The Big Butler Fair

Harness Racing
2025-06-25 13:00, 2025-06-26 13:00 (America/New_York) | Grandstand
BUTLER FAIR RACE PROGRAM
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Post Time 1:00 PM
Pace – 3-yr-old Colts (PA Sires Stakes) A & B
Pace – 3-yr-old Fillies (PA Sires Stakes) A & B
Trot – 3-yr-old Colts (PA Sires Stakes) A & B
Trot – 3-yr-old Fillies (PA Sires Stakes) A & B
Thursday, June 26, 2025 Post Time 1:00 PM
Trot – 2-yr-old Colts (PA Sires Stakes) A & B
Trot – 2-yr-old Fillies (PA Sires Stakes) A & B
Pace – 2-yr-old Colts (PA Sires Stakes) A & B
Pace – 2-yr-old Fillies (PA Sires Stakes) A & B
ENTRIES TAKEN FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2025,BETWEEN 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM
A $20.00 STALL FEE WILL BE APPLIED, PER STALL, PER DAY, PRIOR TO AND AFTER RACING DAYS.
CONDITIONS:
DECLARATION TIME 10:00 AM Two-Day Box — All Classes. U.S.T.A. Rules to govern.
PENNSYLVANIA SIRES STAKES: Conditions as published. Starting Fee To Be Announced.

Fair Management reserves all the usual rights and releases from responsibility for accident, fire, theft, etc.
Race Secretary – Kathy Dunn Harvey
Phone: 724-622-4101
Address: 106 Forest Glen Imperial, PA 15126
Race Clerk – Brian Taylor
Phone: 724-290-8720 Enjoy a great day of harness racing at the Big Butler Fair! Whether you compete or simply watch, the event is sure to be exciting for all.
Unfamiliar with harness racing? Well, let us explain. Harness racing is one of the many types of horse racing enjoyed at the track, where a single Standardbred horse pulls a two-wheeled cart with a rider inside for a distance of usually one mile (two laps on a half-mile track).
Upon exiting the starting gate (or executing a “standing start,” where horses begin behind a line), the horse runs in one of two ways—by trotting or pacing. Whereas trotters move their opposite front and back legs together, pacers run by moving both right legs followed by both left legs. Pacing is beneficial because it’s faster and the horse won’t break its stride as easily.
Throughout the race, which lasts about two minutes, the driver uses a whip to communicate with the horse (such as telling it to slow down or speed up). For a successful race, drivers must be able to maneuver their horses around the inside and outside lanes. Even though the competitors usually start close together, track position becomes important in advancing forward, just as in a car race. Getting boxed into the inside of the track makes things difficult, as the horse won’t be able to get around its competition, so drivers usually try to get in front to lead or move to the outside to catch the leader and claim the coveted “pocket” position.
The last quarter mile is nail biting for both competitors and spectators, as the horses run faster and last-ditch efforts are made to move up before reaching the finish line. Mistakes here can cause accidents and injury, so drivers look carefully for available opportunities.
These races are close, too! Horses finish neck-and-neck, so you’ve got to look closely to catch a glimpse of the winner! Tickets Fireworks

Entries Received at Arts Crafts Building
2025-06-26 16:00 - 19:00 | Arts Crafts Building

Fair Opens
2025-06-27 09:00, 2025-06-28 09:00, 2025-06-29 09:00
The Big Butler Fair gates open at 9:00 am.
The Big Butler Fair is the largest agricultural fair in Western PA. The event draws over 100,000 people from across Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and West Virginia to enjoy 9 days of food, fireworks, carnival rides, games, demolition derbies, concerts, truck pulls and the Y108 Freedom Festival. Our fair is considered by many to be the best of its kind in the country.
Enjoy the fair! Tickets Fireworks

Judging Home Products, 4-H Projects, Flowers, Farm & Garden, Fancy Work
2025-06-27 09:00

Carnival Opens
2025-06-27 15:00, 2025-06-28 13:00, 2025-06-29 13:00 | Carnival Area
Carousel, Ferris wheel, chair swing…What do these all have in common? Well, they’re carnival rides, of course! Enjoy the best in carnival rides and state-of-the-art equipment for the ultimate in amusement this year at the Big Butler Fair (presented by Powers Great American Midways)! Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or just want to take a leisurely ride around the fairgrounds, we’ve got something for you. And we have plenty for the kiddies, too! Learn More About Our Rides & Games Tickets Fireworks

