Paulene Redding, president of the New Holland Farmers Day Association, is happy to see different parts of the community working together to get ready for this year's New Holland Fair. "So many aspects come together to make the fair possible," said Redding, who recently met with representatives of the borough, fire company, fire police, and ambulance company in preparation for the event. "The IU13 students from ELANCO cleaned up (the parade route) following the parade (in 2023), and the New Holland Kiwanis always cleans up (the streets) following the fair," she said.

The 2024 New Holland Fair will be held from Wednesday, Oct. 2, through Saturday, Oct. 5, on Main Street, Roberts Avenue, Franklin Street, as well as on Fulton Street, where the animal exhibits are located. The fair will kick off on Oct. 2 with the parade, which will begin at 7 p.m. As in the past, the fair will feature a midway, exhibits in a range of categories, a Long John eating contest, pet and baby parades, games, a variety of food vendors, and entertainment Thursday through Saturday evenings.

Area residents wishing to enter an item to exhibit in the fair for the first time will need to register for an entry number. Past exhibitors who did not receive a number in the mail must register as well. Registration for entry numbers will be held at the CrossNet Youth Center, 110 W. Franklin St., New Holland, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 2 to 8 p.m. Redding asked area residents to take a "fresh look" at this year's exhibit categories. "There are some new opportunities," she said.

Redding, who organizes the parade, said that all premium spots are full this year, and that the $12,000 raised by that effort will aid in funding the elevator that will be installed in the Farmers Association building. Five high school marching bands will take part in this year's Spectacle of Bands competition. New to this year's parade will be the West Philadelphia High School marching band. The popular Mad Beatz drumline will return for the third year. This year, the Octorara Junior-Senior High School honor band will lead the way, and the rear will be brought up by the Fralinger String Band, a group of Mummers.

Parade attendees are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to a drive organized by CrossNet youths during the parade. Collected food items will be donated to the CrossNet Food and Nutrition Center.

Nightly entertainment was introduced during the 2022 fair. This year, performances will be held on Towne Centre Green from 7 to 10 p.m. each evening from Thursday, Oct. 3, through Oct. 5. Easily Amused will perform on Thursday; 3 Below will perform on Friday, Oct. 4; and Rydin' Shottgun will play on Saturday.

Animal exhibits, including sheep, goats, and swine, will be located on Fulton Street. This year, a petting zoo has been added on Franklin Street across from the farm show building and near the merry-go-round. "We are planning to put signage out to direct people to the animal exhibits on Fulton Street," said Redding.

The New Holland Fair queen competition is open to young women ages 16 to 20 who live in ELANCO, Pequea Valley, or Conestoga Valley school districts. This year's competition will be held on Monday, Sept. 30. Redding said that a video promoting the competition and featuring former winners Kendell Moats and Ryleigh Libell may be viewed at the "New Holland Fair" Facebook page. The fair queen competition will be sponsored by New Holland Auto Group this year.

The tug-of-war competition, which returned in 2023, will take place at its original location at the corner of Franklin Street and Railroad Avenue.

Redding encouraged area residents to get involved in the yearly event. All farm show volunteers are invited to attend the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs convention in Hershey from Wednesday, Jan. 22, through Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.

Those who wish to purchase ride tickets early may obtain them from Boy Scout Troop 48, Yoder's Country Market, Stauffer's Drug Store, New Holland Church of the Nazarene, and the farm show building beginning on Oct. 1. Children who wish to enter the coloring contest may pick up pages at the ELANCO Library or find them online at http://www.newhollandfair.org.