SWANZEY, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) One of the Monadnock Region’s most beloved summer traditions is back as the Cheshire Fair returns to Swanzey from Thursday, July 31 through Sunday, August 3, offering four days of agricultural exhibitions, thrilling events, local music, and family fun.

Held at the Cheshire Fairgrounds on Route 12, this year’s fair continues a tradition dating back to 1935 when a one-day field event first drew a local crowd with ox and horse pulls. Officially incorporated in 1940, the nonprofit event has grown into a major celebration of farming, youth development, and small-town community spirit.

Events and highlights

Fairgoers can expect a packed schedule featuring:

  • 4-H and open class livestock shows

  • Horse, oxen, tractor, and truck pulling contests

  • Fan-favorite pig scrambles and stick horse racing

  • Fanelli Amusements midway rides and games

  • Classic fair food vendors

  • Daily live music on the Tavern and Community stages

  • Cirque Cyber performances and Pirate Man Dan roaming the grounds

  • STEM activities, baking contests, and children’s games

  • A Demolition Derby on Sunday, August 3 (additional $10 ticket)

One of the fair’s cornerstones is youth engagement, with 4-H shows, children’s tents, and contests like cupcake and pie eating, the Cota & Cota Kids Pedal Tractor Pull, and hands-on learning for kids and teens alike.

Live music lineup

Daily performances on the Tavern Stage and Community Stage feature regional acts including:

  • Joe Jennings, Rust and Ruin, The Detours, 50 Shades of Blues, DRED BUFFALO, Plead the Fifth, and more.

  • Music runs throughout the afternoons and evenings, with both acoustic and high-energy sets.

Admission and deals

  • General admission (ages 12–61): $15

  • Youth (ages 5–11): $5

  • Children 4 & under: Free

  • Seniors (62+): $5

  • Military personnel: Free with valid ID

  • Thursday, July 31: Free for children 11 & under

  • Sunday, August 3: Free for seniors 62+

All Grandstand events are included with admission, except the Demolition Derby, which requires a separate $10 ticket for ages 5 and up.

Full daily schedules

Each day kicks off at 8 a.m. with the National Anthem and runs until the midway closes at 10 p.m. Highlights from the week include:

  • Thursday: Opening livestock shows, Touch-A-Truck, and concerts by Joe Jennings and Rust and Ruin.

  • Friday: Parades, baking competitions, horse shows, and music from The Detours and Lake Effect Band.

  • Saturday: Truck pulls, the Pig Scramble, Cow Plop Bingo, and a headline performance by DRED BUFFALO.

  • Sunday: A non-denominational service, full-day ox pulls, woodsman competitions, and the grand finale Demolition Derby at 4 p.m.

A full entertainment lineup, including contest applications and event maps, is available at cheshirefair.org.