Exploring the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg

Exploring the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.

If you’re looking for information about the Pennsylvania Farm Show, you’re in the right place!

The Farm Show in Harrisburg is Pennsylvania's State Fair.
The Farm Show in Harrisburg is Pennsylvania’s State Fair.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg is PA’s State Fair, and billed as “the largest indoor agricultural expo in the United States”.

Cattle show at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Cattle judging event at the Farm Show.

This annual event showcases a wide range of Pennsylvania’s agricultural enterprises, providing a small glimpse into the sector that employs almost 500,000 individuals and adds $132.5 billion annually to Pennsylvania’s economic output.

Milkshakes and the butter sculpture are two of the most iconic symbols of the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Milkshakes and the butter sculpture are two of the most iconic symbols of the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

2024 Farm Show Dates | Hours | Admission | Parking

In 2024, the Farm Show runs from Saturday, January 6 through Saturday January 13.

Piglets on display at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg
Piglets at the Farm Show.

Hours are:

Friday, January 5, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. (food court only, free parking)
Saturday, January 6, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, January 7, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday, January 8 through Friday, January 12, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, January 13, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is billed as the largest indoor agricultural expo in the United States.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is billed as the largest indoor agricultural expo in the United States.

Admission to the Farm Show is FREE; parking costs $15.00 (and is payable ONLY with a credit card – no cash accepted).

The carousel is always a popular attraction at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
The carousel is always a popular attraction at the Farm Show.

You can check out a detailed schedule of events, parking maps, and other FAQs on the Farm Show’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

Antique tractors on display at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Antique tractors display at the Farm Show.

Must-See Attractions at the Farm Show

Like most county fairs across PA, the Farm Show features livestock and crop exhibits, delicious “fair food”, and even some carnival rides.

A tractor-themed carnival ride at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
A tractor-themed carnival ride.

There are also some exhibits you’ll ONLY find at the Farm Show, like a sculpture made out of 1000 pounds of butter!

The Farm Show butter sculpture is made out of over 1000 pounds of butter.
The Farm Show butter sculpture is made out of over 1000 pounds of butter.

So let’s dive right in – here are some of the best things to see and do at the Pennsylvania Farm Show!

Rabbits on display at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Who doesn’t love a gigantic rabbit?!

Livestock Exhibits at the Pennsylvania Farm Show

Throughout the weeklong event, visitors to the Farm Show can check out a myriad of animal exhibits.

Cattle being lead from the arena at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Cattle being lead from the arena.

There are big animals like horses.

Horses on display at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Horses on display.

And small animals like rabbits.

Rabbits are a popular attraction at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Rabbits are a popular attraction at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

There are animals most people are familiar with, like pigs.

Pigs on display at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Pigs on display.

And less-common animals, like alpacas.

Alpacas on display at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Alpacas on display.

There are exhibits where you (or your kids) are encouraged to get up close and personal with the animals, like the one pictured below where you can pet a horse.

Equine exhibits at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Equine exhibits.

What about “goat snuggling”?

Baby goat snuggling is a popular children's attraction at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Yes – “baby goat snuggling” is a thing!

Yes it’s a “thing”, and you can try it (for a small fee) at the Farm Show!

Baby goat snuggling at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Baby goat snuggling at the Farm Show.

Crop Exhibits at the Pennsylvania Farm Show

You’ll find a variety of cash crops on display at the Farm Show, all grown in the soil of Pennsylvania.

Prize-winning apples on display at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Prize-winning apples.

Among other things, you’ll learn that Pennsylvania ranks first nationally in production of mushrooms.

Mushroom exhibit at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Mushroom exhibit.

And that Pennsylvania harvests more than 1 million Christmas trees each holiday season.

Christmas tree growers display at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Christmas tree growers display.

Other Pennsylvania Products at the Farm Show

A variety of other homegrown PA products are on display and available to sample at the Farm Show.

