When the doors open on the 109th Annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg in early January 2026, visitors will once again step into one of the country’s most immersive celebrations of farm life, food and rural innovation.

Billed as the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the United States and staged at the sprawling Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, the weeklong event offers travelers a close look at the state’s deep agricultural roots while spotlighting new technology, rising young farmers and an increasingly diverse food culture that is, as this year’s theme puts it, “Powering Pennsylvania.”

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Dates, Theme and What Travelers Can Expect in 2026

The 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show takes place from Saturday, January 4 through Saturday, January 11, 2026, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center on North Cameron Street in Harrisburg. While the headline dates cover eight days, the experience effectively begins a day earlier for food lovers, when the popular food court in the GIANT Expo Hall opens at midday on Friday, January 3, giving early arrivals a chance to sample Pennsylvania-grown specialties before the main exhibits come online.

This year’s official theme, “Powering Pennsylvania,” underscores the economic and cultural role agriculture plays across the Commonwealth. State officials estimate the farm and food sector supports nearly 600,000 jobs and contributes more than 130 billion dollars annually to the state economy. Organizers say the 2026 show will showcase that influence by combining heritage attractions with a stronger focus on innovation, sustainability and value-added products, from artisan cheeses and craft beverages to cutting-edge on-farm technology.

For travelers, that translates into a dense week of activity under one roof: livestock competitions, horse and dairy shows, tractor and equipment displays, culinary demonstrations, wine and cider tastings, and interactive exhibits geared toward children and urban visitors who may be experiencing farm life up close for the first time. More than half a million people typically pass through the complex each year, creating an atmosphere that feels part trade fair, part food festival and part family vacation.

Harrisburg’s Farm Show Complex: A Winter Destination

The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center has been the show’s home since the 1930s and remains Harrisburg’s signature winter attraction. Encompassing roughly one million square feet of indoor space and about 24 acres of exhibition halls, arenas and barns, the complex is designed to handle thousands of animals one week and major consumer shows the next. During the Farm Show, nearly every corner of the facility is in use, from the New Holland Arena hosting marquee livestock events to quieter halls filled with crops, quilts, honey exhibits and educational booths.

Located just north of downtown along North Cameron Street, the site sits within easy reach of major highways and regional rail connections that bring visitors from across Pennsylvania, neighboring Mid-Atlantic states and beyond. Tourism officials in the Hershey and Harrisburg region say the Farm Show serves as a crucial winter draw, filling regional hotels and restaurants at a time of year when many destinations are quieter. For travelers, that means a robust hospitality infrastructure, from national-brand hotels to independent bed-and-breakfasts and a growing local dining scene.

Inside the complex, visitors will find that the layout reflects both tradition and the evolving nature of agriculture. Historic displays of antique tractors and tools share space with robotics demonstrations and energy efficiency projects. Longtime attendees often gravitate toward favorite corners such as the poultry, rabbit and sheep barns, while first-timers typically begin in the Main Hall or Expo Hall before branching out through the maze of interconnected arenas and corridors that define the Farm Show experience.

New Attractions and Returning Favorites for the 109th Show

Organizers of the 109th Farm Show are layering fresh programming onto the event’s familiar backbone of competitions and exhibits. One of the headline additions this year is the introduction of youth turkey showmanship, a new contest in which young exhibitors present market turkeys and demonstrate their husbandry skills. The birds will then join the Junior Market Livestock Sale, giving students another avenue to fund future agricultural projects while exposing visitors to lesser-known aspects of poultry production.

Among the more whimsical attractions set to draw crowds is a mini Highland cow from Swartz Farm in Mohnton, Berks County. The shaggy, small-statured animal, with its long bangs and sweeping horns, is expected to become an informal mascot for the petting and photo opportunities that help connect young visitors with livestock. Organizers say hands-on encounters like this are essential to bridging the gap between urban and rural residents and helping families understand what goes into raising animals humanely.

Education will also take center stage with a series of high-profile talks and demonstrations. One of the most anticipated appearances is that of animal behavior expert and advocate Temple Grandin, who is scheduled for a fireside-style conversation on January 9 as part of a program highlighting influential women in Pennsylvania agriculture. Her talk is expected to touch on humane handling, practical problem-solving on farms and the importance of understanding animal behavior in both large-scale and small, diversified operations. Visitors interested in the future of farming and food systems will find much to explore across similar sessions focused on soil health, climate resilience and agribusiness entrepreneurship.

Food Court, Culinary Stage and the Taste of Pennsylvania

For many travelers, the food is reason enough to make the trip to Harrisburg each January. The Farm Show food court, located primarily in the GIANT Expo Hall, gathers commodity groups and producers from across the state to serve dishes that highlight Pennsylvania-grown ingredients. From classic baked potatoes and mushroom sandwiches to milkshakes, fried cheese curds and regional favorites like scrapple and apple dumplings, the offerings are designed to both satisfy and educate, often with proceeds supporting producer associations and youth programs.

The PA Preferred Culinary Connection, a demonstration kitchen and stage, will again serve as the event’s gastronomic hub. This year’s lineup features an expanded roster of celebrity chefs and local culinary talent, including Food Network personality Jet Tila among others, who will join Pennsylvania chefs and home cooks in preparing recipes built around local beef, dairy, produce, grains and specialty crops. Visitors can expect live cooking shows, tasting opportunities and practical tips on sourcing and cooking with Pennsylvania-grown products at home.

Beverage producers are likewise claiming a higher profile at the 109th show. The Pennsylvania wine industry, hard cider makers and craft breweries are slated to pour samples and showcase how grapes, apples, grains and hops grown in the state are transformed into bottles and cans that now appear on store shelves across the country. Separate tasting events and educational sessions will introduce travelers to regional wine trails, agritourism destinations and farm-based beverage businesses that can anchor future trips beyond Farm Show week.

