Washington County's 224th annual Agricultural Fair will take place August 13-20, with a new festival joining the lineup of fun activities By Rachel Dvareckas A beer, wine and spirits garden will be held in the main hall of this year's Washington County Agricultural Fair. This inaugural experience will invite fair goers to sample local wineries, breweries and distilleries from the county, as well as offer live mu- sic, various other local vendors and more during the August event. Wayne Hunnell, the secretary of the fair board, is excited to see how the new festi- val will play out. He and the fair board are focusing on spotlighting local vendors and local agriculture that make Washington County what it is. "This is the first year for us actually doing it this way," Hunnell said. "We are trying to get some of the local businesses that do beer, spirits, and wine to come in." Events centered around beers, wines, and are not new to the fair. In the past, the fair has hosted contests in which judg- es tasted wines that were entered and chose the best ones. Hunnell says that the contest will still have a role in the festival, but they also plan to expand it. "In our main hall, we are going to set up different wines, spirits, and beers where they would be passing out samples and selling," he said. Visitors will be able to purchase products from the wineries, breweries and distill- eries to take home and enjoy. Hunnell and the fair board members are really focusing on a different marketing approach for the festival with a heavy emphasis on Washington County's agri- cultural background and history, like the Whiskey Rebellion, which started in 1794, and the creation of the Washington Coun- ty Agricultural Fair, which is the oldest in Pennsylvania history.. He said they want to tie in that history and the Whiskey Re- County 2022 Washington BEER, WINE & SPIRITS Fair Another reason for the festival to take on this new form is due to a change of date of the annual Corks and Keg event, so the two events will not compete this year. The fair runs for eight days from August 13- 20, with the beer, wine and spirits garden operating Saturday, Aug. 13, Sunday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 19 from 5-9 p.m. For more information about the fair and a list bellion Festival, which happened July 8-10, of events, please visit washingtonfair.org. with local products reminding visitors of Washington County's roots. "That [event] has now been moved out, so it gives us the opportunity now to bring that type of event and make it a part of the fair and tie that agricultural part back into it as well," said Hunnell. He said this festival is an opportunity to di- versify the main hall location, so it is not just informational booths that will occupy the space. It will also drive more people to the hall and increase foot traffic to those infor- mational booths. With about 160 acres and eight days long, the fair itself is sure to be a fun experience for the whole family with a mix of agricul- tural events, carnival rides, daily entertain- ment events, music, and food. get to the fairgrounds by trolley. The fair board has partnered with the Trolley Mu- seum to provide space for parking for the fair, and visitors can purchase a ticket to ride the two-mile journey on the trolley to and from the fairgrounds. It is the oldest fair in Pennsylvania and the only one in the state where visitors can "We are the oldest fair in the state," said Hunnell. "So getting it out there that Washington County, with our roots in ag- riculture, is what has driven that to be the oldest fair. And to continue to try and edu- cate the younger generations about agri- culture and what made the county what it is. I see the fair as a major portion of that." PARTICIPATING WINERIES, BREWERIES & DISTILLERIES J&D Cellars Red Pump Spirits Country Hammer Moonshine Stoney's Brewing Company and more to come Sponsored content brought to you by EST. 1799 WASHINGTON COUNTY PA AGRICULTURAL Fair PRESENTED BY EST Washington County's 224th annual Agricultural Fair will take place August 13-20 , with a new festival joining the lineup of fun activities By Rachel Dvareckas A beer , wine and spirits garden will be held in the main hall of this year's Washington County Agricultural Fair . This inaugural experience will invite fair goers to sample local wineries , breweries and distilleries from the county , as well as offer live mu sic , various other local vendors and more during the August event . Wayne Hunnell , the secretary of the fair board , is excited to see how the new festi val will play out . He and the fair board are focusing on spotlighting local vendors and local agriculture that make Washington County what it is . " This is the first year for us actually doing it this way , " Hunnell said . " We are trying to get some of the local businesses that do beer , spirits , and wine to come in . " Events centered around beers , wines , and are not new to the fair . In the past , the fair has hosted contests in which judg es tasted wines that were entered and chose the best ones . Hunnell says that the contest will still have a role in the festival , but they also plan to expand it . " In our main hall , we are going to set up different wines , spirits , and beers where they would be passing out samples and selling , " he said . Visitors will be able to purchase products from the wineries , breweries and distill eries to take home and enjoy . Hunnell and the fair board members are really focusing on a different marketing approach for the festival with a heavy emphasis on Washington County's agri cultural background and history , like the Whiskey Rebellion , which started in 1794 , and the creation of the Washington Coun ty Agricultural Fair , which is the oldest in Pennsylvania history .. He said they want to tie in that history and the Whiskey Re County 2022 Washington BEER , WINE & SPIRITS Fair Another reason for the festival to take on this new form is due to a change of date of the annual Corks and Keg event , so the two events will not compete this year . The fair runs for eight days from August 13 20 , with the beer , wine and spirits garden operating Saturday , Aug. 13 , Sunday , Aug. 14 and Saturday , Aug. 19 from 5-9 p.m. For more information about the fair and a list bellion Festival , which happened July 8-10 , of events , please visit washingtonfair.org . with local products reminding visitors of Washington County's roots . " That [ event ] has now been moved out , so it gives us the opportunity now to bring that type of event and make it a part of the fair and tie that agricultural part back into it as well , " said Hunnell . He said this festival is an opportunity to di versify the main hall location , so it is not just informational booths that will occupy the space . It will also drive more people to the hall and increase foot traffic to those infor mational booths . With about 160 acres and eight days long , the fair itself is sure to be a fun experience for the whole family with a mix of agricul tural events , carnival rides , daily entertain ment events , music , and food . get to the fairgrounds by trolley . The fair board has partnered with the Trolley Mu seum to provide space for parking for the fair , and visitors can purchase a ticket to ride the two - mile journey on the trolley to and from the fairgrounds . It is the oldest fair in Pennsylvania and the only one in the state where visitors can " We are the oldest fair in the state , " said Hunnell . " So getting it out there that Washington County , with our roots in ag riculture , is what has driven that to be the oldest fair . And to continue to try and edu cate the younger generations about agri culture and what made the county what it is . I see the fair as a major portion of that . " PARTICIPATING WINERIES , BREWERIES & DISTILLERIES J & D Cellars Red Pump Spirits Country Hammer Moonshine Stoney's Brewing Company and more to come Sponsored content brought to you by EST . 1799 WASHINGTON COUNTY PA AGRICULTURAL Fair PRESENTED BY EST