Erie County Fair prices are increasing, but a pre-sale discount is available

HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The Erie County Fair says rising expenses are pushing the price of admission up again this year.

But discounted prices will be offered to those who purchase tickets online ahead of time in July.

An interview with Erie County Fair CEO Jessica Underberg explained the fee schedule, which varies depending on the day or month.

"I’m sure like myself, you’re experiencing rising costs in your everyday life," Underberg said. "The reality is that this impacts businesses and organizations like ECAS (Erie County Agricultural Society), too. Our security costs, labor costs and entertainment costs are all rising, and the list goes on."

One example is the Fair's mandatory business insurance costs, which Underberg said rose nearly 23 percent year over year.

Kids 12 and under will still get in free, but here's the basic breakdown of admission over the years:

• 2022: $13.50 online/$15 gate
• 2023: $17 online/$20 gate
• 2024: $17 in July/$22.60 in August

"We are not affiliated with a government agency and do not receive major funding from New York State or Erie County," Underberg said. "One of the most common misconceptions is that we are part of a government agency. The Erie County Fair is produced (i.e., planned, operated, hosted) by the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS), a private not-for-profit membership organization located on the Hamburg Fairgrounds."

Although the prices went up again, Erie County is still offering patrons ways to save on admission. For instance, certain days will include free admission for veterans or firefighters, and donations of four canned goods will get patrons free admission on day one.

A detailed look can be found in the document below:

This year's Erie County Fair will take place from August 7-18. To purchase admission, fairgoers must use a credit or debit card, whether online or at the gate. That being said, reverse ATMs that can be used with cash will be offered this year for those without a card readily available.