Final Days of Fair Promise Fun, Tradition, Community

By Lisa Neff

The 2026 Manatee County Fair’s final days are ahead, offering plenty of reasons to get out in the winter sunshine or under twinkling nightlights. Every step, from the admission gate to the Ferris wheel, stimulates the senses at the fairgrounds, 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto.

The lights and motion of the rides on the midway dazzle the eyes.

Kids’ laughter turns heads toward the Barnyard Cackle Review.

The aroma from the Peachey’s doughnut stand intoxicates.

Petting a steer’s fluffy fur produces smiles.

And the taste of an as-seen-on-TikTok Korean corndog wows.

The fair, produced by the Manatee River Fair Association Inc., opened Jan. 15 and continues through Jan. 25.

The curious who have yet to venture out might see championship wrestling, magic acts, milking demonstrations and hundreds of blue-ribbon arts and crafts. Those who attended earlier have time to return to take one more ride on the Zipper, indulge in a fried Oreo and catch Rudy, Elvis, Gizmo and Chip in the comedic Puppy Pals Live show.

For patrons, the county fair might be a one-day annual affair, or even just a few hours of enjoyment.

For longtime volunteers and businesses organizing and sponsoring the fair, it’s a passion.

“It is truly an annual homecoming,” Danny Alfonso, fair manager and CEO, said of the event.

The association’s mission is to highlight the county’s agricultural heritage and economic impacts, as well as celebrate youth participation in agricultural traditions.

Prior to the fair’s opening, organizers made the rounds, visiting civic groups and attending government meetings to share their mission, tout their offerings and extend invitations.

“Our fair is only possible through the efforts of our directors, hundreds of volunteers, as well as the financial support of our sponsors,” Alfonso said at the Bradenton City Council meeting Jan. 14. “We have 11 different committees that actually work together … to put on our fair. It’s really neat when you see all the pieces come together and it makes a beautiful motif.”

All the work, Alfonso said, has resulted in a fair “that’s really a sight to see.”

He mentioned all the attractions and temptations — livestock shows, mainstage concerts, glass-blowing demonstrations, a milking parlor, a charity barbecue cookoff, a hog-calling competition, amusement rides, carnival games and a corndog-eating contest — which was held Jan. 17 and resulted in a tie, with two men eating seven dogs in five minutes.

“We have lots of food, plenty of food, any kind of food you can think of,” Alfonso enticed.

On the dais, councilmembers and the mayor nodded in agreement with Alfonso and shared a few remarks.

“We appreciate what you do,” said Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown.

Councilwoman Jayne Kocher said her heart warms to know of the association’s work to celebrate Manatee’s past and support young generations.

Councilwoman Marianne Barnebey, whose husband Mark serves on the association board and whose family is a fair sponsor, offered advice to fairgoers.

“When you’re at the fair and you need to take a break from the midway — maybe you rode one too many of the rides that swirl you around — come on into the arts and crafts festival and see what they’re doing,” she said.

She also noted that “mere mortals” can’t resist Peachey’s doughnuts.

General admission to the fair for adults is $10.

“We just wanted to let everybody know that, with the cost of everything rising, we have not increased our cost to get in the gate,” Alfonso said.

“We just invite everybody to come out and join us,” he added.

For more information

For more about the Manatee County Fair, go to manateecountyfair.com.