The 2026 Otsego County Fair is back in Gaylord Aug. 10-15, with six days of agricultural tradition, youth competitions, grandstand entertainment and family-friendly attractions that celebrate Northern Michigan's farming heritage.
Held at the Otsego County Fairgrounds, 275 Fairview Road, this year's theme, "Back to Our Roots," highlights the fair's commitment to agriculture while offering visitors everything from livestock shows and educational demonstrations to a country music concert, rodeo, motorsports and children's activities.
The biggest difference at this year's fair is that the carnival is no longer part of the week's festivities, said Drew Socia, an Otsego County Fair board member who also helps support its online presence. But the lack of a carnival will give guests more time to take part in an array of free events held all week, including laser tag, ax throwing, a cooking show/competition, agricultural Olympics and more.
"We've always had some of these free events, but they were more behind the scenes with the carnival and rides," Socia said. "There was an effort to have these events be even more experimental and (participatory). The fair isn't really about the carnival but so many other things."
Another big difference without the carnival is that there will now be more than 20 local food trucks on site serving an array of food options at affordable prices. The fair's contract with the third-party that provided the carnival prevented other local food vendors from appearing in the past.
"That is really going to help support those small (restaurant and food truck) businesses," Socia said.
Monday features an opening ceremony, a beef show, antique tractor displays, a hay bale decorating challenge and an outdoor showing of "Home on the Range" complete with s'mores and popcorn.
Tuesday's Agriculture and Education Day focuses on the region's farming community. Visitors can watch hog, sheep and goat shows, participate in gardening workshops, tour antique tractor displays, enjoy animal care demonstrations and experience hands-on attractions including glass blowing and blacksmithing.
One of the week's biggest attractions arrives Thursday when rising country artist Ashley Cooke headlines the grandstand concert following an opening performance by Spencer Hatcher. Horse shows, children's cooking demonstrations, agricultural game shows and sewing workshops fill the day before the evening concert.
"There will be live music at the Midway all week long," Socia added.
The annual Livestock Auction is a Friday feature, where local 4-H and FFA youth showcase months of hard work raising market animals while buyers support the next generation of agricultural leaders. The evening's popular Bump & Run competition brings plenty of excitement to the grandstand.
Socia said he expects the number of animals on display from chickens to pigs this year to be three times higher than 2025.
"We want to keep our kids (educated) about agriculture, so that's a great sign," he said.
Saturday is designed with families in mind. Kids Day features games, activities, ice cream, tractor paddle pulls and interactive agricultural exhibits. The Otsego County Fair concludes with the always-popular Night of Destruction, one of the fair's signature grandstand events.
Admission information is available through the fair office, with advance ticket sales offered for select grandstand events. For more information, contact the Otsego County Fair at 989-732-3811 or at otsegocountyfair.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Otsego County Fair returns Aug. 10-15 in Gaylord