If google sent you here and you’re looking for this year’s 2025 Pittsburgh County Fair, click here.

the inaugural Pittsburgh County Fair– an urban agricultural celebration of handmade, homegrown, fermented and more from the City of Pittsburgh is on its way! (inaugural because pgh isn’t a county, but County Fair this is!) This event is being put on in partnership with Grow Pittsburgh, Ferment Pittsburgh, and the City of Pittsburgh.

Sunday September 17th 2023, Allegheny Commons Park WEST. (Where the pond is! Not where the Farmers Market is.)

Some tips for the day

• There are some mosquitos in the park, good to be ready if you’re sensitive to them.
• Bring a blanket to hang out on.
• Activities & demos without specific times are ongoing. Please be generous with your kindness and support for everyone staffing these. Most of them are passionate member of the community volunteering their time and knowledge! Let’s remember that at this event participants and staff work together to make an awesome day.
• In order for us to do a million activities for free we use plastic containers so everyone can take everything home. It’s not ideal but it’s how we can share the skills & inspiration with so many people. Please feel welcome to bring a little collection of your own jars for activities like sauerkraut, sunflower oil, etc.
• The Fair will be running at the same time as the Mexican War Streets House & Garden Tour. Out of respect for our neighbors and the success of their event PLEASE consider not parking in the Mexican War Streets area. If you are looking for a sure-thing, a large $10 lot will be open very close by on Brighton Rd & Western Ave.

Activities and Demonstrations: Free hands-on activity stations for people of all ages to learn and explore. Make-Your-Own Sunflower Oil, Sorghum Pressing w/ Spork, Bouquet Building w/ Sol Patch, Papermaking from local plants w/ The Paper Lady, Making fiber from a Drop Spindle, Indigo Dying event t-shirt and socks, Recycled Crafting w/ Creative Reuse, Seed-saving w/ Sistah Seeds, and much more!

Soil Testing & Garden Health: Bring soil from your garden to get a FREE Penn State Extension nutrient test compliments of City Farms and FREE soil lead testing from ACCD (Guide to preparing your soil sample here). Ask A Master Gardener w/ Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny Co.

Best Tomato in Pittsburgh Contest: See how your tomato stacks up against the rest of Pittsburgh! Open to any tomato grown within the City Limits. Free to participate. Drop off day-of or day before. Find more information here. Prizes include: GrowPgh Garden Resource Center Membership, Seedling Gift Certificate at Garden Dreams, and a gift card for Fedco Seeds: for top 3! And a snazzy trophy.

Garden of Stories: Do you have a vegetable, fruit, herb or other that is special to you and you want to share their story? Maybe it is something you grow that has a rich history. Or maybe the seed has been passed down within your family for generations. Bring a representation of the plant and the story written or typed on paper to display and share the incredible plants and stories growing in our City. Find detailed instructions here.

Live Music from: Bri Dominique 1:30pm, Merce Lemon 3:30pm

Entertaiment: Everyone is invited to enter our “Calling Contest,” a play on the infamous Husband Calling Contests. No marriage required! Call your friend, neighbor, your cat, your lover, your kid! Sponsored by Soju. Other silly/ fun entertainment throughout the day. Pony rides and farm animals. General festival attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite food!

Local Food & Drink: Enjoy food from locally sourced ingredients from places like Wild Rise Bakery (gluten free), The Pickled Chef, & Becca Hegarty with Adda. Finish it off with homemade ice cream from Northside local Happy Day Dessert Factory & Grist House Craft Brewery.

Fermentation Culture Swap: Have extra cultures? Bring some to share!

Farmers Market & Vendor Market: Shop amongst local makers of local things: of the edible, inedible, and creative type. Farmers and artists- which is which?

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We are welcoming food and agricultural-related tablers and activity proposals from all sorts including: farms, farmers, gardeners, community gardens, organizations, educators, storytellers, native landscapers, scientists, orchardists, urban husbandry-ists, demo-ers, makers of sustainable things, handy skills, herbalists, sellers of sustainable things, historians, locally-sourced food vendors, silliness, artists, performers, activities and skill shares by regular ol’ people- all emphasizing the sharing of earth-based ideas, perspective, and hands-on activites.

Any ol’ person out there excited to tell a story, share a skill or idea are encouraged to apply in addition to buisnesses and organizations.

Submit a project idea or apply to participate here.

Lastest facebook event updates.