Livestock, Competitions and Hands-On Learning

Despite the wide range of attractions, the heart of the Pennsylvania Farm Show remains its livestock and competitive events. Organizers expect nearly 6,000 animals to pass through the complex over the course of the week, from dairy cows, beef cattle and draft horses to goats, alpacas, pigs, rabbits and poultry. For visitors who may only see such animals in children’s books or small petting zoos, the scale of the barns and the level of care on display can be eye-opening.

The show includes more than ten thousand competitive events and exhibits across dozens of departments, spanning everything from hay bales and maple syrup to honey, wool, baked goods, wine and fine arts. Many are judged before the public arrives, but ribbons and plaques posted beside displays serve as a guide for visitors wandering the aisles. Youth competitions form a particularly vibrant part of the schedule, with 4-H and FFA members showcasing livestock, horticulture projects and leadership skills that often shape future careers in agriculture and related fields.

Hands-on learning opportunities are intentionally woven throughout the complex. In demonstration areas, visitors can watch blacksmiths shape metal, artisans spin wool and woodworkers turn Pennsylvania hardwoods into furniture and tools. Interactive exhibits invite children to grind grain, test soil, learn about pollinators or simulate milking a cow. Organizers note that these encounters are not just entertainment; they are designed to provide practical insights into how food and fiber move from farm to table and why issues like soil health, water quality and animal welfare matter across the food chain.

Planning Your Visit: Logistics, Parking and Best Times to Go

Travelers considering a trip to the Farm Show will find that a bit of advance planning goes a long way. Admission to the event is free, but parking at Farm Show-managed lots costs 15 dollars per vehicle and is payable by credit or debit card only, with no cash accepted. On Friday, January 3, when only the food court in the GIANT Expo Hall is open from noon to 9 p.m., parking is offered at no charge, giving budget-conscious visitors a lower-cost option to sample the culinary side of the event.

On-site parking at the complex is supplemented by large off-site lots, including facilities on Elmerton Avenue and at Harrisburg Area Community College, which together provide several thousand additional spaces. Free shuttle buses operate continuously between these remote lots and the complex during show hours, easing congestion and making it simple for visitors to reach the main entrances even when closer lots fill up. Designated accessible parking spaces and wheelchair-accessible shuttles are available, and organizers provide free manual wheelchairs on a first-come, first-served basis at the complex for those who need mobility assistance.

Traffic can be heavy on weekends and during late-afternoon hours, when school groups and after-work visitors share the roads, so travelers are advised to arrive between 9 a.m. and midday if they wish to avoid the largest crowds. Weekdays typically offer a more relaxed pace, with shorter lines at food stands and easier movement through livestock aisles and exhibit halls. Comfortable footwear is a must: even with shuttles between lots and entrances, exploring 24 acres of exhibitions can mean several miles of walking over the course of a day.

From City Getaway to Rural Gateway: Harrisburg as a Base

While the Farm Show itself is the main draw, Harrisburg’s location and amenities make it an appealing base for a broader winter escape. The capital city sits at the intersection of several major travel corridors, including Interstate 81, Interstate 83 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and is served by Amtrak’s Keystone Service, which connects to Philadelphia and New York. That connectivity allows travelers to fold a Farm Show day trip into longer itineraries that take in Hershey’s chocolate attractions, the rolling farmland of Lancaster County or outdoor recreation areas along the Susquehanna River.

The city’s hotel inventory tends to run near capacity during Farm Show week, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights, so advance reservations are recommended. Many properties cater specifically to Farm Show visitors with early breakfast options and shuttle services, while restaurants and breweries in Midtown and downtown Harrisburg often adjust hours and menus to welcome hungry families after a day in the barns. Travelers seeking a quieter experience may opt for midweek stays, when both the city and the complex are less crowded.

For visitors intrigued by the state’s agricultural heritage, the Farm Show can also serve as an introduction to other farm-focused experiences available year-round. Tourism officials and exhibitors use the event to highlight seasonal farmers markets, on-farm lodging, pick-your-own orchards, dairy tours and wine and beer trails that crisscross the Commonwealth. Travel planners suggest that guests who discover a favorite cheese, jam, wine or meat producer at the show consider planning a future trip to visit those farms and communities in person.

Preserving Heritage While Showcasing the Future

As the Pennsylvania Farm Show marks its 109th year, organizers and exhibitors find themselves balancing longstanding rituals with a rapidly changing agricultural landscape. The show’s history stretches back to 1917, and many of its core elements have changed little over the decades: grand champion livestock parades, intricate butter sculptures crafted from more than a thousand pounds of butter, and showcases of quilts, preserves and field crops that speak to traditional skills passed down through generations.

At the same time, the 2026 edition places visible emphasis on innovation and resilience. Displays on renewable energy, precision agriculture, conservation practices and climate-smart farming aim to demonstrate how producers are adapting to new economic and environmental realities. Exhibitors include not only family farms and youth organizations but also agritech startups, equipment manufacturers, researchers and service providers who see in Pennsylvania a fertile ground for new ideas.

For travelers, that blend of old and new is what makes the Farm Show a compelling winter destination. It offers the sensory pleasures of comfort food and barnyard encounters, the spectacle of parades and competitions, and the chance to meet the people who raise and produce the ingredients that define Pennsylvania’s culinary identity. Whether visitors come for a single afternoon of fair food and photo opportunities or spend several days exploring every corner of the complex, the 109th Annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg provides a vivid, accessible window into a working landscape that continues to shape the state’s culture and economy.