Your 2025 Guide to the Cattaraugus County Fair: Rides, Shows, Concerts & More
Your 2025 Guide to the Cattaraugus County Fair: Rides, Shows, Concerts & More
The 182nd Cattaraugus County Fair kicks off July 26 with eight days of rides, animal shows, magic, music, monster trucks, and family fun in Little Valley.
Mark your calendar because fair week is almost here! For over 180 years, the Cattaraugus County Fair has brought together friends, families and neighbors to celebrate local agriculture, educate young people, and promote local businesses during one of the most exciting weeks of the summer. From July 26th-August 2nd, the county fairgrounds at 501 Erie St. in Little Valley will come alive with animal shows, midway rides, grandstand events and more!
DAILY FUN
There’s something for everyone at the Cattaraugus County Fair, which is celebrating its 182nd year in 2025. Amusements of America is returning with 25 rides, making this year the fair’s biggest midway yet! Each day, the midway opens at 1:00pm and your general admission ticket includes unlimited rides plus grounds entertainment throughout each day. Nell Fellows, secretary of the Cattaraugus County Agricultural Society, emphasized how much there is to enjoy at the fair, even for those who don’t plan to ride the rides.
“People will come to the gate and they’ll say, ‘I don’t ride. What else is included?’” she said. “And then they’ll come out and say, ‘Oh, I saw this and this and that and that!’ It’s a lot included for their gate price. It doesn’t matter if you don’t ride. It’s a fair entrance ticket, but there’s so much more than just the rides.” Fellows was pleased to share the return of past favorites and new grounds entertainment for 2025…
RETURNING ACTS
Enjoy Sea Lion Splash, an educational show which brings friendly and talented California and South American sea lions to the fair performing amazing (and occasionally mischievous) feats for audiences during their three daily shows. Award-winning entertainer Lance Gifford will surprise audiences three times daily during his magic show, full of illusions that engage and amaze fairgoers of all ages.
Swifty Swine Racing Pigs is a family favorite, traveling all over the country and doing four shows daily at the fair. Swifty and his friends run as fast as they can for the big prize: an Oreo cookie! Fellows advised that the exact daily showtimes will be announced during fair week, but generally all take place between the hours of 1:00 and 7:00pm daily.
Ongoing entertainment throughout each day of the fair includes the Pratt Family Chainsaw Artists, who specialize in chainsaw sculptures, architecture, and furniture, and will be carving between the hours of 2:00 and 8:00pm daily. The Butterfly Kingdom, which has between 200 and 300 butterflies of six different species, is an educational exhibit that is open from 1:00-8:00pm daily.
NEW FOR 2025
Fellows shared two new groups that will join the daily grounds entertainment lineup. Mobile Arts Glassblowing features glass artist Ryan Gothrup, who has been teaching the art of glassblowing for over 16 years and will be demonstrating from 2:00-8:00PM Monday through Saturday.
Dynamo Dogs is a new dog show act that will be performing three shows daily and is fun for the whole family. You will certainly fall in love with this talented group of adopted and rescued dogs.
DAILY GRANDSTAND SHOWS
Fellows recommends staying for the entire day of the fair, as there’s more to enjoy in the evening. “The grandstand will have a different show every night,” she noted. “We are going to have fireworks on the night before the fair on Friday, July 25th.” Except for Thursday night's Pro-Pulling Series, grandstand tickets are an additional charge and available onsite or online at www.cattaruaugscofair.com.
Saturday, July 26th at 7:00pm: Modified Truck Pull
Sunday, July 27th and 6:00pm: Broken B Rodeo
Monday, July 28th at 7:00pm: Demolition Derby
Tuesday, July 29th at 7:30pm: Tracy Byrd in Concert, with special guest Alex Miller
Wednesday, July 30th at 7:30pm: Flatland Cavalry in Concert
Thursday, July 31st at 7:00pm: WNY Pro Pulling Series
Friday, Aug. 1st and 7:30pm and Saturday, Aug. 2nd at 1:30pm: Monster Truck Rally
Saturday, Aug. 2nd at 6:00pm Demolition Derby
PLAN YOUR VISIT TODAY
Fellows said presale tickets for $12 ($3 discount from gate price) are available now through Friday, July 25th. “They can be purchased on our website for an additional credit card charge or cash at outlets around the county, in southern Erie County, and in Chautauqua County as long as they have them in stock,” said Fellows. Presale locations include all Cattaraugus County Bank branches, Community Bank N.A. locations in Olean, Allegany, Salamanca, Gowanda, and Orchard Park, the Cattaraugus County Federal Credit Union, and the South Dayton Super Duper.
Fellows reminds fair goers that credit cards will continue to be accepted throughout the fairgrounds; however, “Cash is king,” as there will be an additional charge for credit card sales this year. Vendors will have a cash price and a credit card price posted, and daily grounds tickets and grandstand events will be $1 more for credit card sales. Learn more about the fair at https://www.cattarauguscofair.com/ and follow them on social media for updates.