Cider Making Competition

The Erie County Fair is continuing the home cider making competition! The craft hard cider making scene in Buffalo is growing and we want to help that growth. We want to offer a tasty gluten free beverage to our guests to enjoy during their visits to the Erie County Fair, so we are partnering with BlackBird Cider Works to make it happen.

Home Cider Hobbyists from across New York State may submit their cider in the Erie County Fair’s Cider Competition. The annual summer release of the limited run, craft cider is based on the winning brew has become an anticipated tradition at the Erie County Fair for cider lovers!

The deadline to enter is April 30th. In addition to the opportunity to win a gold medal for excellence, the Erie County Fair Cider Competition’s Best of Show** entry will be professionally made, canned, and named the 2024 “Erie County Fair Best of Show Cider.” It will also be on tap at the Erie County Fair for all to enjoy!!!

** For the 2024 Erie County Fair Cider Competition we have decided to spice things up. While we all love classic styles, we know the fair is about having some fun. All styles can be entered and will be judged, but the “best of show” cider main criteria will be “creative relevancy” or the most fun cider to enjoy while being at the fair. The winning cider for this contest will be commercially made and available at the fair AND will be canned* for the masses. More to come!

*We are planning to make a limited run of the winner’s cider assuming:
1. The cider can be made under 7 pct abv.
2. The recipe for the cider can be easily approved by the TTB and the NYS Liquor Authority.

It is necessary that you view all the important information listed below in order to enter correctly.

You may enter competitions by clicking the "Enter Online" link. All competitions will be entered online.

• You will be directed to another web page where you will be instructed to create an account.

Contact the Competitive Exhibits office at ceoffice@ecfair.org or by phone at 716-649-3900 ext. 6407

There are 3 TYPES of accounts:

* One-time only single user account, you will have to create a new one each year
* One-time only group account, you will have to create a new one each year
* Passport Account, it stores your information for years and you can look back at your previous years’ placings, it will also store your animal information if you are entering livestock!

** You CAN change your one-time accounts into a passport account at any time

There are several different links to use when entering:

To enter Creative Arts, Woodcarving, Environment & Sportsmen, Ag-Grange, Home Wine (age 13 & older) - https://ecfair.fairwire.com/

IF you use the one-time only account you will NEED to make a new account for each of the links listed above.IF you use the passport account you can find each link under your 1 account by going to “List of Fairs” in the top right.

April 30th, 2024

Entries must be dropped off before April 30^th at either of the following locations:

Hamburg Brewing Company during business hours (Please check availability ahead of time) at 6553 Boston State Rd, Hamburg, NY

Erie County Fairgrounds Main Offices (9:30 AM - 4:30 PM) 5600 McKinley Pkwy, Hamburg, NY

Resurgence Brewing Company during business hours (Please check availability ahead of time) at 55 Chicago St, Buffalo, NY

* Must be 21 years or older.