are also a variety of food coupons available to fair goers.

Some also may not realize that the fair allows guest to bring in their own food and beverages and encourages families to bring coolers and have picnics on the fairgrounds.

“It’s really a way families can make a day at the fair more affordable,” said Underberg

In addition, while some grand stand performances require additional payment, others are free with admission. So, Underberg advises fairgoers to check the entertainment schedule in advance. 

“I’m not claiming that the fair will be inexpensive for every family. I’m not claiming that we will make it accessible for every family’s budget. What I’m saying is we are giving options that should ease the burden for the families as long as they pre-plan and are smart about it,” Underberg said.