1890 Union Fair

Once a year, Main Street in Marathon, a village in Cortland County, fills with hundreds of people for the 1890 Union Fair. The one-day event is built on old-fashioned fun and tradition, and it is a fixture of the area’s fall festival calendar.

It is the sort of small-town gathering where neighbors run into each other and the pace stays friendly. There is a heartfelt, nostalgic feel to it, which is exactly what people come for. Experience Cortland features it among the county’s fall festivals, so it is worth confirming the date before you go.

What to Know

• The fair is a one-day event held on Main Street in Marathon.
• Hundreds of people turn out for it each year.
• It leans into old-fashioned fun and tradition rather than big-ticket attractions.
• Featured by Experience Cortland as a fall festival.