71st Westmoreland Fair welcomes new contests, attractions

As cases of the bird flu increased over the past year, the Westmoreland Fair has adapted to protect animals attending the show.

All poultry is required to go through bird flu testing. Contestants also have the option to bring pictures of their fowl instead of an in-person showing.

“We try to think of different ways since (the bird flu outbreak) has come about,” said Kelly Gillis, entry secretary for the fair. Gillis works closely with exhibitors looking to enter their animals, baked goods, homemade items and more.

The 71st fair will return Friday and is expected to draw 50,000 to 70,000 attendees over nine days.

New for 2025 at the fairgrounds in Mt. Pleasant Township: An inaugural on-foot turkey show will be held strictly for market birds that are raised for meat production. Exhibitors will parade their turkeys around for judges to examine.

Gillis said the fair is a staple for the county. Growing up, she remembers attending the summer event annually, sometimes sleeping in the barn overnight with her friends.

“It’s the last big hoorah of summer before school starts,” she said.

Also new for exhibitors this year is the wedding table cookie contest, which pays homage to Pittsburgh’s cookie table tradition. Open to amateur bakers, the contest requires participants to make a dozen cookies in five varieties. Judging begins Aug. 16.

In the needlework category, the State Fair Association is initiating an American 250 Apron Contest. With the United States celebrating its semiquincentennial next year, aprons must be red, white and blue. The first-place apron will advance to the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.

Along with the hundreds of exhibitors, there will be about 125 vendors selling everything from food to crafts. Poulich Pit BBQ and the Logan Family Farms farm-to-table booth will make a return this year.

There will be free attractions all nine days, including Areli Equine performing western horse stunts and the Buffalo Beal’s Petting Zoo.

Monster Truck Freestyle will be held Aug. 19 in the grandstand arena, which entry secretary Shirley Keller said will be a busy night.

“The grandstand will be completely packed,” she said.

Among the many events held throughout the week in the Independence Health System arena, the annual queen contest will occur Friday and Bob FM will sponsor the inaugural Rock Music Bingo on Saturday.

Gillis said she is excited to share the odds and ends of the fair with people who are not originally from Westmoreland County.

“I think one of the goals of the fair is to teach people the importance of agriculture,” Gillis said. “It’s special to teach people about it who don’t grow up with it.”