Photo by Northwestern Michigan Fair

Northwestern Michigan Fair in Traverse City

August 2025

The Northwestern Michigan Fair in Traverse City is held in mid-August. It was established in 1908 and has been held at its current location at 3606 Blair Town Hall Rd., Traverse City, since 1975. The fair continues to follow its original purpose of celebrating area agriculture and youth programs.

Gates are open from 8am-11pm, Livestock Barns are open from 10am–10pm, Exhibit Building is open from 10am–10pm (Mon-Sat), Midway is open Mon-Sat (see below for times)

Here's what happened in 2024:

Sunday: Family Day

  • 8am-12pm – Pancake Breakfast
  • 9am – Open Goat Breed/Showmanship
  • 10am – 4-H Cavy & Rabbit Showmanship
  • 10am – Differently-Abled Swine Show
  • 10am – Draft Horse Show
  • 12pm – 4-H Dog Agility, Rally Obedience, & Showmanship
  • 1pm – Horse Pulls in the Grandstand
  • 4pm – 4-H My Goat & Me Interviews 
  • 5pm – Midway Opens
  • 7-9pm – TNT Figure 8 and Demolition Derby in the Grandstand
  • 8pm – 4-H Glow Party

Monday: Veterans/Seniors Day

  • 8am – Open Swine Show
  • 8:30am – 4-H Horse Halter, Showmanship, Pole Bending, Keyhole, Speed & Action, Costume, Hobby Horse, & Horse Skillathlon
  • 8:30am – Open Swine
  • 9am – 4-H Breed Cavies, Market Rabbits, Breed Rabbits
  • 9am – Open Breed Cavies & Rabbits
  • 9:30am – Differently Abled Program Show
  • 12pm – Midway Opens
  • 1pm – 4-H Poultry & Waterfowl Market, Breed
  • 1pm – 4-H Lamb Market
  • 1-4:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 2-4pm – Cloverbud Activities
  • 3pm – Homemaker of the Year Presentation
  • 4pm – Vows with the Cows
  • 4:30pm – Open Lamb Showmanship & Breed
  • 6pm – Veterans’ Memorial & Ice Cream Social
  • 6pm – Midway Opens
  • 6-9:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 7-9pm – Lawnmower & Mini Wedge Races in the Grandstand

Tuesday: 4-H Day

  • 8am – Swine Market
  • 8:30am – Horse English Equitation, English Pleasure, Dressage, & Trail
  • 9am-4pm – 4-H Blood Drive
  • 10am – 4-H Lamb Showmanship
  • 12pm – Midway Opens
  • 1pm – 4-H Goat Showmanship, Market, Pack, Draft, & Obstacle
  • 1pm– Open Heifer, Cow, Cow/Half, Bull, Bred, & Owned
  • 15 Minutes After Open Cattle Show – 4-H Dairy Feeder, Jr. Beef, & Large Beef
  • 1pm – Open Dairy Feeder, Jr. Beef, & Large Beef
  • 1-4:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 2-4pm – Cloverbud Activities
  • 6pm – 4-H & Open Llama/Alpaca Showmanship & Halter Class
  • 6-9:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 7pm – Tough Trucks in the Grandstand
  • 8pm – 4-H Movie Night

Wednesday: Kids & Special Kids Day

  • 8:30am – 4-H Horse Western Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Ranch Riding, Reining, Western Riding, Indiana Flag Race, & Cloverleaf
  • 9am – 4-H Dairy Feeder (Cloverbuds to follow), Jr. Beef (Cloverbuds to follow, & Large Beef Showmanship
  • 9-11am – Differently-Abled Program Petting Zoo
  • 12pm – Midway Opens
  • 1pm – 4-H Rabbit Skillathon
  • 1-4:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 2pm – 4-H Goat Talent & Costume Show, and Parade
  • 2pm – Open Goat Fun Classes
  • 2-4pm – Cloverbud Activities
  • 4pm – 4-H & Open Llama & Alpaca Class, Obstacle Course, & Pack
  • 5-7pm – 4-H Auction Buyer Pre-Registration
  • 6-9:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 7pm – Truck & Tractor Pulls in the Grandstand
  • 8pm – 4-H Goat Run

Thursday: AG Day

  • 8am – 4-H Auction Buyer Registration
  • 9am – 4-H Large Animal Auction
  • 10am – 4-H Small Animal Auction
  • 11am-2pm – 4-H Buyers’ Luncheon
  • 12pm – Midway Opens
  • 2-4pm – Cloverbud Activities
  • 1-4:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 6pm – 4-H Scavenger Hunt led by Teen Reps
  • 6-9:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 7pm – Twisted P Rodeo in the Grandstand
  • 8pm – 4-H Goat Run

Friday: Demo Day

  • 8am-3:30pm – 4-H Blood Drive
  • 8:30am – Open Horse Show
  • 9am – 4-H Cloverbud Showmanship- Goat, Rabbits, Cavies, Poultry
  • 10am – 4-H Goat Showmanship
  • 10am-1pm – 4-H Farm Dog
  • 11am-12:30pm – Llama & Alpaca Skillathon
  • 12pm – Midway Opens
  • 12-5pm – Reduced rates on carnival rides for 4-H members
  • 1pm – 4-H Fun Classes
  • 1pm – Rabbit Fun Classes
  • 1-4:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 4pm – 4-H Grand Champion Showmanship Showdown
  • 6-9:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 7-9pm – TNT Bump & Run and Demolition Derby in the Grandstand
  • 7:30-9pm – 4-H Cloverbud Dance
  • 7:30-9pm – Differently Abled Party
  • 8pm – 4-H Goat Run
  • 9-11:30pm – 4-H Dance
  • 11:30pm-12:30am – 21+ Dance

Saturday: Fair Finale Day

  • 9am – 4-H Awards Program, Celebration of Champions, & Senior Recognition
  • 12pm – Midway Opens
  • 12-1pm – Reduced rates on carnival rides for 4-H members
  • 1-4:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 2pm – Fair Queen Pageant
  • 4pm – 4-H Fun Saturday & Cloverbud Games
  • 6-9:30pm – Bingo Tent
  • 7pm – Superkicker Rodeo in the Grandstand
  • 8pm – 4-H Goat Run

Stay tuned for information on the 2025 Northwestern Michigan Fair!

For more information on the Northwestern Michigan Fair, please contact the event organizer:

Northwestern Michigan Fair Board

3606 Blair Townhall Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685

(231) 943-4150

northwesternmichiganfair.net

What's Happening in West Michigan?

View Current Events Calendar

Discover more to do in West Michigan!

Scroll below for more articles about Activities & Attractions in the West Michigan area.
 

West Michigan Activities & Attractions

Biking in West Michigan

Much of West Michigan is bicycle-friendly, and you’ll find many nice paths on which to ride. It’s great exercise with great scenery to enjoy.

Scottville Clown Band

The colorful attire and crazy antics of the Scottville Clown Band amuse people, but they also have extraordinary musical talent.