Weigh-In Market Animals
2025-06-27 18:00

Bike Night 1
2025-06-27 19:00 | Grandstand
Annual Bike Night - $5.00 per Bike Whether you’re a diehard or just a casual rider, we want you to stop by for a night of food & fun to share your passion for motorcycle riding.
Check out the cool chrome work on your neighbor’s Hog. Admire the custom paint jobs on one-of-a-kind bikes. Trade war stories of insane trips you’ve taken. Big Butler Fair’s Annual Bike Night is THE place to hang out and share your love of leather and roaring two-wheelers.
We’re setting the comradery of our Bike Night against a backdrop of a FREE live concert! You’ll kick off your holiday weekend in style with music and a must-attend event for motorcycle enthusiasts.
Ride your motorcycle into the Grandstand through the West Gate and your admission to the fairgrounds is free.
$5.00 parking fee required per motorcycle. Bike Night Sponsor: Edgar Snyder & AssociatesNorth Country Brewing Company will supply adult beverages (for those 21+) for purchase on concert nights. Bike Night Entertainment Let Freedom Ring7:00pm
The concert is in honor of Corey Comperatore and will benefit first responders.
Read More
Gary Burk III7:00pm
From small bars and clubs, to opening for some of today‘s biggest country artist, Gary and his crew have been blessed with many amazing opportunities!
Read More
Black Ridge7:00pm
Our shows are engaging, professional, family friendly and extremely energetic! We love to incorporate the audience by handing out percussion instruments, going “into” the crowd and singing together.
Read More
The Hawkeyes7:00pm
The Hawkeyes are a modern rock powerhouse. Rooted in rhythmic stomp & guitar-driven snarl, they make music that nods to the hard-hitting heavyweights of rock’s past.
Read More

Let Freedom Ring
2025-06-27 19:00 | Grandstand
The concert is in honor of Corey Comperatore and will benefit first responders. Let Freedom Ring Promo Let Freedom Ring EntertainmentBike Night 17:00pm
Do you drive a Hog (or a Honda, Suzuki, Triumph…)? Do you live in leather? Good news—Big Butler Fair is hosting Freedom Bike Night!
Read More
Gary Burk III7:00pm
From small bars and clubs, to opening for some of today‘s biggest country artist, Gary and his crew have been blessed with many amazing opportunities!
Read More
Black Ridge7:00pm
Our shows are engaging, professional, family friendly and extremely energetic! We love to incorporate the audience by handing out percussion instruments, going “into” the crowd and singing together.
Read More
The Hawkeyes7:00pm
The Hawkeyes are a modern rock powerhouse. Rooted in rhythmic stomp & guitar-driven snarl, they make music that nods to the hard-hitting heavyweights of rock’s past.
Read More
North Country Brewing Company will supply adult beverages (for those 21+) for purchase on concert nights.Tickets Fireworks

Gary Burk III
2025-06-27 19:00 | Grandstand
At the age of 9, Gary and his Dad were travelling to their family camp in Tionesta, PA a song came on the radio by Billy Gilman, Gary Started singing along, and the country music dream was born! A few short months later, Gary’s Dad, whom was a truck driver at the time, was in Fort Payne, AL and had the opportunity to meet a few of the members from the band, Alabama. Gary and his dad then packed up, went to the famous “Cook Sound Studio’s” in Fort Payne which is owned by the late Jeff Cook and met with renowned producer David Hammonds. At that point everyone said Gary was too young and to wait a few more years before giving this a full swing.
Fast forward to when Gary was 17, he decided it was time to pick up a guitar and start playing again. Releasing his first single in 2017, “Crashed” caught the attention of several local radio stations, in which kicked off the inspiration to start chasing the dream again! in 2020 Gary had the opportunity to open for the award winning duo, “Love And Theft” most famous for their #1 song, “Angel Eyes” Gary and Eric Gunderson, one half of the duo were sitting on the bus talking about songwriting and how Eric had been doing some producing new music for a few artist in his downtime, and that’s where the relationship began.
Since then, along with Eric producing all of Gary’s new music, the duo along with Gary have written several great hits, including a duet titled, “Gettin’ It Back” From small bars and clubs, to opening for some of Today‘s Biggest Country Artist, Gary and his crew have been blessed with many amazing opportunities! Be sure to check back for exciting new shows coming to a city near you!
Read More – garyburkiii.com Tickets Fireworks

