The Rendezvous Region is home to several county fairs, but one in particular has a very special distinction. The Pembina County Fair takes the prize for the longest continuously running fair in North Dakota. While many county fairs have been operating since the late 1800s, the majority of them had to take breaks during disruptive times in history, such as World War I, World War II, and the polio epidemic in the early 1900s. That wasn’t the case though for the Pembina County Fair, which has run continuously for over 130 years.

It began in 1893 by three pioneers who wanted to do something to promote and advertise the great agricultural potential of Pembina County. And they sure accomplished that task! Every summer, locals and visitors alike descend on the tiny town of Hamilton, North Dakota, located on the southern border of Pembina County for the annual fair.

In the early days, the grounds consisted of a race track and a small strip of land surrounded by a solid, high-board fence, which was eventually replaced by wire. Since then, the fairgrounds have undergone many changes, including several new builds and a grandstand. During its heyday, the Pembina County Fair was home to over two dozen carnival rides that lit up the midway. The aroma of fair food and the barnyard odors of award-winning show heifers, roosters, and pigs fill the fairgrounds every summer.

While some things have changed over the years, at the heart of the Pembina County Fair is still the love, pride, and dedication to agricultural practices. Today, visitors can take part in the carnival, chuckwagon races, livestock shows, fireworks, concerts, and a rodeo, along with many other family-friendly activities.