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Photo by Western Michigan Fairgrounds
Western Michigan Fair
August 2026
Smaller towns set themselves apart from big cities by local events that involve the community. No where is that more prevalent than here when Ludington hosts the Western Michigan Fair.
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The Western Michigan Fair is where you see your friends and neighbors, celebrate the waning days of summer, and appreciate good family values. The big cities may have the advantage over us in certain things, but nothing beats the feeling you get living in a cozy, friendly town with annual events like the Western Michigan Fair.
With the exception of WWII, the fair has been held every year since 1936 at the Mason County Fairgrounds on US-10 in Ludington. The fair was modified in 2020 due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 virus. The fair features the midway, demolition derby, harness horse racing, entertainment, still exhibits, grandstand events, and carnival rides. But the real attraction of the fair is the 4-H exhibits and animals. Area youngsters who have worked hard the past year raising their sheep, chickens, cows, and rabbits proudly wait for the judge’s ribbon. Equestrians get their chance to showcase their horses, and homemakers busily prepare their pies and other homemade goodies for judging.
Ride wristbands are $30 Tuesday and Thursday-Saturday, and $25 on Wednesday (Kids Day). Pre-sale mega ride passes go on sale in July and can be purchased at tjschmidtcarnival.com.
Here's what happened in 2025:
Days, times, and events listed below reflect the typical fair schedule from year to year, but may be subject to change.
Monday
Midway Not Open Monday - Opens Tuesday
- 3pm – Sheep Show
- 4:30pm – Great Lakes Stakes Harness Racing, Grandstand
- 5pm – Goat Show
- 6pm – Still Exhibit Judging (not open to public)
Tuesday
Midway is Open 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fair Entrance $5.00 per person – Children ages five and under are free.
Veterans Appreciation Day – Veterans admitted free.
- 9am – Swine Show
- 12pm – Exhibit Buildings Open
- 12pm – Horse Show
- 1pm – MI Bred Colt Stakes Harness Racing (Weather permitting)
- 3-11pm – Midway Open
- 7pm – West Michigan Pullers Tractor & Truck Pull, Grandstand- $10
- 10pm – Musical Fireworks, Grandstand- FREE
Wednesday
Kid's Day Midway is Open 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Midway For All is Open 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm.
Fair Entrance $5.00 per person – Children ages five and under are free.
- 8am – Horse Show
- 10am – Beef Show
- 12-5pm – Kids Day Midway
- 1:30pm – Rabbit Show
- 5pm – Kids Bike Giveaway
- 5-11pm – Midway Open to All
- 5:30pm – Crowning of Homemaker of the Year in front of Domestic Arts Building
- 7:30pm – TNT Bump & Run Racing, Grandstand- $10, Pit Passes- $20
Thursday
Midway is Open 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fair Entrance $5.00 per person – Children ages five and under are free.
All Senior Citizens (60+) admitted free.
- 9am – Poultry Show
- 10am – Dairy Show
- 12pm – Dog Show
- 12pm – Exhibit Buildings Open
- 12-2pm – Special Kid’s Day (by invitation only thru the ESD)
- 3pm – Read for Rides (Kids who qualified through Library Program)
- 3-11pm – Midway Open
- 7pm – Super Kicker Rodeo, Grandstand- $15
Friday
Midway is Open 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fair Entrance $5.00 per person – Children ages five and under are free.
- 10am – Fun Equestrian Games
- 12pm – Exhibit Buildings Open
- 3-11pm – Midway Open
- 5pm – Cooper Family Pedal Pull (free for kids), Show/Sale Barn
- 7pm – SJO Supercross, Grandstand- $10, Pit Passes- $15
Saturday
Midway is Open 12:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fair Entrance $5.00 per person – Children ages five and under are free.
- 8am – Barnyard Boogie 5K race, visit the fair website to register
- 9am – Barn Brawl youth wrestling, Visit the fair website for details
- 11am – West Michigan Livestock Council Animal Auction, Show/Sale Barn
- 12-11pm – Midway Open
- 4pm – TNT presents the Mid-Season Championship Demolition Derby, Grandstand- $15, Pit Passes- $25
About the Mason County Fairgrounds
Think the fairgrounds are just for the fair? Not here in Ludington! The Mason County Fairgrounds gets plenty of use in the summertime, one of our favorite seasons here along the lakeshore. The 185-acre site where the fairgrounds and airport are now located was farmland purchased in 1935 from Charles G. Wing. The first fair in Mason County was held in 1936, and the fair has been held each year with the exception of during WWII.
The fairgrounds have undergone a facelift in 2013-2014, with $672,000 in improvements. They include:
- Installation of a drainage system
- Installation of gutters on animal barns
- A new nature trail in the wooded area east of the fairgrounds
- Road paving from the commercial buildings to the north side of the fairgrounds and east to Meyers Road
- Road paving in the camping area
- Making the buildings accessible for people with disabilities
- Moving the entrance north of the current site and widening it to reduce congestion
The fairgrounds are busy throughout the summer with various horse shows, including 4-H Youth, Quarterhorse shows and the AQHA/MQHA. In September, the Mason County Fairgrounds hosts the MIHA District IX Equestrian Meet. Almost every summer weekend, there’s an open air flea market at the fairgrounds, where you’ll find everything from books to furniture to tools. It’s a great place to browse and find those unique treasures.
Stay tuned here for info on the 2026 Western Michigan Fair!
For more information on the Western Michigan Fair, please contact the event organizer:
Western Michigan Fair Association
5302 W. US-10, Ludington, MI 49431
231-843-8563
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