Stephen Mease

Champlain Valley Fair Stephen Mease

Established in 1922, the Champlain Valley Exposition held its first four-day fair at the Essex Junction, Vermont, fairgrounds in 1923. In its early years, the grounds included a racetrack, grandstand capable of holding 4,000 people, racing stables, horse and cattle barns, and commercial and industrial exhibits buildings. A century later, the exposition's signature Champlain Valley Fair has grown to become the largest annual event in Vermont--aptly described as the Ten Best Days of Summer. Its agricultural and commercial exhibits and vibrant midway complement the grandstand concert series, which features some of the biggest names in entertainment. Modern indoor facilities now make the exposition not only the destination to celebrate Vermont's agricultural heritage but also one of the state's largest year-round venues for concerts, special interest events, trade shows, indoor soccer, and community gatherings.