The Complex's event guide publishes no union jurisdiction rules. Each show's general contractor sets booth labor rules (GES serves the Farm Show).
Exhibitor guide · Harrisburg, PA · Updated
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Exhibitor Guide
For eight days each January the whole complex becomes the Pennsylvania Farm Show; the rest of the year it hosts the Great American Outdoor Show, the auto show and the fall livestock expos. Ceilings run from 13′6″ in the 1931 Main Hall to 30 ft in the GIANT Expo Hall, and the Department of Agriculture writes the floor rules. This guide covers every hall, the freight window and the Farm Show booth contract.
- 3,000+ exhibitors served
- 10,000+ booths built
- 2 days to a design brief
Photo: the 2026 Farm Show butter sculpture. “20260115-USDA-OSEC-PA-JGP-0064” by USDA, public domain. Source
Quick answers
What exhibitors ask about the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex
Earlier freight goes to the show contractor's advance warehouse, if the show has one.
30 ft in the GIANT Expo Hall, 19 ft in the Northeast Hall, 13′6″ in Main Hall and most others.
House electricians make connections, Complex staff run facility forklifts and lifts, and C&J Catering handles all food and drink.
Only at the Farm Show Complex
Exhibiting during Pennsylvania Farm Show week at the Farm Show Complex
During the Farm Show there is no outside organizer: you rent booth space straight from the Commonwealth's Bureau of Farm Show, on its own contract, rate chart and calendar. Space is sold in 10×10 blocks, admission is free for visitors, and every hall is in play at once, so set-up runs on a fixed state schedule rather than a show kit.
- Jan 9–16, 2027The 111th Farm Show: eight days, about 500,000 visitors, open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. most days. Budget eight days of booth staffing.
- Jan 4Set-up opens. No vehicles drive into the halls after Thursday, Jan. 7, and GIANT Expo Hall booths must be finished by noon Friday, Jan. 8.
- $730.55A 10×10 selling space in the GIANT Expo Hall or on the Main floor when the contract, payment and insurance certificate are back within 30 days. After 46 days it is $913.19. Every booth adds a $105 electric fee that covers one hookup.
- Out of state?Companies based outside Pennsylvania can exhibit only in the New Holland Arena ($646.83 per 100 sq ft selling space) or through the Friends of the PA Farm Show Foundation.
- 2–5 passesWeekly parking passes come with the booth, scaled to its size. Extra passes are $60 a week if ordered before Dec. 18; visitors pay $15 to park.
The building
From a corn show to 24 acres under roof
The complex exists because of one January agricultural show, and it has grown in step with it for nearly a century. It now hosts more than 250 events, meetings and conferences a year.
- 1917The first statewide Farm Show, the Pennsylvania Corn, Fruit, Vegetable, Dairy Products and Wool Show, runs three days and draws about 5,000 people.
- 1931The Main Exhibition Building, today's Main Hall, opens January 19. Work on the Large Arena, now the New Holland Arena, starts in 1938.
- 1942–46The complex is leased for military use, including Army Air Corps training. The Farm Show resumes in 1946 and has run every January since.
- 1991The first butter sculpture, a Benjamin Franklin. Today about 1,000 lb of butter a year, sent to a farm methane digester afterward.
- 2001A $76 million expansion adds the GIANT Expo Hall, the Equine Arena, the Equine Barn and connector links, bringing the complex to nearly a million square feet.
- 2014The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, here since the 1950s, returns under the NRA as the Great American Outdoor Show after a 2013 boycott.
- 2021The Farm Show goes virtual for the first time, and the complex uses the pause for a $21 million renovation.
Photos: "20260114-USDA-OSEC-PA-JGP-0002" by USDAgov, Public domain Source · "20260115-USDA-OSEC-PA-JGP-0068" by USDAgov, Public domain Source · "20260115-USDA-OSEC-PA-JGP-0078" by USDAgov, Public domain Source
Halls & arenas
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex floor plan: halls, arenas and ceiling heights
Eleven connected halls and three arenas, built between 1931 and the 2001 expansion. Ceiling heights vary far more than at a modern convention center, and they decide what you can build. Tap a hall group for sizes.
Schematic. Widths are proportional to floor area, not an architectural plan, and grouped halls are shown as one block. Square footage and ceiling heights are from the Complex's 2026–2027 Event Guide; confirm your hall assignment early.
GIANT Expo Hall
- 172,000 sq ft
- 30 ft ceiling
- Built in the 2001 expansion
The only big hall with real height. Put islands, hanging signs and tall structures here. Hosts the outdoor show, the auto show and Farm Show commercial exhibits.
