Photo by Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair

Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair

August 2026

A highlight of summer in Northern Michigan is the Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair. Held at the fairgrounds on Charlevoix Avenue, the fair is mix of carnival rides, food, exhibits, animals, music, entertainment, and 4-H auctions. Don’t miss it!

Here's what happened in 2025:

Monday

  • 9am-5pm – Open Class Judging in the Community Center (Building Closed)
  • 10am – 4-H Horse Showmanship
  • 4pm – 4-H Open Class Swine, Cloverbud, & Animal Husbandry Show
  • 6pm – 4-H Market Livestock Swine Show
  • 7pm – 4-H Horse Jumping Show

*Last Day for Mega Ride Arm Band Weekly Pass for $70

Tuesday

FREE Admission for Senior Citizens (60+) and Handi-Capable

  • 9am – 4-H Horse Dressage Show
  • 9am – 4-H Open & Market Poultry, Cloverbud, & Animal Husbandry Show
  • After Poultry Show – 4-H Open & Market Waterfowl, Cloverbud, & Animal Husbandry Show
  • 10am-9pm – Community Center Open
  • 3-6pm – Live music featuring Steel & Wood on the Back Lawn
  • 3pm-Close – Beer Tent Open
  • 4-10pm – Carnival Rides Open- $20 Arm Bands
  • 5pm – 4-H Open & Market Goat, Cloverbud, & Animal Husbandry Show
  • 5:30pm – 4-H Open & Market Lamb, Cloverbud, & Animal Husbandry Show
  • 6pm – 4-H Market Livestock Lamb Shows
  • 6pm – Cornhole Tournaments at the Grandstands

Wednesday

  • 9am – 4-H Horse Trail Show
  • 9am – 4-H Open & Market Rabbit, Cloverbud, & Animal Husbandry Show
  • After Rabbit Show – 4-H Open Pocket Pet, Cloverbud, & Animal Husbandry Show
  • 10am-9pm – Community Center Open
  • 1-11pm – Carnival Rides Open- $25 Arm Bands
  • 2pm – 4-H Open Exotic Animal, Cloverbud, & Animal Husbandry Show
  • After Exotic Animal Show – 4H Exotic Animal Obstacle Course
  • 3-11pm – Beer Tent Open
  • 4pm – 4-H Open Beef & Dairy, Cloverbud, & Animal Husbandry Show
  • 4pm – 4-H Market Livestock Dairy Feeder and Jr. Beef Show
  • 4pm – Concert Gates Open
  • 5:30pm – Waylon Hanel in Concert
  • 6pm – 4-H Market Livestock Large Beef Show
  • 6:30pm – Phil Vassar in Concert
  • 8:15pm – John Michael Montgomery in Concert

Thursday

FREE Admission for Veterans & Active Duty Members & Their Spouses

  • 9am – 4-H Horse English Show
  • 10am-9pm – Community Center Open
  • 1-11pm – Carnival Rides Open- $25 Arm Bands
  • 3-6pm – 4-H Market Livestock Auction in the T-Barn
  • 3pm-Close – Beer Tent Open
  • 4pm – Flag Ceremony & Veteran Presentation & Dinner for Veterans/Active Duty Members & Their Families
  • 5pm – Monster Pit Party (meet drivers/see trucks)
  • 7pm – Monster Truck Throwdown in the Grandstands

Friday

  • 9am– 4-H Horse Western & Bareback Show
  • 10am-9pm – Community Center Open
  • 1-11pm – Carnival Rides Open- $25 Arm Bands
  • 2pm– 4-H Horse Reigning & Patterns Show
  • 3-11pm – Beer Tent Open
  • 5pm – Monster Pit Party (meet drivers/see trucks)
  • 7pm – Monster Truck Throwdown in the Grandstands

Saturday

  • 9am – 4-H Horse Costumes Class Show
  • 10am-8pm – Community Center Open
  • 1-11pm – Carnival Rides Open- $25 Arm Bands
  • 2-5:30pm – Live music featuring Lee Fayssoux in the Beer Tent
  • 2-11pm – Beer Tent Open
  • 5pm – Auto Cross Racing in the Grandstands
  • 8-11pm – Live music featuring Lee Fayssoux in the Beer Tent

Sunday

  • 1-6pm – Carnival Rides Open- All Rides $15

Stay tuned for info on the 2026 Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair!

For more information on the Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair, please contact the event organizer:

Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair

P.O. Box 496, Petoskey, MI, 49770

(231) 347-1010

emmetchxfair.org

What's going on now in Northern Michigan?

Discover Northern Michigan Events throughout the year!

Charlevoix Apple Fest

Charlevoix Apple Fest

Apple Fest. Held each year on the second weekend of October, Apple Fest turns downtown Charlevoix into a festive and fun place to be.

Scroll below for more articles about Activities and Attractions in Northern Michigan.
 

Explore Activities and Attractions of Northern Michigan

Cross Country Ski Trails

Just a short drive from Harbor Springs or Petoskey are more than a dozen Northern Michigan cross country ski trails in Emmet County.

Fishermans Island State Park

Fisherman’s Island State Park

Fisherman’s Island State Park has more than 2,600 acres and miles of gorgeous Lake Michigan beach and is located just south of Charlevoix.

Northern Michigan Beaches

Summer’s not summer without a day at the beach and Northern Michigan offers some of the best beaches anywhere.

The Little Traverse Wheelway

The Little Traverse Wheelway

Bicyclists, walkers, and roller bladers can go from Harbor Springs to Charlevoix on the 26-mile long Little Traverse Wheelway.