At the Lebanon Area Fair, music plays a central role.
Artists perform on two stages, the Pavilion and the Main Stage, in a steady flow at various times during each day. This year’s fair runs through Saturday. The shows are included with Fair admission.
If You Go…
The fair runs now through July 27. Admission is free from 8am to 3pm daily. Children under 10 years old are admitted free all day, every day. Admission after 3pm is $5 for ages 10 and up. See the full schedule and more information here.
Read more: Our preview of this year’s Lebanon Area Fair
Sue Werner, assistant chairman of the fair, has been with the event for about 30 years. She explained the booking process in an email to LebTown.
“We like to book regional and local talent and have a variety of genres to please everyone,” she said of the lineup that ranges from country to rock to pop and standards. “We like to repeat favorites, but add a new group or two every year.”
Booking the artists takes place sporadically through the year, said Werner.
“Some crowd favorites are booked almost immediately after their show,” she said. “Some of the local talent that performs on the small stage is booked in late spring.”
One of those favorites is country singer Olivia Farabaugh. She performed on the Pavilion stage Monday night, her third stint at the fair.
“The first time I played was in 2016, when I opened for Dylan Scott,” said Farabaugh in an email. “Then last year, I was able to play under the Pavilion.”
Originally from Palmyra, Farabaugh has been singing, playing guitar, writing, and performing since she was in elementary school; she started playing guitar in 4th grade. And she has been going to Nashville every other month to perform and write for the past two years.
Read More: Musician Olivia Farabaugh is making waves in Music City
She spoke about the status of her work there.
“I am excited to share with everyone how my music and sound has progressed since my last project, ‘Memories to Melodies,’ was released in 2017 (that was a project sponsored by the PA Dairymen’s Association in which half the sales of the EP went to the ‘Fill a Glass with Hope Campaign,’ which helps feed hungry families in Pennsylvania),” she said.
“All the songs on that EP were written about local people and their life stories. My goal was to give people a whole new experience on how music can be therapeutic or can help recall wonderful memories, (which), as a songwriter, I can experience in my own music,” she added.
She describes her musical style as a blend of country, pop, and soul inspired by artists like Jack Johnson, Ed Sheeran, and Maren Morris.
Farabaugh anticipates releasing her new project in the fall. In the meantime, she has plenty of work lined up for the summer. On the heels of her Fair performance last night, she’ll play at Mad Chef Craft Brewing in East Petersburg on Friday from 7:00pm to 10:00pm and at the Battlefield Bash in Gettysburg on Saturday.
Find the schedule of remaining evening performances below, and the full fair schedule over at the official website.
Music Performance Schedule
Tuesday
- 7 p.m. Kenzie McCarter
- 7 p.m. Josh Squared Band
Wednesday
- 7 p.m. Country Line Dancing with DJ Dave Whitehead
- 7 p.m. LUV GODS
Thursday
- 7 p.m. Emily’s Toybox
Friday
- 7 p.m. Jess Zimmerman Band
Saturday
- 7 p.m. Damaskus Road Band
- 7 p.m. Flamin’ Dick and the Hot Rods