Came here for the first time to attend an outside concert (mumford & sons/noah kahan). So I cant speak for actual inside of the expo or any non-concert events here. It's very clear that this is used as county fair area, as I could smell manure before we had even gotten up close from parking the car. From the entrance we went it, there was no noticeable vendors and we only saw 1 regular beer tent and 1 VIP beer tent. It wasn't until we left to another gate that we saw other options that were not noticed, signed, or advertised from the inside. Thank goodness we didnt get VIP tickets, because they we the FARTHEST away from the stage?? Basically on a small set of metal football bleachers on a patch of grass. Was excited to see water being charged for only $2. Get all the way up to buy one snd it was like warm Dasani. NONE of the staff knew directions in this venue. Asked 3 employees for assistance in pointing me to the direction of the gate I parked at - none of them knew where it was. One employee even grabbed my phone out of my hand when I pulled up the map on the website, then he spent 5 minutes staring at the nap and pointing out all the obviously places around us directly. Had to ask him for my phone back 3 times. Infront of the stage was dirt and tarps and the tarps kept shifting around/wrinkling. There were no parking lot attendants of the way in or out, unless you parked in the upclose parking (extra charge). We all got bottle necked several times trying to leave from the very BACK of the lot. The show itself was good. Great performance. Stage was fine. Cute lights from stage to audience seats up above. read more

As their slogan goes, these are the best 10 days of summer! I've been coming from Montreal for the past 2 years and absolutely love everything about this fair. It's well organized, there are all kinds of exhibits and activities for everyone. My bf and I are in our mid twenties, with no kids, and we find tons to do. I just wish they published the daily schedule weeks ahead of time instead of just a day before- makes it harder to organize a trip if you're waiting on particular events. The area itself is quite wide, I've been on weekends and never had an issue feeling like it was overcrowded. I think it helps that the cost of rides is also not included in the cost of admission, so you don't have to worry about never ending lineups everywhere. Unlike many other fairs, Champlain Valley has an indoor, air conditionned area with clean bathrooms and seating to take a break if you're just too hot or tired. The traditional giant pumpkin and gardening expo is always fun to watch and truly impressive. There are lots of deformed or giant vegetables and plants, kind of like visiting a museum of oddities. My two favorite things about the fair though are the food and animals! Lots of farm animals and shows, where it be shearing demonstrations on sheep or flying and dancing pigs and dogs, it's always unique and you know you won't see it any other day of the year. There are also some circus acts, hypnosis, and concerts of course. The fair food is also something I would never find back home, my favorite is the one pound burrito and moose nutz (check my pictures to see the cheesy delicious mess!) You also have to try the maple cotton candy and ice cream inside the maple lodge, both are cheaper than the typical stuff you'll find at kiosks. Make sure you bring lots of cash- although you can pay for admission with credit or debit cards, most of the food options are cash only. Last tips may seem obvious but make all the difference: dress appropriately, wear crocs or easily washable shoes because you will be walking in muddy soil or grass at times, bring a hat, sunscreen and take a pamphlet of the schedule to know when the different shows are happening so you won't be roaming around aimlessly. NOTE: there is some free wifi near the South Expo building - elsewhere the signal is too weak or you'll have to pay to connect. read more

See all

For over 25+ years, I sure been coming to the Champlain Valley Fair (CVF) with my grandmother, friends, and family. While I have outgrown most of the attractions and rides, I still enjoy the CVF as if it were my first time there. Every year (except 2) I have made my annual pilgrimage to VT from NY/NJ and even when I went to college in CT... and every year we hit the usual venders and attractions, whilst exploring the newly introduced establishments. Be sure to come hungry and bring cash because as a foodie - you've arrived at Mecca. You can sample everything from the usual: Bloomin' Onions, sausage & peppers, kettle corn, pizza, corn dogs, fried dough, hamburgers and hotdogs to the eclectic such as as: lobstah rolls, pulled pork sandwiches and bbq, gator bites, apple cider, gyros, burritos, moose nuts (don't ask), to my all time favorite - the Maple Creamy. Be sure to leave your diet at home ... as I did... and I did. The attractions and scheduled events are a lot of fun and bring that rural flavor to the fair that separated it from any other State Fair. You'll enjoy the pig racing, alligator demonstration, stunt shows, dog show and circus, barn animal parade, sheep sheering, cow milking, hot dog eating contest, and many many more. You'll never be bored. The rides are fun. And while its not my thing, once in a while I'll hit up the bumper cars, the haunted house, or the mechanical bull. But bring your wallets and a small mortgage if you want to play the games. They've upped the price to $5.00 a person per game which is a total ripoff. I played one game with my granny and luckily we won... she loves her giant blue koala bear. All-in-all you're going to have a great time. I hope you'll enjoy it one of these days and tell me about your awesome adventure as I have. Ciao for now. read more

See all

Was sick most of the week. So late birthday present. The fair!!! So much to do. Rides, games, food, exhibits, and animals. I was in heaven with the animals. Got to milk a cow~bucket list item check! Played with a calf. Laid around with some cows. Saw chicks hatching. Ate greasy over prized fair food. Had a maple shake. What a great day! You got to go! Great fun for everyone! read more

