If you know, you know – the Pennsylvania Farm Show is incredible. This massive agricultural event takes over Harrisburg every January, drawing over half a million people to the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center to see thousands of exhibits with animals, artisan products and demonstrations happening daily. The PA Farm Show – our state fair – runs eight full days with hundreds of exhibitors and endless local food options spread out over over 20 acres, so it can easily feel a bit overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together a step-by-step itinerary to try this year, ensuring you get to check out all the classic to-dos while sampling what’s new and exciting for 2026.
The PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center
The PA Farm Show theme this year is Growing A Nation, which connects with the America250PA celebrations marking the country’s semiquincentennial anniversary on July 4, 2026. There’s also a special focus on the International Year of the Woman Farmer, honoring women working and innovating in agriculture. Guests are encouraged to ask PA women in agriculture how they’re growing a nation through their work!
Before you set off for the PA Farm Show, a little pre-planning is in order. You’ll need to pick a day (or more) from January 10-17 to attend, and you can view the daily schedules and full PA Farm Show guide to help you choose. True to form, the lineups are extensive, with shows, performances and competitions happening all day long, all over the complex. Weekday mornings are the quietest times to go, and weekend afternoons tend to be the busiest. You can also plan around the PA Preferred Culinary Connection Stage schedule. Each day has a food theme, like mushroom or potato, with culinary programming built around it.
Cook-off contestant Chef Tonii Hicks
Before we dive into the itinerary, here are a few more essential tips:
- Admission to the PA Farm Show is free, but parking is $15. Carpooling is the way to go! Once you have parked, you can hop on the free, wheelchair accessible parking lot shuttles if you wish, and cruise to the entrances.
- For those with disabilities, there are accessible parking spots and wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Layer up. The temperatures fluctuate significantly throughout the complex, so bring a hoodie or sweater to wear and remove accordingly.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll get your steps in, and then some.
- Check out the PA Farm Show map ahead of time to get a sense of the layout.
Feeling ready? Let’s dive in.
Top of the Morning
PA Farm Show opens promptly at 8 a.m. and we suggest arriving as soon as you can to enjoy smaller crowds while they last. You can enter PA Farm Show from numerous access points but, for this itinerary’s purposes, we suggest parking close the eastern main entrance and heading straight into the GIANT Exposition Hall (GEX). This massive room includes the sprawling food court, so bring your appetite.
Start off your day on the sweet side and hop in line for a legendary potato donut from the PA Cooperative Potato Growers (GEX concession stand). These golden cake donuts roll out by the thousands, available plain or with powdered or cinnamon sugar. Or, try the PA State Beekeepers Association’s (GEX 2002) honey sweetened hand-cooked waffles.
As you enjoy breakfast, we suggest strolling the myriad exhibits in the GEX Hall. History buffs shouldn’t miss the America250 Mobile Unit (GEX 2302), the Historic Veterans Display (GEX 2310) or the National Museum of Industrial History exhibit (GEX 2512).
Those interested in Pennsylvania agriculture can learn more about numerous facets of the industry with stops at booths by the Dairy Farmers of America (GEX 2107), Mushroom Farmers of Pennsylvania (2003), PA Beef Council (GEX 2300), PA Cooperative Potato Growers (GEX 2000), PA Dairymen’s Association (GEX 2001), PA Farm Bureau (GEX 2501), PA Maple Syrup Producers Council (GEX 2005), PA Pork Producers Council (GEX 2200), PA State Beekeepers’ Association (GEX 2002), the PA Vegetable Growers Association (GEX 2006) and more. Bell & Evans’ exhibit (GEX 2400) is always a must-see, with fascinating interactive exhibits and live chick hatching.
The Bell & Evans exhibit
You might also wish to visit exhibits by educational institutions like Penn State Extension (GEX 2202), Milton Hershey School (GEX 2510) and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (GEX 2210) and, later, Delaware Valley University (Main Hall 500) for agricultural expertise. Have a little fun at NTO Farm Toys (GEX 2502) and Choo Choo Barn (GEX 2216). If you don’t see all of these exhibits on the first pass, it’s okay! You can stop by this hall on your way out, later in the day.
