New Castle Delaware County Fairgrounds Events

New Castle County kids raise their animals at home, qualify at county events, and show them at the Delaware State Fairgrounds, 18500 S. DuPont Highway, Harrington, DE 19952. The fair describes the property as more than 270 acres. The New Castle County 4-H and FFA livestock show is held there too, not in New Castle County.

Why the county doesn’t have its own

Delaware has only three counties, and the state fair grew out of the Kent and Sussex County Fair, which was incorporated in 1920 and took the Delaware State Fair name in 1962. New Castle County had its own earlier fair history. The first Delaware State Fair was held in Wilmington, and newspapers mentioned it as far back as 1869. A separate fair association ran a Wilmington Fair at fairgrounds in Elsmere in 1927 and 1928. The state fair eventually settled in Harrington for good, and no county-level fair replaced it.

Who coordinates things locally

University of Delaware Cooperative Extension runs 4-H in New Castle County from its Newark office. The phone number is 302-831-8965. The university lists both a Wyoming Road address and a College Avenue address for the office, so call before you drive over.

Upcoming Events for New Castle County Residents

Delaware State Fair 2027

July 22 – July 31, 2027. The fair announced these dates right after its 2026 run, which it said was the most-attended in its history, with more than 330,000 people.

Concerts, the carnival, and special admission days all run through the ten days. The 2026 concert lineup included “Weird Al” Yankovic, Bailey Zimmerman, For King & Country, Hudson Westbrook, and Men at Work with Toad the Wet Sprocket and Shonen Knife, and the fair held its demolition derby on the first Friday. The 2027 lineup is typically announced in the fall and winter, so check the fair’s official website.

Other dates already on the calendar

• Delaware Agriculture Week, January 11–14, 2027, at the Delaware State Fairgrounds. The Delaware Department of Agriculture, UD Cooperative Extension, and Delaware State University Cooperative Extension put it on. It runs sessions on poultry, vegetables, fruit, grain, and more, with a trade show in the Dover Building. Pesticide, nutrient management, and certified crop adviser credits are offered. It’s free to attend, and a Wilmington-focused urban farm and food coalition session is part of the schedule.
• Frantic Mid Atlantic Guitar Show and Swap Meet, April 9–11, 2027, also in Harrington.
• The New Castle County 4-H and FFA summer livestock show is held at the fairgrounds in early June. The most recent dates found were in 2023, so confirm 2027 with the Newark Extension office.

Closer to home

New Castle County has plenty of smaller farm and community events, mostly in the fall. Middletown, Townsend, and the farms around Newark hold harvest festivals and craft fairs, and the Townsend Fall Festival ran again in 2025. The county Farm Bureau’s annual banquet is held in Townsend. These don’t replace a fair, but they’re where the county’s farm community shows up locally.

The State Fair as New Castle County’s Fair

What to expect

Gates opened at noon on opening day in 2026 and at 9 a.m. on every other day. Wade Shows ran the carnival, with an unlimited-ride wristband at $27 in advance and $42 during the fair. Children 5 and under get in free. Groups of 20 or more save $2 per adult ticket, and a five-day adult pass saves money for repeat visitors. The 2026 fair also ran free-admission days for kids 12 and under, seniors 60 and over, and active and retired military, plus a food-drive day. Parking is free, with a paid VIP lot for a shorter walk.

Competitions

Livestock departments include beef, dairy, sheep, goats, swine, horses, and more, each with its own premium book that spells out rules and deadlines. New Castle County exhibitors show alongside the rest of the state. Livestock barns carry county names, and the New Castle Barn is one of them.

Rules for visitors

Everyone is screened by metal detector at the Main Gate, Gate 2, Gate 3, and Gate 7. After 5 p.m., unattended youths are turned away, and one adult can bring no more than four guests under 16.

Delaware fairgrounds offer welcoming spaces for agricultural displays, local vendors, community festivals, and family entertainment throughout the year. People searching for New Castle County Delaware Fairgrounds Events can explore upcoming fairs, livestock exhibitions, and seasonal activities while also discovering Kent County Delaware Fairgrounds Events, which highlight local traditions and opportunities for communities to come together.

