What York State Fair does

The York State Fair is a 261-year-old community agricultural fair operated by the nonprofit York County Agricultural Society on an 87-acre campus in York, Pennsylvania. Its flagship product is a 10-day annual event (scheduled July 24 – August 2, 2026) featuring livestock and agricultural exhibitions, a 4-H/FFA youth program, food and retail concessionaires, makers and craft vendors, and a national-tour concert series headlined by acts such as Brantley Gilbert and Parmalee. Tickets for concerts are bundled with fair admission at $25–$45 per person, and admission and concert ticketing are processed through AttendStar for the 2026 season, with a dedicated York State Fair mobile app supporting schedule and wayfinding.

Name

York State Fair

Legal name

York State Fair

Website

https://yorkstatefair.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1765

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The York State Fair is a 261-year-old nonprofit agricultural fair operated by the York County Agricultural Society on an 87-acre campus in York, Pennsylvania, running a 10-day annual event with concerts, vendors, and livestock exhibitions, plus year-round venue rentals through the York Expo Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live event fair and expo venue services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH)

Keywords

• Annual state fair
• Live event venue
• Concession and vendor services
• Corporate event sponsorships
• Agricultural competitive exhibits

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: Revenue from concert and event tickets sold through AttendStar ticketing platform, phone orders, and in-person box office. Concert tickets range from $25-$45 and include fair admission.
2. Vendor and concession fees: Revenue from food vendors, retail vendors, display vendors, and makers selling at the fair. Application process requires insurance and space fees.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors pay for brand exposure and marketing presence at the fair. Sponsorship tiers range from $0-$3,500 up to $10,000+ based on budget levels.
4. Facility rentals: Year-round rental income from the York Expo Center venues including UPMC Arena, All Trans Memorial Hall, Old Main, Horticultural Hall, and banquet centers for trade shows, consumer shows, banquets, and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The York State Fair operates an annual 10-day community fair (July 24 - August 2, 2026) featuring concerts, agricultural exhibits, competitive livestock and hobby shows, midway rides, food and retail vendors, and youth programming, hosted on an 87-acre fairgrounds in York, Pennsylvania. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, the York Expo Center, it also rents out multiple climate-controlled venues (totaling over 200,000 square feet) for trade shows, consumer events, banquets, concerts, rodeos, motorsports, and sporting events on a year-round basis. Revenue is generated from ticket admissions, vendor concession fees, corporate sponsorships, and facility rentals.

