What to know for Farm Show '25: best days to go, new foods, cow hugs

The 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show is fast approaching.

In fact, this year it’s coming directly off the heels of the holidays. Like past shows, it will feature the traditional hallmarks such as the butter sculpture, animal competitions, the Calving Corner, PA Preferred Culinary Connection and, of course, the food court.

Mixed in are some new attractions — baby cow petting, garden tractors, and the first-ever Turkey Showmanship.

There is something for everyone at the event. To help you make the most of your visit, here’s an official 2024 Farm Show guide:

When is the show?

Visitors will have eight days to check out the Farm Show, which will run from Jan. 4-11. Hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, except 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 5 and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 11.

Where is the show?

The Farm Show is held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center at North Cameron and Maclay streets in Harrisburg. The building contains more than one million square feet with 11 halls and three arenas as well as more than 9,000 parking spaces.

How much does parking cost?

Parking at the Farm Show facility and surrounding lots costs $15 per car.

Remember, parking at the complex is credit card only. No cash will be accepted.

Parking is available on-site at the Farm Show Complex as well as off-site at Harrisburg Area Community College on Wildwood Park Drive, and a lot east of the complex at Elmerton Avenue and Sycamore Street. Free shuttle service is provided.

Handicapped parking is available at all parking lots operated by the complex. Individuals can also be dropped off in the circle of the Cameron Street Lobby for an even shorter walk.

Best times to go?

Opening weekend is typically busy at the complex and parking lots are known to fill up quickly. Crowds often dissipate late Sunday afternoon/evening. As for weekdays, it depends on the number of school groups and the weather. Farm Show organizers say the best times to arrive are between 9 a.m. and noon and that the complex is often busiest during the hours of 3:30 to 5:30 p.m

Where is the butter sculpture?

You can’t go to the Farm Show and not visit the butter sculpture, located in the Main Hall near the Maclay Street entrance. It’s one of the hallmarks of the show.

Every year, the butter sculpture follows the theme of the Farm Show. This year’s theme is “Powering Pennsylvania.”

The sculpture is a longstanding tradition at the show and is created from about 1,000 pounds of butter donated by Land O’Lakes in Carlisle.

What’s new this year?

Dr. Temple Grandin will speak at 9 a.m. Jan. 9 in the Small Arena as part of Celebrating Women Powering Agriculture, sponsored by the Friends of Farm Show Foundation. Grandin is a professor, author and autism advocate. Her speech leads a half-day series of conversations, interactive demos and networking opportunities celebrating some of the powerful women who are leading Pennsylvania agriculture.

Following the popularity of goat snuggling in recent years, Swartz Farm in Mohnton will bring mini highland cows for petting and pictures.

Visitors can look for new judging categories including Oberholsi dairy goats, cow/calf mama-baby teams, dry and sweet fruit ciders, fall harvest-themed quilt creations, garden tractors and home veggie canning.

Youth will show off how well they raised their birds in a first-ever Turkey Showmanship.

PPL will share a Live Line Electrical Safety demonstration on Jan. 9 in the Equine Arena. Visitors can learn how to protect their farms from accidents around power lines and other electrical and power-generating equipment.

When will the food court be open?

The food court is one of the biggest attractions at the Farm Show. It’s where you can eat a smorgasbord of Pennsylvania foods, from maple candy to chicken corn soup, shoo-fly pie, pork barbecue and potato doughnuts.

It’s open from noon to 9 p.m. on Jan. 3 as part of a preview day and includes free parking.

During regular hours, the food court is open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 3, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 4, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 5, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 6-10 and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 11.

What’s new in the food court?

The Mushroom Farmers will sell “Bacon & Cheddar Stuffed Baby Bella Mushrooms,” along with a “hot honey” to drizzle or dip their popular Original Breaded Mushrooms.

Also, the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association will be selling a limited-edition mint milkshake alongside vanilla, chocolate and swirl, and a new pepper jack grilled cheese.

The Pennsylvania Co-operative Potato Growers are advertising loaded french fries and potato cakes.

Will I see poultry?

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, ornamental eggs, feathers and market poultry competitions, including chickens and ducks, are returning after a two-year hiatus due to the avian influenza outbreak.

Market poultry are birds that are slaughtered after judging.

Also returning will be a duck pond exhibit that offers visitors an underwater view of swimming ducks.

Still, visitors won’t encounter a full return of poultry. The department said some poultry classes will be limited to photos only to protect the state’s $7.1 billion poultry industry from avian influenza.

What celebrity will headline PA Preferred?

Every year the PA Preferred Culinary Connection stage produces an entire schedule of nonstop cooking demos, mostly with PA chefs and commodity groups. They also highlight one top chef.

Chef Jet Tila will headline the stage at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Jan. 5. Tila, who is from Philadelphia, is a cookbook author and has appeared on the Today Show, Food Network and Iron Chef.

Other noteworthy events include Military Appreciation Day on Jan. 9 and the Undeniably Dairy Milkshake Contest presented by the American Dairy Association North East at 1 p.m. Jan. 11.