The family friendly Lackawanna County Heritage Fair opens Thursday and runs through Sunday at Montage Mountain Resorts, again giving fairgoers access to the resort’s waterpark, midway carnival rides, live entertainment and more for the $15 price of admission.
“It’s the best value for the dollar of any fair in the country when you factor in the waterpark,” Lackawanna County Fair and Recreation Authority Chairman Armand Olivetti said Wednesday as organizers and vendors prepared the fairgrounds for the influx of families they hope to see over the four-day event.
Held at Montage since its inception, the annual fair is now in its fifth year after a pandemic-prompted hiatus in 2020 and 2021. It’s also starting a week later than in past years, when the fair opened the week of Memorial Day and sometimes suffered from rain and other inclement weather that depressed attendance.
The weather looks more promising this year, with a chance for occasional showers and potential thunderstorms but also “long periods over the next several days where it’s not doing anything,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said.
Thursday’s weather should be warm, humid and mostly dry — good conditions for a day at the waterpark, with Kines forecasting temperatures “well up into the 80s.” Friday is also likely to be warm with temperatures around 80, he said, noting the possibility of some stormy weather that could cause downpours in areas but isn’t likely to make the day a washout.
Some rain and thunder also remain possibilities Saturday, though a dry day is also possible, and Sunday looks dry with lots of sunshine and a high near 80, Kines said.
“I don’t want to scare people away,” he said. “The forecast might sound a little wet but it’s not going to be all that bad.”
More information on the fair, including a map of the fairgrounds and a 2025 program with a list of midway and heritage lodge vendors, fair sponsors and an entertainment schedule for all four days, is available online at lackawannacountyheritagefairs.com. The website also includes a link to purchase tickets, with four-ticket packages available at a reduced rate of $40 for fair admission on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.
The fair runs from 4-10 p.m. Thursday; noon to 10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Olivetti said.
Admission is free for small children under 32 inches in height, who aren’t yet tall enough for the midway rides but can still enjoy waterpark amenities and other fair offerings.
Organizers hope to see at least 15,000 to 20,000 fairgoers attend over the four days, Olivetti said, noting the fair would break even financially if it hits that attendance goal.