Product overview

The York State Fair operates as a unified 10-day annual event (July 24 - August 2, 2026) while also functioning as the York Expo Center venue rental business. The core product is the annual York State Fair featuring agricultural exhibitions, concerts at the Hollywood Casino York Stage, midway attractions, competitive exhibits (livestock, horticulture, arts), food vendors, and retail vendors. The supporting venue infrastructure includes multiple rental facilities: the UPMC Arena (114,000 sq ft), All Trans Memorial Hall (58,000+ sq ft), Old Main (17,248 sq ft), Horticultural Hall (13,200 sq ft), and Banquet Centers (10,000+ sq ft). The organization also manages vendor directories (food, retail, maker's meadow), competitive exhibit programs (4-H, FFA, livestock), and the Ag Education Center for youth educational programming. Ticketing for concerts is handled through third-party partner AttendStar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• York State Fair Annual Event The annual 10-day York State Fair event held at the York Expo Center featuring agricultural exhibitions, concerts, midway attractions, competitive exhibits, food vendors, retail vendors, and family entertainment. Runs July 24 - August 2, 2026. Targeted at families, individuals, and community visitors across the York County region.
• York Expo Center Venue Rentals Year-round event venue and facility rentals across an 87-acre property. Supports trade shows, consumer shows, banquets, concerts, rodeos, motorsports, and sporting events. Includes free parking for over 6,000 cars. Available to event organizers, corporate clients, and community organizations via direct sales through the Director of Business Development.
• York State Fair Concert Series (Grandstand) Outdoor concert venue at the York State Fair featuring nationally touring headliners at the Hollywood Casino York Stage. Tickets include fair admission. Ticketing options include Standing Pit (general admission on track), first come first serve seating, and designated ADA seating. Ticketing handled through AttendStar. Ticket prices range from $25 to $45.
• Competitive Exhibits Program Agricultural and competitive exhibition programs including the Livestock Arena, Horticultural Hall, Old Main, PPRC Building (rabbits, cavies, non-poultry, pigeons), and Ag Education Center. Features 4-H and FFA project catalogs and entry forms. Online entries processed through FairWire (https://york.fairwire.com/). Targets youth organizations, hobbyists, and agricultural exhibitors.
• Ag Education Center Educational center focused on hands-on learning activities for youth, featuring 4-H Projects, Bunny World, Cow Milking Experience, Corn Dig, Duck Slide, Hatching Chick Incubator, Farm Equipment displays, Kids Craft Area, and Educational Demos. Targeted at children, families, and youth agricultural organizations.
• AttendStar Ticketing Partnership Official authorized ticketing service for the York State Fair Concert Series, enabling online, phone, and in-person concert ticket purchases inclusive of fair admission. Available to general public attendees.
• UPMC Arena Facility Rental 74,000 square feet of clear-span space within a 114,000 sq ft facility. Can be partitioned into two 37,000 sq ft spaces. Seating capacity of 5,500, booth capacity of 425 (10x10 booths). Features state-of-the-art acoustics, wireless internet, climate control, and UVGI air filtration. Available for trade shows, concerts, rodeos, and large-scale events.
• All Trans Memorial Hall Facility Rental L-shaped building offering two separate exhibit spaces over 58,000 sq ft (East: 28,202 sq ft; West: 29,264 sq ft), joinable through a large lobby corridor. Features wireless internet, touchless restrooms, UVGI systems, and separate office/ticketing areas. Suited for trade shows, consumer events, and large banquets.
• Old Main Facility Rental Large rectangular hall of 17,248 square feet that can be portioned into two separate rooms. Features food service area, large restrooms, oversized loading door, climate control, alarm system, wireless internet, and telephone. Ceiling height 12 to 15 feet with 16x14 overhead door. Theater capacity of 1,260. Suited for consumer shows and mid-size exhibitions.
• Horticultural Hall Facility Rental Exhibit building offering 13,200 square feet of floor space with 13-foot ceiling height. Equipped with acoustics, restrooms, food service area, loading door, alarm security, wireless internet, and telephone. 16x14 overhead door with 208V/110V electrical hookups. Theater capacity of 900. Suitable for smaller exhibits, hobby shows, and community events.
• Banquet Centers (Verandah Room & Pennsylvania Room) Rental Two adjoining spaces totaling over 10,000 square feet with flexible layouts that can be partitioned. Verandah Room is 5,577 sq ft with 28x12 stage, carpeted with wooden dance floor. Pennsylvania Room is 5,054 sq ft. Both feature HVAC and handicap facilities. Designed for weddings, banquets, galas, and corporate hospitality events.
• Food Vendor Concession Program Directory of over 70 food vendors operating at the York State Fair, including mainstream brands (Auntie Anne's), local vendors, and diverse cuisine options. Vendor participation requires insurance and space fees. Targets food concessionaires seeking seasonal sales opportunities to fair attendees.
• Maker's Meadow Artisan Vendor Program Vendor area featuring handcrafted and artisan goods with weekend-based vendor applications (First Weekend July 24-26 and Second Weekend July 31-Aug 2). Targets craftspeople and artisans seeking sales exposure to fair attendees.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Tiered corporate sponsorship program offering brand exposure and marketing presence at the York State Fair and York Expo Center. Tiers range from $0-$3,500 up to $10,000+ based on budget levels, with naming rights opportunities across the UPMC Arena, Hollywood Casino York Stage, and Froggy 107.7 Radio Stage. Targets regional and national corporate marketing partners.