Maple syrup exhibit at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Maple syrup exhibit.

You’ll find a number of Pennsylvania wineries set up in the Main Hall.

Pennsylvania wineries serving samples of their products at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Pennsylvania wineries serving samples of their products at the Farm Show.

And what pairs better with PA wine than some gourmet PA cheese?!

Cheese competition at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Cheese competition.

If you don’t like cheese, how about bees?

Beeswax and honey exhibits at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Beeswax and honey exhibits.

You can even see live honeybees in action (safely behind glass).

Live honey bees on display at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Live honey bees on display.

You can sample (or purchase to take home) PA-brewed beers.

Pennsylvania breweries serving samples of their beer at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Pennsylvania breweries serving samples of their beer.

You can sit it on a cooking demonstration, using PA-raised meats and vegetables.

Cooking demonstration at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Cooking demonstration.

Or you can cut right to the chase and hit up the famous Farm Show food court to try a variety of PA-produced products.

Mushroom-themed food stand at the Farm Show food court.
Mushroom-themed food stand at the Farm Show food court.

The Farm Show Milkshake

The Farm Show Milkshake may be THE most popular item available in the food court, and it’s celebrating its 70th birthday in 2023.

The Farm Show Milkshake celebrated its 70th birthday in 2023.
The Farm Show Milkshake celebrates its 70th birthday in 2023.

Available in chocolate, vanilla, half-and-half, and orange cream, they’re all equally delicious.

My personal favorite - the half chocolate, half vanilla Farm Show milkshake.
My personal favorite – the half chocolate, half vanilla Farm Show milkshake.

Because of their popularity, the lines for milkshakes are usually pretty long, but they move quickly.

The lines for the Farm Show milkshakes are busy all day, but move rather quickly.
The lines for the Farm Show milkshakes are busy all day, but move rather quickly.

I wouldn’t normally drink two milkshakes in one morning, but on this day I had to try the new orange cream (spoiler alert – it’s fantastic!) in addition to my usual half-and-half shake.

The orange cream milkshake is new to the menu at the Farm Show in Harrisburg.
The orange cream milkshake is new to the menu at the Farm Show.

The Farm Show Butter Sculpture

If there is one “must-see” attraction at the Farm Show, it’s the butter sculpture, created out of 1000 pounds of real Pennsylvania butter!

A close-up of the 2023 butter sculpture at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
A close-up of the 2023 butter sculpture.

Housed in an octagonal enclosure in the Main Hall, the butter sculpture really is an impressive piece of temporary art, and you can watch a video about how it’s made on screens above the enclosure.

The butter sculpture is one of the most popular "must-see" attractions at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
The butter sculpture is one of the “must-see” attractions at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

As for the fate of the butter sculpture after the Farm Show ends – it’s fed into a “methane digester” and used for energy.

The Farm Show butter sculpture is is recycled in a methane digester after the event concludes.
The Farm Show butter sculpture is is recycled in a methane digester after the event concludes.

Final Thoughts

The Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg offers an immersive experience into the state’s rich agricultural heritage, showcasing local produce, livestock, and farming innovations.

A state map made of apples on display at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
A state map made of apples.

Even if you have only a passing interest in PA’s agricultural industries, the Farm Show is one of those events you should check out at least once in your lifetime!

Pennsylvania Farm Show souvenir sweatshirts.
Pennsylvania Farm Show souvenir sweatshirts.

The 2024 Pennsylvania Fairs Guide is a directory of all the best county and regional fairs across the state!

The Pennsylvania Fairs Guide is a directory of the best county and community fairs in Pennsylvania.

Did you enjoy this article?

If so, be sure to like and follow PA Bucket List on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest to stay up-to-date on my latest write-ups about the best things to see and do in Pennsylvania!

Click on any of the icons below to get connected to PA Bucket List on social media.


PA Bucket List 2022 Sasquatch Logo

Pennsylvania’s Best Travel Blog!

Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.