The clock is ticking for Carbon County residents who want to show off their homegrown vegetables, handmade quilts or backyard blooms at this year’s Carbon County Fair.

The deadline to enter the fair’s still exhibits is July 25. Completed entry forms and fees should be mailed to Rosa Hawk, c/o The Carbon County Fair, 3235 Hahn’s Dairy Road, Palmerton, PA 18071. Exhibits are to be dropped off Aug. 2 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the fairgrounds on Little Gap Road in Palmerton. The fair runs Aug. 3-8.

Still Exhibit Director Ashley Mosier said this year’s displays carry a patriotic flair in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“A lot of our exhibits are tailored to work around the America 250 celebration,” Mosier said. “A lot of our creative exhibits, our flower arrangements, things like that — we encourage exhibitors to do the red, white and blue theme to make our tents look patriotic. We really are trying to revamp the fair and get more people aware of it and definitely try to get as many people as possible before we move locations.”

Quilts, vegetables and kids’ crafts consistently draw the most entries, she said. Local farmers regularly enter fresh produce, and the youth department has grown.

“A lot of kids are utilizing crafts that they made in school or they made at day care, and now they’re entering into the fair to make a little bit of money and get a ribbon,” Mosier said.

The still exhibit categories span more than a dozen departments, from baked goods and canned products to photography, needlecraft and woodworking. Lego builds are welcome, but they must be original creations — kits are not permitted.

For those on the fence about entering, Mosier offered a simple message.

“I always tell everybody to just give it a shot. There is something for everybody in the book. There are things from house plants to vegetables to building Lego,” she said. “You don’t have to be an expert at anything. Amateurs enter. Anybody can enter.”

Reflecting on her first year leading the department, Mosier said the reaction of ribbon winners stood out.

“My favorite part was throughout the fair week, seeing everyone come in and pick up their blue ribbon and how excited they were to be able to find something that they made throughout the year and what place it got,” she said.

A $5 registration fee is required per exhibitor for most adult departments. There is no entry fee for the youth department. Entries must have been made, grown or produced since last year’s fair, and exhibitors must be residents of Carbon County or West Penn Township in Schuylkill County. Only one entry per class per exhibitor is permitted.

The 2026 premium book, which lists all entry categories and rules, is available at carboncountyfair.com and at approximately 15 locations across the county.

The fair is also seeking volunteers.

“If entering isn’t your thing, we’re also always looking for volunteers to help set up the day of or to help us watch the tents during the week,” Mosier said.