Black Ridge
2025-06-27 19:00 | Grandstand
Black Ridge consists of a lead singer, two guitars, bass, keyboard, saxophone and drums! Our shows are engaging, professional, family friendly and extremely energetic! We love to incorporate the audience by handing out percussion instruments, going “into” the crowd and singing together.
Original songs, “Raw Power”, “Stick it Out”, “New Day” and “Celebration” are featured regularly on televised Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins games. Radio airplay includes 102.5 WDVE, 105.9 The X, 99.7 The Rock Station, 94.3 Q94 and more! “You’ll Never Stop This Machine” was used for the 2021-2022 NHL Playoffs on the nationally televised “Hockey Night in Canada”.
In July 2022, we traveled to Nashville, TN for several performances on Broadway, including Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge. In September 2022, we released our latest EP, titled “Raw Power” which is available on all major music streaming platforms. We traveled to Leestavall Recordings in Brooklyn, NY to record custom vinyl singles.
During summer 2023, we performed for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds pregame at Highmark Stadium. We released our new single, “Sweat” in March 2024.
Learn More – blackridgeofficial.com Tickets Fireworks

The Hawkeyes
2025-06-27 19:00 | Grandstand
The Hawkeyes are a modern rock powerhouse. Rooted in rhythmic stomp & guitar-driven snarl, they make music that nods to the hard-hitting heavyweights of rock’s past, refashioning that diehard sound into something timeless & larger than life.
Although hailing from Pittsburgh, the Hawkeyes sharpened their sound on the road. It was there — on the sweaty, beer-soaked stages of America’s dive bars, clubs, and theaters — that the band’s four members began blending anthemic hooks, hard-rock crunch, and amplified attitude, with frontman Jay Wiley leading the charge. Headlining their own shows one minute and opening for groups like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Collective Soul the next, the Hawkeyes became genuine road warriors, building their audience song-by-song and show-by-show. They solidified their lineup along the way, with drummer Luke Zajdel and guitarist Noah Myers both teaming up with Wiley to carry rock & roll’s torch into a new era.
To properly capture their sonic swagger on record, the guys headed back home to Pennsylvania, where they teamed up with producer Sean McDonald — a Pittsburgh legend who had previously worked with another group of Steel City exports: The Clarks — to craft Ever for After. McDonald encouraged Wiley to dig deep into the music he’d grown up loving, including records by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Oasis, Queens of the Stone Age, and the Foo Fighters. Working together as co-writers and collaborators, McDonald and Wiley crafted a new batch of raw, larger-than-life songs that built upon the songwriting chops Wiley had already been honing for years, not only as the founding member of the Hawkeyes, but also as a solo artist. The result was an album that matched Wiley’s melodies and Rust Belt persona with the power of a revved-up mod-ern rock band.
Learn More – facebook.com/hawkeyesband/ Tickets Fireworks

Judging Poultry
2025-06-28 09:00

Celebrity Rabbit Hopping Contest
2025-06-28 13:00 | W.L. Roenigk Sr. Cattle Area

Judging Junior Beef Showmanship, followed by Junior Beef Breed Show
2025-06-28 16:00

Judging Junior Market Steers
2025-06-28 18:00

Bull Ride Mania Rodeo
2025-06-28 18:30 | Grandstand
Have you ever wondered what makes someone want to run with the bulls in Spain? There, it may be tradition. But why on Earth would someone ride a bull in the states?! It could be madness, but spectators and thrill seekers alike have discovered a new adrenaline rush, with the Dave Martin Bull Ride Mania.
This year, Dave Martin and his crew will put on an all-out spectacular of death-defying bull riding at the Big Butler Fair.
Martin created his Mania showcase after years of passionately riding horses & bulls and competing in rodeos throughout his youth. Dave Martin’s Bull Ride Mania features a variety of events. Barrel races? Check. Stunt horse riding? Check. Young riders grasping bucking lambs? Stick horse races? Double check. Bull riding? Of course! You’ll see all this and more during the show, an event you must see to believe!
Go to Dave Martin’s Bull Ride Mania at the Big Butler Fair and witness unparalleled skill and bravery! For more information, visit www.bullridemania.com. Tickets Fireworks

Judging Open & Junior Rabbits
2025-06-29 09:00

Judging Junior Goat Showmanship
2025-06-29 09:00

Open & Junior Dairy Goats
2025-06-29 09:00

Market Goats
2025-06-29 09:00

Open & Junior Boer Goats
2025-06-29 09:00

Big Butler Fair Drive In Horse Show
2025-06-29 10:00 | Draft Horse Show Ring

Exhibition Barrels
2025-06-29 13:00

Jackpot Game Show - Horse & Ponies
2025-06-29 14:30

Shepherd’s Lead Line
2025-06-29 18:00
