Queens County Farm Museum Marks Fair’s 40th Year

The largest remaining tract of undistributed farmland in New York City has reached another milestone; 2023 is marking the 40^th anniversary of its county fair.

The Queens County Farm Museum will host its annual Queens County Fair from Friday, September 8 through Sunday, September 10 at its location within the Floral Park section of Queens. The family-friendly event will present a full schedule of entertainment and educational programming. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on that Friday evening at 6 p.m. will kick off the festivities.

“The Queens County Farm Museum tells the story of agriculture as New York City grew around the site through the centuries, and the County Fair celebrates that history,” said Jennifer Walden Weprin, the museum’s executive director.

Dating back to 1697, the farm museum sits on a 47-acre site within the Queens neighborhood of Floral Park and is one of the longest continuously farmed sites in New York State.

In 1975, the museum’s founders were able to obtain landmark designation for the property’s historic buildings, including its circa 1772 Dutch-style Adriance Farmhouse. The property contains an assortment of additional historic farm buildings, a greenhouse complex, an orchard and herb garden, planting fields, livestock and farm vehicles and implements.

Now in 2023, the museum, which is a New York City Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places, schedules regular events, including the county fair, and focuses on regenerative farming practices.

The annual Queens County Fair also ushers in the opening of the museum’s Amazing Maize Maze. It is said to be New York City’s only corn maze, with this year’s shape inspired by a 1954 Ford tractor donated by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

The fair’s activities will incorporate different aspects of New York and the subject of farming. A Taste New York Pavilion will showcase the agricultural bounty of state’s growers and producers.

The Queens Night Market has curated a Beer Garden offering New York State beer and cider producers, along with the museum’s apple cider donuts and pies. Food vendors will include Teriyaki Plus, CBao Asian Buns, TaDa Noodles, Tania’s Kitchen, Our Green Acres Corn, Ed’s Italian Sausage & Polish, Long Island Seafood, Cousins Maine Lobster, Wafels and Dinges, and Kelli’s Funnel Cake.

“We’ve visited Queens County Farm Museum on numerous occasions this year as a family, but it’s a great privilege and pleasure to help curate the food vendors and beer garden highlighting New York State products,” said John Wang, the market’s founder, in a media release.

Other events at the county fair will highlight its history and agriculture.

A Best in Show: Blue Ribbon Competition is encouraging makers across New York to compete for a coveted Award Ribbon, or perhaps a golden cow adorned Best-in-Show trophy. The six divisions include Arts & Crafts, Culinary Arts, Vegetables, Apiculture, Flower Arranging, and Horticulture.

The museum’s Adriance Farmhouse has a Colonial Lab that will offer historic house tours and period demonstrations such as butter churning, colonial cooking and quill writing.

Lewis Latimer House Museum, which is located in the Queens neighborhood of Flushing, will send over their Mobile Lewis Lab to Queens County Farm on the Saturday portion of the event. The lab will put on a visual scavenger hunt for participants to uncover interesting facts about this inventor’s extraordinary achievements.

The Heartee Mushroom Vessel will offer gourmet mushroom tastings, recipes and education materials provided by this vertical mushroom farmer. Cheese lovers can get free samples of mac and cheese from the Cabot Cheese Cruiser Cheese Truck.

The Arts Parlor will schedule free face painting, caricatures, farm-themed temporary tattoos and the Growing Artists Challenge, where kids can draw their favorite farm animals for a chance to be featured in future Queens County Farm Museum maps and signage.

Other event highlights encompass carnival rides and midway games, The Con Edison Ecology Booth, a Family Entertainment Tent and a Main Stage Entertainment area featuring a mix of musicians and performers. Acts will include Fogo Azul, New York City-based all-women Brazilian Samba Reggae drum line, and MOMENTNYC: Tribute to Queens.

Tickets for the 40th Annual Queens County Fair start at $15. Single, two- and three-day passes are also available. The Queens County Farm Museum is located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Floral Park. For tickets and more information, visit queensfarm.org/queens-county-fair