If you’re looking for one last summer adventure before autumn officially kicks into gear, New York City’s original county fair is returning just in time for Labor Day weekend.
For over four decades, Staten Island’s Historic Richmond Town has transformed its landmark campus into a massive, 25-acre festival celebrating local culture, food, and community. Drawing more than 15,000 visitors every summer, the Richmond County Fair proves that summer in the city doesn’t actually end at Labor Day.
From September 5 through September 7, 2026, the fairgrounds will come alive with carnival rides, historic craft demonstrations, live music, and eating contests.
Here’s everything you need to know about attending NYC’s favorite end-of-summer tradition.
A 25-acre step back into the 1800s
While the modern fair format officially started in 1980, the historical roots of the event stretch back to 1895—and the location itself takes visitors even further back in time.
Historic Richmond Town is New York City’s most complete outdoor living history village and open-air museum. The historic site restores and preserves 38 structures dating back to the 19th century.
Throughout the fair weekend, costumed historical interpreters bring the village to life with real-time trade demonstrations, including:
- Hands-On Crafting: Historical kids’ crafts and interactive history sessions
- Historic Trades: Tinsmithing, carpentry, hearth cooking, blacksmithing, and basket making
- Living History Camps: Native encampments and Revolutionary War historical camps
What to expect at the 2026 Richmond County Fair
Whether you’re going for the nostalgia, the food, or the competitive eating, the three-day festival packs a massive lineup for all ages:
- 🎡 Carnival Rides & Amusements: Classic fairground rides and games, an inflatable bounce house, an obstacle course, slides, pony rides, face painting, aerialists, and a Butterfly Vivarium
- 🧵 Over 100 Local Vendors: Street stalls lining the village featuring local artisan crafts, antiques, and fair food favorites
- 🛍️ Staten Island Culture Crawl: Located near the main entrance (Richmond Rd & St. Patrick’s Place), showcasing local non-profit arts, cultural, and social service organizations
- 🌭 Eating & Produce Contests: Watch (or join!) the hot dog eating contest, chicken wing challenge, pie-eating contest, or check out the Staten Island Locally Grown veggie competition
- 🎶 3-Day Music Festival: Live music sets throughout each day featuring local Staten Island bands, DJs, and classic tribute acts
Supporting a Great Cause: The fair serves as Historic Richmond Town’s primary annual fundraiser. Every ticket purchased directly funds the restoration and care of the site’s 38 historic buildings and supports educational programs for more than 25,000 students every year.
Event details & admission
- Dates: Saturday, September 5 – Monday, September 7, 2026
- Hours: 12 pm – 8 pm daily (Last tickets sold at 7 pm)
- Location: Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Avenue, Staten Island, NY
- Tickets: Available online in advance or at the gate
- General Admission: $15
- Seniors (65+): $12
- Kids (Ages 3–11): $7
- Kids under 3: Free
- Discounts available for Historic Richmond Town members
Secret NYC Pro Tips before you go
- 🚗 No On-Site Parking: Park at the Staten Island Mall Commuter Lot (Marsh Ave & Richmond Hill Rd) and hop on the free shuttle service to and from the fairgrounds (last shuttle leaves at 8:30 pm). Priority handicap-accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis along St. Patrick’s Place
- 👟 Footwear Matters: Historic village terrain features unpaved paths, cobblestones, and grass, so supportive walking shoes are strongly recommended
- ☀️ Weather & Policies: The event is rain or shine. Pets (except service animals), outside alcohol, coolers, drones, and smoking are strictly prohibited on campus