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