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Weis MarketscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor and preferred grocery partner. Weis Markets Arena naming rights for UPMC Arena at York Expo Center.
• UPMCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner with naming rights for UPMC Arena. Preferred healthcare provider for fair operations.
• Hollywood Casino YorkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConcert series sponsor with naming rights for Hollywood Casino York Stage at the Grandstand.
• AttendStarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial authorized ticketing partner for York State Fair Concert Series. Handles online ticket sales, phone orders, and in-person sales starting July 6th.
• Froggy 107.7coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio partner presenting concerts and artist performances at Froggy 107.7 Radio Stage. Presents Summer of Boots Festival and other shows.
• Can-AmmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRodeo sponsor for Bullride Mania 2026, providing branding at the rodeo event.
• Constellation EnergymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnergy sponsor for Bullride Mania 2026 event.
• SaffirecoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite and event management platform provider powering yorkstatefair.com for event information, ticket sales integration, vendor directories, and content management.
• Strates ShowsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCarnival company providing midway rides and attractions for the fair.
• RuttersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional convenience store chain and sponsor. Rutter's Dairy provides ice cream vendor at fair. Rutter's Children's Charities also sponsors.
• GiantmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrocery store chain sponsor of the York State Fair.
• Wyndham Garden of YorkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred partner hotel for York Expo Center visitors and fair guests.
• Fulton BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bank sponsor of the fair.
• FedExminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShipping and logistics sponsor for fair operations.
• Turkey HillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage company sponsor with products available at fair.
• Tractor SupplyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAgricultural retailer sponsor supporting the fair's agricultural focus.
• York County Food BankminorOthersNon-profit community partner at the fair.
• York County SPCAminorOthersAnimal welfare organization with presence at fair.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maryland State Fair: Annual state fair operated at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, with a similar diversified mix of concerts, agricultural exhibits, 4-H/FFA judging, food vendors, and carnival rides targeting a Mid-Atlantic regional audience.
• Allentown Fair (Great Allentown Fair): A 169-year-old Pennsylvania agricultural fair operated by the Lehigh County Agricultural Society. Direct competitor within the same state, featuring a similar mix of grandstand concerts, agricultural exhibits, midway rides, and food vendors.
• The Big E (Eastern States Exposition): The largest agricultural fair in the Northeast, operating a 17-day annual fair and year-round Expo Center rental business from its West Springfield, MA campus. Highly comparable to York State Fair's combination of annual fair + year-round venue model serving a regional multi-state audience.
• Pennsylvania Farm Show: The largest indoor agricultural exposition in the United States, held annually at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg. Closest geographic peer and shares the agricultural education, livestock, and 4-H/FFA programming focus with York State Fair.
• Bloomsburg Fair: One of the largest agricultural fairs in Pennsylvania, run by the Bloomsburg Fair Association. Competes for the same regional Pennsylvania audience, grandstand concert bookings, and sponsor relationships as York State Fair.

Broad incumbents

• State Fair of Texas: The largest state fair in the United States by attendance, operated at Fair Park in Dallas. Comparable grandstand concert programming, food vendor model, and year-round venue rental business, though at a substantially larger scale than York State Fair.
• Iowa State Fair: One of the largest and most iconic state fairs in the U.S., operating on a much larger scale. Comparable in that it combines grandstand concerts, agricultural exhibits, food vendors, and competitive exhibits, but at a far larger scale and statewide audience.

Others

• Strates Shows: A major U.S. carnival operator providing midway rides and attractions to the York State Fair. While a partner rather than a competitor, the carnival industry is an ecosystem input to regional fairs and is structurally relevant to the fair's offering and economics.
• Saffire: Saffire is the event management platform powering yorkstatefair.com, providing ticketing integration, vendor directories, and content management. It is a technology supplier to the fair rather than a direct competitor, but reflects the broader ecosystem in which the fair operates.

Regional players

• Tulsa State Fair: Oklahoma's largest annual fair, operated by the Tulsa State Fairgrounds with a 10-day run featuring grandstand concerts, livestock shows, and midway attractions. Operates primarily in a different geographic market but shares the regional fair + exposition center business model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@yorkstatefair
• Facebookfacebook.com/YorkStateFair
• Instagraminstagram.com/yorkstatefair
• TikToktiktok.com/@yorkstatefair?lang=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/york-state-fair

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about York State Fair