See all

I love this fair! I used to go every year when I was a kid. When I moved, I never visited Vermont back in the time for the fair. So, it's been 10 years since I've been until yesterday. Not a thing has changed, and that is good! Typical fair stuff- contests for best agriculture stuff, best maple syrup, best... overall awesome stuff. They have poultry, cows, rabbits, oxen, so you can see and sometimes pet all the cute animals. They even had a pink rooster for breast cancer awareness! The food is always unhealthy but amazing. If you are familiar and in love with Al's French Frys, you're in luck. They have tons of Al's stands as well. The midway rides are always fun. But sometimes I get nervous because of the carnies that built them. I'm sure OSHA / Environmental Health and Safety department would have a field day with them. But whatever- it's the fair! They have great entertainment. Last night when I went, they had Josh Turner and Justin Moore. (I'm a country music fan). Last night, they had Ke$ha. (Ok, I take the "great" entertainment wording back. jk) Overall, I had an amazing time. It is a lot cleaner, safer, and friendlier than the fairs down in Orlando. read more

One star for the Champlain Valley Fair. Awesome, but: would have been zero if I was rating it based on what it is like living within a three mile radius of the fair grounds. I recently moved to the area and have been kept awake two nights this week while the base of the concerts/sound system has literally vibrated my bedside table. The summer has only just begun and I was not aware I was moving into this issue. I have talked to she neighbours and they have told me that they have heard the same noise disturbances and that this is the first year it's been like this. Hopefully it's a calibration issue or something that can be seen to and promptly. Tonight I got fed up with the sounds and have decided to write this review/complaint, but what gets me is that it's a Bon Iver concert tonight. I love that artist but I apparently hate his base track. Please see to this promptly, CVE, and if you came to this page like me to see if I was alone in my annoyance, speak up with me. Let's have our quiet neighbourhood evenings back. read more

I have been going to the fair for years and every year it feels like it has gotten smaller and smaller with less and less rides and less attractions. Yet, it has clearly cost more! At this point, I usually go into the fair after 6PM and mostly just for the food. read more

The Champlain Valley Fair Rocks!!! What can I say: They have some of the best fair food around!!! Lots of exhibits to look at- did you know the largest gourd this year was over 148 inches? lol :) I love that kind of stuff. Lots of rides,games and some really cool concerts to watch or listen to while you wonder around the fair. The bunnies, goats, sheep, petting zoo, dairy cattle, show horses, llamas, oryx!, zebra!, the hypnotist shows, the juggling/acrobat shows, painting competition exhibits, etc etc etc. Did I mention the great food? I highly recommend the chicken taco salad from the 'Sunrise' tent, near the indoor vendor's pavilion. And you must have an apple cider slushie! it's by far my favorite thing at the fair! So much to see and do: you can easily lose a day there. It's open every year the week before labor day. If you are in Vermont, around labor day, it's a must see/do! read more

The Log Home & Green Living Shows ran simultaneously at the expo this year (Feb. 14,15,16). However the show was in the smallest of the expos buildings and had just log home exhibits and Bath Fitters. My family paid $8 per person expecting to find green living options. Instead we found 4 huge stacks of Green Living pamphlets and no vendors to supply such options. Tom Oddy and the staff at the Champlain Valley Expo should be ashamed of themselves for publicly advertising this as anything other than a log home show. Just 15 vendors and nearly all are log homes. We walked in and out within 5 minutes and the gentleman collecting the $8 per person at the door just said "I just work the door" when we asked him if this is part of the Green Living Show. read more

This review is for the 2013 fair. This year seemed to be lacking compared to years past. My favorite BBQ vendor who has been a staple at the fair for at least 3 years wasnt there. The area to feed animals was gone and replaced by an animal show. Id much rather be able to feed the animals at anytime of day instead of waiting for a show. There seemed to be a lot of empty spaces where vendors were last year. Admission price went up this year too. Fat Daddys, Mr. Sausage, and the Pig in a Blanket vendors were great as usual. I heard there wasnt enough adult rides this year. I left this year saying, "this wasnt as good as last year. What happen?" read more

The cost of this is not family friendly at all. Children of all ages are changed and the rides are $4/$5 per person for 30 second rides. It is fee for children under 5 to enter but they are charged for all rides no matter the age. As fair as local fairies go it is fine but the prices are absolutely absurd. read more

Checked out the Champlain Valley Fair on opening day since everything (except food) was half price. It had been years since I had gone so figured "what the hay let's go". Parking was a breeze since there was plenty of people to direct you though get out your walking shoes! After paying 6 bucks to get in, we checked out the outdoor stage watching Steve Bayner's Hypnotist show which was pretty good and free. Gotta say it was very entertaining especially the twerking at the end. Footnote, I did not know what twerking was until seeing this show! Walked the Midway, checking out the rides and game booths. Not much had changed here folks. Took the Ferris Wheel for $5 (half price) so I could snap a pic of sunset over the Adirondacks. Next up was food, the exhibits, animals and indoor vendors. Some of the sales people peddling Satellite Dishes and outrageously expensive heating pads were pushy & definitely in the carnival spirit. Ended the evening with Maple Cotton Candy from the Vermont Maple Sugar House. Yeah it was A-Ok, think I'm set for another 10 years. read more

See all

Really long wait to park. Grandstand concert acoustics were terrible. Enjoyed the band but won't return to this venue.

I am disappointed to see an out of state spa company being hosted at your facility this coming weekend. Local businesses are struggling as it is and you would think that supporting your local spa businesses might be a route to support and encourage. You pride yourself on the fair and bringing Vermonters together for years. You missed the boat entirely. SUPPORT LOCAL! It always comes down to the dollar.. Disappointed to say the least. I will always and forever continue to support my local community. Hoping you will be encouraged to do the same. read more

Awesome country style fair with lots of great food, rides, and interesting shows. They have a lot of activities going on such as exhibitions with giant vegetables and artwork as well as concerts, parades, and animals. There's so much going on that you'll never run out of things to do. Definitely lots of fun for families and other groups. read more