Festival FAQs

No. Tickets are required to be purchased in advance. We limit the number of tickets sold each night.

Your tickets are emailed to you from frontdesk@ecfair.org, be sure to check your junk folder. If you cannot locate the email, you can use the FIND MY ORDER function. You will need to enter in your email address as well as the last 4 digits of the card that was used to purchase the ticket.

Your ticket is good for the entire carload. A carload is good for one vehicle and its passengers.
The Drive-Thru Only is available on select nights where you are able to experience the drive-thru of light displays. A Drive-Thru only ticket does not get you the full experience. Drive-Thru Only dates are December 5, 12 and 26-30.
The Full Experience allows you to drive-thru the light displays, park your car and experience the walk around on 42nd st. Activities include visiting Santa, Whoville Express Train Ride, Santa's Barnyard and more! Full Experience dates are November 29-30, December 1, 6-8 and 13-23.

Yes. Tickets are only available online.

Yes! Pack the car as one ticket is good for the entire carload. A carload is good for one vehicle and its passengers.

A carload is good for one vehicle and its passengers. That means everyone in your vehicle can enter the festival under one carload ticket.

There is no extra charge for arriving in a bus or a limo; all vehicle options are priced the same.

We do not offer refunds at the gate or online; however, you can email your ticket to a friend or family member to enjoy.

Date exchanges of equal or greater value may be offered. If contacting during M-F 8-4:30pm, email frontdesk@ecfair.org with your first and last name on the order as well as what night you want to change your ticket to.
If contacting outside of our business hours, we will be available to assist you at the drive-thru entrance booth on your preferred night.

Enter off of McKinley Parkway, the entrance closest to Clark Street. If using a GPS, enter 5600 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg, NY 14075

Your ticket is good for the entire carload. A carload is good for one vehicle and its passengers.
The Drive-Thru Only is available on select nights where you are able to experience the drive-thru of light displays. A Drive-Thru only ticket does not get you the full experience. Drive-Thru Only dates are December 5, 12 and 26-30.
The Full Experience allows you to drive-thru the light displays, park your car and experience the walk around on 42nd st. Activities include visiting Santa, Whoville Express Train Ride, Santa's Barnyard and more! Full Experience dates are November 29-30, December 1, 6-8 and 13-23.

Yes! There is no extra charge for arriving in a bus or a limo; all vehicle options are priced the same.

Gates are open from 5-9pm.
For Full Experience nights, the grounds and buildings are open 5-10pm.

As you drive through the light displays, you must stay inside your vehicle.
For Full Experience nights, the activities along 42nd st. are outside. However, there are also indoor activities such as, Santa, Cookie Decorating, Kiddie Rides, Christmas Tree Comedy Jamboree Show, Food and Shopping Vendors, Kids Craft and Letters to Santa and the Troops.
Please dress accordingly.

Santa will be at the Festival each Full Experience night; November 29-30, December 1, 6-8 and 13-23.

No, please leave your furry friends at home.

Service animals ARE allowed, Emotional Support Animals (ESA), therapy dogs, and pets are NOT allowed on the Fairgrounds. This policy is for the safety of our guests and their animal.

Please do not tailgate the vehicle in front of you. Keep a safe distance, as cars in front of you may stop suddenly. Be alert of slow or stopped vehicles.

Yes, there are portable bathrooms located at the beginning and end of the drive-thru route.

Yes! To enter the walk around portion first, you can enter the grounds off of South Park (use 5820 South Park to help guide you) and head to the south end of the Event Center. You will park your car and head in through the light tunnel. Have your ticket ready!

The drive-thru entrance is off of McKinley Parkway. So, once done with the walk around portion, get back into your vehicle and drive to McKinley Parkway. Use 5600 McKinley Parkway to help guide you to the entrance. Your ticket will be scanned again.

Remember! Gates are only open 5-9pm.

Ticket Terms of Use
Please be sure you select the correct event and location (we are in Hamburg, NY) and the correct number of tickets before completing your purchase. The code on each ticket allows redemption of the item described, and it will be scanned for authenticity. Do not make additional copies of your ticket(s); duplicates will be rejected. Please be aware that SaffireTix is our exclusive ticket sales vendor. Tickets obtained from unauthorized sources may be invalid, lost, stolen or counterfeit. The Erie County Agricultural Society is not responsible for any losses resulting from counterfeit tickets, third party vendors or ticket aftermarket/re-sales. The ticket holder agrees to comply with all venue policies and protocols including health, safety and security in place. You voluntarily assume all risks whether occurring prior to, during or after the event. You agree to release the Erie County Agricultural Society, as well as Saffire and their respective affiliates and representatives from responsibility and claims in any way related to the purchase and use of your ticket. You grant the Erie County Agricultural Society, as well as Saffire and their respective affiliates, with an unrestricted license to use your image or likeness in photograph or video.

Refunds & Cancellations
By proceeding with a purchase, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by the terms outlined in this disclosure regarding refunds.

Please note that all sales are final, and we do not offer refunds.

We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise that prevent you from attending an event. However, due to the nature of event planning and logistics, we are unable to accommodate refund requests, including but not limited to:
• Change in personal plans
• Travel disruptions
• Inclement weather
• Date exchanges of equal or greater value may be offered for The Festival of Lights.

In the event of a cancellation or rescheduling of the event, ticket holders will be notified promptly, and alternative arrangements or refunds may be offered at our discretion.

Service Animals
Service animals ARE allowed, Emotional Support Animals (ESA), therapy dogs, and pets are NOT allowed on the Fairgrounds. This policy is for the safety of our guests and the animal.

Contacting Us
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy or need assistance with your ticket purchase, please don't hesitate to contact us at (716) 649-3900.

Effective Date and Changes
The Erie County Agricultural Society reserves the right to modify the terms of this policy at any time and in our sole discretion, by posting a change notice to this page.

This policy was last modified on October 2, 2024.