Washington County's Barlow Independent Fair reached its 155th year in 2026, with gates at the Barlow Fairgrounds open from Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 4, according to WTAP. The site sits where State Routes 339 and 550 meet.
Organizers describe the event as a mix of familiar traditions and fresh additions. A large turnout gathered Saturday on the grass hill for the Buckeye Mini Pony Pullers, and attendees circulated among food stands, children's midway rides, livestock barns and exhibit halls.
Per the Washington County 4-H office, three contests debuted this year: a rubber-duck dress-up competition, a tablescape contest for creative table settings, and an upcycling challenge called Second Chance Creations.
Junior Fair programming remained a centerpiece through the weekend, with market duck, dairy goat and feeder calf shows.
Fair officials say the event has operated without interruption since its founding, which they cite as the basis for calling it Ohio's oldest independent fair. That designation is attributed to fair officials and was not independently verified in the WTAP report.