Visit the Animals
Next up, we suggest checking out the numerous animals of PA Farm Show, the real stars of the event. While you’ll find livestock throughout the complex, it’s primarily stationed in the middle rooms and arenas. There’s a wide array of shapes and sizes, some cuddly and some breathtaking. The complex map has icons like horses, pigs and goats, so you know just where to find them.
PA K-8 students and educators during 2025 Farm City Day
Check the daily schedule for any particular shows that might interest you, whether rodeo, showmanship, sheep herding, horse pulling or animal shows. The Equine Arena, New Holland Large Arena and the Small Arena all host spectacular events. You can also visit the animals during their downtime, as they hang out in stalls throughout the various halls.
If you love the cute and cuddly varieties, don’t skip the East Hall and West Hall, where you’ll find goats, pigs, rabbits and alpacas. And, if you’re feeling formidable, head to the Northeast Hall Calving Corner where you just might catch a live birth take place.
You can also grab a treat for your furry friend at home by stopping at A&S Dog Treats, LLC (NHA 14) and Biscuit Authority, LLC (MH 105). A&S Dog Treats is a PA Preferred autism-owned business that offers delectable delights like beef liver, chicken jerky and large animal treats and Biscuit Authority offers locally sourced and prepared treats for dogs like chewy oat cake bars and sweet potato sticks.
Lunch
After a lot of walking, you’ve probably worked up an appetite. Head on to Main Hall to grab a bite from C&J Catering (MH 103), where you’ll find dishes like burgers, turkey legs, mac and cheese, corn dogs and more to satisfy your hunger. This year, C&J also debuts its new acai bowl and fresh pressed stands for bright, nourishing options.
Cap it off with a signature PA Farm Show milkshake by the PA Dairymen’s Association (MH 2008). This year’s flavors are red (strawberry), white (vanilla) and blue (blue raspberry), corresponding with the patriotic America250PA theme.
Be sure to save some room for samples – you’ll meet a ton of food makers and producers in the next leg of your journey.
A Main Hall Afternoon
Next up: Main Hall. This massive hall plays host to some of our favorite parts of PA Farm Show, including the Farmers Market, Artisans Alley, PA Preferred Culinary Connection Stage and – of course – the butter sculpture.
Each year, the massive butter sculpture, carved by Pennsylvania couple Jim Vector and Marie Pelton, draws gasps for its majesty and sheer magnitude. It’s made with about 1,000 pounds of butter and features different aspects of farm life and agriculture. You’ll find this glowing, yellow work of art in a huge glass case in the center of the Main Hall.
The Angel Food Cake Contest
The PA Farm Show is full of non-stop, friendly competition in the form of contests, exhibitions and cook-offs. In addition to the livestock and showmanship competitions, makers, bakers and growers compete for ribbons, cash and best in show designations in Main Hall. Some really fun niche foodie contests fall under the family living category, including PA’s Greatest Whoopie Pie, Jelly/Jam Bar and the Homemade Chocolate Cake contests. We suggest perusing the samples and slices to see what everyone’s cooked up. The competitions are ongoing and you can keep tabs on the results here. You can also check out winning recipes from recent years to try them at home.
PA’s Greatest Whoopie Pie contest
Another must-stop is the PA Preferred Culinary Connections Stage, where chefs go head to head in cooking contests and experts offer a variety of culinary demonstrations. Set aside some time to take in the non-stop fun, spirited competition and scrumptious educational programming with walkthroughs of recipes like creamy mushroom gnocchi, braised short ribs with savory rice porridge and sea salt caramel French macaron cookies on deck for 2026. Also debuting this year, farmers who grow the ingredients will join the chefs on stage, making that farm-to-table connection even more visible. Chefs will also utilize PA wine in their dishes and offer wine pairing suggestions. You can check out the daily schedule and the 2026 Culinary Connection Recipe Book to see exactly what’s happening while you’re there.