Camping

The fair has more than 300 camping spaces with water and electric hookups. Livestock exhibitors get first priority, but camping is open to others. Applications for new campers open January 15, and the first round of contracts goes out around April 1. A submitted application doesn’t guarantee a spot.

Getting There from New Castle County

From Wilmington or Newark, the trip south runs through Dover to Harrington, which is on U.S. Route 13 (DuPont Highway). Allow more than an hour, and more on concert nights. The published materials don’t describe a public shuttle from New Castle County. An ADA drop-off area sits next to the Main Gate. Mobility equipment can be rented inside the Main Gate.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Competitive exhibits

Livestock entries are made online ahead of the fair, following the department’s premium book. 4-H members in New Castle County should start with the Newark Extension office, which handles county enrollment and the paperwork for state fair entries.

Commercial vendors

The fair office, at 302-398-3269, handles vendor questions. No public booth price list was found, so ask before you budget. Delaware Agriculture Week also takes exhibitors for its trade show, and its organizers handle those applications separately.

4-H and FFA from New Castle County

County-level shows

The New Castle County 4-H and FFA Summer Livestock Show is a long-running qualifier. The 21st annual show was held June 3, 2023, at the fairgrounds in Harrington, with a $10-per-head fee and a higher fee for late entries. Years earlier, the show ran at a farm near Middletown as part of Ag Adventure, a free family event with an antique tractor pull and a “Day on the Farm.”

Clubs

New Castle County 4-H clubs have included Meadow Larks, Summit Bridge, Stump Corner, and a Camp Counselor Club, based on Extension newsletters. The current club count is not published in the sources found.

Junior Livestock Auction

The Delaware 4-H Foundation hosts the junior livestock auction on a Thursday evening of fair week, historically at 6:30 p.m. in the Kent Barn. Top beef, goat, lamb, and swine animals are sold, and more than 350 exhibitors take part. Businesses, Farm Bureau chapters (including the New Castle County Farm Bureau, an auction supporter), and individuals bid. Proceeds go to the young exhibitors and often help with college, trade school, and future projects. Donated animals can be bought back by the junior the next morning.

History

New Castle County’s fair history starts early. Newspapers mentioned a Delaware State Fair in Wilmington in 1869, and the Elsmere fairgrounds hosted a Wilmington Fair in 1927 and 1928. The Harrington fair began in 1920, when its founders bought 30 acres for $6,000 and held a four-day first fair on July 27. Admission was 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children.

The fair paused during World War II and returned in 1946. In 2020, the pandemic led the fair to cancel the concert series but go on with livestock shows on a revised schedule and the first virtual junior livestock auction.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the New Castle County fair in 2027?

New Castle County doesn’t have its own fair. The Delaware State Fair, which county residents attend, runs July 22 through July 31, 2027, in Harrington.

Where are the New Castle County fairgrounds?

There aren’t any. The Delaware State Fairgrounds, at 18500 S. DuPont Highway in Harrington, host the shows and events for New Castle County’s 4-H and FFA members.

Is there camping?

Yes, at the Harrington fairgrounds. There are more than 300 spaces with water and electric, and applications open January 15.

How do I enter livestock in the fair from New Castle County?

Enter online by the deadline in the premium book. 4-H members should contact the New Castle County Extension office at 302-831-8965.

Are dogs allowed at the fairgrounds?

The fair publishes its pet policy each year. Confirm before you bring a dog.

Where do I park?

Parking is free at the fairgrounds, with an optional VIP lot. A handicap lot and ADA drop-off are next to the Main Gate.

Who do I contact to rent the fairgrounds?

Call the fair office at 302-398-3269. The Exhibit Hall and Dover Building are the main rental spaces.

How much does it cost to get in?

Children 5 and under are free, and the fair runs themed discount days. The 2027 gate price isn’t posted yet, and the carnival wristband is sold separately.

What farm events happen in January?

Delaware Agriculture Week, January 11–14, 2027, at the fairgrounds in Harrington.