WEST WINDSOR, N.J. — A summer tradition in Mercer County lives on as the L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair comes to West Windsor Township, featuring food, agriculture, fireworks, live music, rides, a circus, a drone show and more.
The L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair will be held at the Mercer County Park Festival Grounds, located at 1638 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor Township, offering family-friendly entertainment to the community from Friday, June 26, through Sunday, July 5.
This event was certified by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture as an official agricultural fair for the summer of 2026.
The L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair will be open from 5 to 11 p.m. on Monday through Friday; and 3 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. After 8 p.m., all minors must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older. Fireworks shows will be held at the L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair on June 26, June 29, July 5, and a drone show will be held on July 4.
Admission is $5 on weekdays. The cost of admission is $10 on weekends for everyone age 13 or older, and $5 for those 12 and under. Ride tickets are purchased separately. The Mega Pass, a wristband providing unlimited rides for a day at the State Fair, can also be purchased online as part of a bundle that includes the cost of admission.
No backpacks or coolers are allowed into the carnival, with exceptions for small diaper bags and containers of medically necessary foods that cannot be obtained at the event. No face coverings are allowed (religious exemptions provided). Children must be at least 36 inches tall to go on most of the rides.
In addition to the fireworks and drone show, the state fair features a series of live concerts held each day, with performances held at 7 p.m. daily as well as 3 p.m. on weekends. For a full schedule of performances and other event details, go to theleadfest.com.
Also included with admission is Robinson’s Racing Pigs, a petting farm, pony rides and the Amazing Anastasini Circus.
In addition to the carnival’s many food vendors, L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair is pleased to include a beer tent and the following local dining options:
- Chubis Burgers (burgers and Peruvian cuisine)
- Dellina Concessions (zeppole, funnel cakes, cheesesteak, and more)
- Mom’s Food Service (London Broil steak sandwiches with toppings, chicken in a Pita, Gyros, curly fries)
- Mr. Flavors Ice Cream and Bubble Tea
- Mr. Flavors Shawarma and Fried foods
- NY Fresh Produce (fresh fruit juices, Mexican street corn, and more)
- Snowie of North Jersey (snow cones and slushies)
- Tacos Basilio (Mexican cuisine)
Proceeds from the L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair will benefit L.E.A.D. and its drug and violence prevention mission, including school-based prevention education programs taught by law enforcement officers.
L.E.A.D. offers an evidence-based drug and violence prevention program that uses fun and interactive lessons to help young people build confidence and make healthy life choices. The program is built on the Botvin LifeSkills® Training curriculum, through which students learn goal-setting, responsible decision-making and emotional management skills.
“There’s something special about the L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair,” said Nick DeMauro, Executive Director and CEO of L.E.A.D. “It’s the kind of event that brings Mercer County families together year after year — and knowing that every ticket sold and every dollar raised helps fund the officers who teach our prevention curriculum to students across the country makes it that much more meaningful.”
WHAT:
- L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair in West Windsor Township, N.J.
- Carnival games, rides, food, fireworks, live music, a circus.
- Rides and games operated by Reithoffer Shows.
WHEN:
- Friday, June 26, through Sunday, July 5
WHERE:
- Mercer County Park Festival Grounds, 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor Township, N.J., 08550
TICKETS:
- Carnival admission is $5 on weekdays. The cost of admission is $10 on weekends for everyone age 13 or older, and $5 for those 12 and under. Ride tickets are purchased separately.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
- Purchase a Mega Pass online for gate admission and unlimited rides for the purchaser on the day the wristband is redeemed. Guests who instead choose to buy their Mega Pass wristband at the carnival will have to pay gate admission. To buy a Mega Pass online, go to TheLEADFest.com.
For more information, or to buy tickets in advance, visit TheLEADFest.com.
Philanthropic support for L.E.A.D. through events like L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair will help the organization extend its programming to additional schools by certifying more officers to deliver evidence-based drug and violence prevention education directly in schools and communities.
“Events like the L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair and all of our L.E.A.D. Fest Carnivals are about bringing communities together while supporting programs that help students make positive decisions and build strong futures,” said L.E.A.D Executive Director & CEO DeMauro. “Every ticket purchased helps us continue our mission of helping students across New Jersey, New York and throughout the country to make good decisions, reject drug use and avoid violence.”
About L.E.A.D.
L.E.A.D. — Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence — is a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students understand the dangers of drugs and violence while teaching them how to set attainable goals, manage their emotions and make wise decisions. L.E.A.D. trains and certifies law enforcement officers to deliver evidence-based drug and violence prevention education directly in schools and communities — reaching students before risky decisions arise. L.E.A.D. officers teach Botvin LifeSkills® Training (LST), the most rigorously tested prevention curriculum in the country, proven to reduce drug use, alcohol misuse, and violent behavior. L.E.A.D. is active in all 50 states with more than 6,500 certified officer and educator instructors, made possible through donations and grants.
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