Army vs. Coast Guard cook-off on Military Appreciation Day
Another important PA Farm Show to-do is perusing the PA Preferred farmers, producers and vendors -who showcase their goods throughout Main Hall. On the savory side, Covered Bridge Garlic Company, LLC (MH 319) offers seasonings, salts and rubs, Folkland Foods (MH 302) showcases its organic farm fries and Setas Mushrooms (MH 209) has fresh mushrooms, tinctures and jerky. Meat and protein lovers can choose from Glory Be Farm’s (MH 321) Berkshire pork products, Greenwood Valley Wagyu, LLC’s (MH 208) beef and tallow products and R.W. Sauder’s (MH 212) eggs. The Painterland Sisters (MH 300) will also be on hand with their organic skyr yogurt.
Dawn Lawrie of Burnt Cabins Grist Mill at PA Farm Show
Sweeten things up with Burnt Cabins Grist Mill, LLC’s (MH 109) self-rising pancake and waffle mixes that we suggest topping with the incredible hickory syrups of PA Hickory Syrup (MH 120) or the amazing jams, sauces and marmalades of Uglie Acres (MH 106) and Christina Maser Company (MH 100). And, be sure to check out the artisan products of Pie Bird Farm (MH 105).
PA Hickory Syrup
For self-care and spa products, head to Misfits Farm (MH 1212) for natural soaps and lotions and Hilltop Acres Naturals (MH 311) for emu and pawpaw skin products. And don’t miss the luxurious alpaca fleece products of Painted Spring Farm Alpacas (MH 1414) and Thunder River Alpacas (MH 602) and Whiskey Springs Alpacas (MH 602), either.
All shopped out? Reward yourself with a spot of wine and some gourmet cheese. The PA Cheese Guild (MH 1004) will be on hand with various members sharing samples and selling wedges of their tasty, PA-made cheeses and the PA Wines Booth (MH 1126) will feature wine from 24 wineries across the state. In PA Wine Land, you can meet and speak with winemakers as you sample the range of wines produced in the Commonwealth, from sweet to dry and lots in between.
Finally, we don’t think you should leave Main Hall without snuggling a goat or two. Head to the immersive Snuggle Goat exhibit at the east end of the hall near Artisans Alley, pay a small fee (usually $5) and let your troubles melt away as these cute, cuddly creatures climb right on top of you.
Day’s End
Once you’ve had your fill of food and fun in Main Hall, we suggest beginning your journey back to the Giant Exposition Hall (GEX) for one final dish. Take your time and say hello to some new (or known) animals on your way back, and keep your eyes open for PA Farm Show merch – like hats and sweatshirts – at a variety of stands set up along the way.
Back in the food court, why not grab a snack or light dinner before you head home? Here are some mouthwatering ideas:
- Pierogis from PA Cooperative Potato Growers
- Fried mozzarella cubes with marina or grilled cheese from PA Dairymen’s Association
- Blooming onion, broccoli cheese soup or fried pickles from PA Vegetable Growers Association
- Mushroom steakhouse burger or mushroom-brie bisque from PA Mushroom Farmers
- Italian pork loin sandwich from PA Livestock Association
- PA Preferred supreme pizza from Pennsylvania FFA Foundation
- Pulled pork nachos from Penn Ag Industries
- Cider slushy from the State Horticultural Association and maple fro-yo from the PA Maple Syrup Producers Council
Blooming onion
As you wrap up your epic PA Farm Show experience, know that you’ve spent the day supporting local farmers, makers and producers. Your patronage helps to strengthen the incredible Pennsylvania agriculture industry from the roots.
This series was created in collaboration with PA Preferred.
PA Preferred® is Pennsylvania’s statewide branding program that promotes locally grown and processed food and other agricultural products.
- Feature, kids with horse, alpaca, milkshake and Army Vs. Coast Guard cook-off photos: Commonwealth Media Services
- Donut making/tray, butter sculpture, blooming onion: Alan L. Johnson Photography
- All other photos: PA Farm Show
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