Main Hall
- 146,527 sq ft
- 13′6″ ceiling
- The original 1931 building
Low ceiling: plan 8 to 10 ft inline walls, no hanging signs, and expect columns. Used for Farm Show exhibits and consumer and trade shows.
North, Northwest & West Halls
- North 56,000 sq ft
- Northwest 55,000 sq ft
- West 38,000 sq ft · all 13′6″
Overflow exhibits and livestock. They hold livestock during the Farm Show and the fall shows, so confirm floor condition before a consumer show.
Northeast & East Halls
- Northeast 38,600 sq ft · 19 ft ceiling
- East 16,500 sq ft · 13′6″
Exhibits, food courts and special displays. Northeast is the mid-height option for a taller backwall.
7,318seats in the New Holland Arena · 28,000 sq ft floor · 90 ft ceiling · confirm floor cover and rigging points
39,200sq ft Equine Arena · 30 ft ceiling · 1,660 seats · often set with footing, so confirm the surface before shipping anything wheeled
15,368sq ft PA Preferred Banquet Hall · seats 1,100 · plus Keystone and Crossroads conference centers
918seats in the Small Arena · 4,000 sq ft · 17 ft ceiling · for demos and seminars
Freight & move-in
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex loading dock and freight
Get directions to Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center →
- 15-day limitThe Complex accepts freight no more than 15 days before the show.
- Small parcelsGo to the Security Desk in the Cameron Street Lobby, labeled with show name, booth number and a contact phone.
- ForkliftsOnly Complex employees operate facility forklifts, high-lifts, trucks and golf carts. During the Farm Show, forklift and operator time is $75 an hour in 15-minute increments.
- Truck routeI-81 Exit 67A (Cameron Street) puts you at the complex; I-83 links I-81 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike south of the city.
- ParkingNearly 3,000 on-site spaces, about 8,500 with shuttled off-site lots; $10 per vehicle for most events.
Dock counts, floor loads and drive-in door sizes are not in the published event guide. Confirm them with the Complex before you plan oversized freight.
- Day −50Design approved. Confirm your hall and its ceiling height.
- Day −30Electrical layout and certificate of insurance due; the Complex charges late fees after this.
- Day −21Purple ships to Harrisburg through our carrier network.
- Day −15Earliest the building accepts freight. Anything sooner goes to the show contractor's advance warehouse, if there is one.
- Day 0Move-in. Vehicles out of the halls by the show's cutoff.
- Show +1Move-out. Empties return, MHA turned in.
Labor & rules
Who can do what on the Farm Show Complex floor
This is a Commonwealth facility with its own published rules, not a convention-center authority like Philadelphia's. The Complex's event guide sets the building rules and each show's kit sets booth labor, so read both. Farm Show exhibitors also carry liability coverage naming the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Farm Show as additional insured.
!Set by your show
- Booth build and dismantle: the show's general contractor sets the rules
- GES serves the Farm Show
- The Complex publishes no union jurisdiction rules, so check the show kit before planning a self-install
●Complex staff only
- Electrical connections by the house electrician, unless the Electrical Department authorizes otherwise
- Cords at least 12/3 grounded; improper cords are confiscated
- Electrical layouts due 30 days out
- Facility forklifts, high-lifts, trucks and golf carts
- Food and drink: C&J Catering only
!Fire code & building rules
- Harrisburg Bureau of Fire: 8 ft aisles, no open flame, propane tanks 10 lb or less indoors
- Display vehicles hold no more than a gallon of fuel
- A fully roofed structure needs temporary auto suppression
- Painter's tape only on surfaces, railroad chalk on floors; no decals, aerosol marking, or signs hung from pipes or electrical lines
Background photo: "FPL Show Setup" by Schezar, CC BY 2.0 Source
Free tool
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex drayage cost estimator
There is no published drayage tariff for the complex; each show's contractor sets it. This uses a planning number of about $115 per hundredweight; replace it with your show kit's rate. See all venues on the drayage rates page.
Estimated drayage
$1,725
Cut this with a lighter booth
In the New Arena, Harrisburg
Photo: "The New Farm Show Arena 2010, photo by Ted Van Pelt" by Ted Van Pelt, CC BY 2.0 Source
The calendar
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex trade shows 2026–2027
January belongs to the Farm Show, February to the Great American Outdoor Show; the rest of the year mixes consumer expos with livestock and horse shows. Attendance is Purple's planning range except the Farm Show's own figure; confirm each event with its organizer.
Pennsylvania Farm Show
Agriculture, food, Pennsylvania-based vendors · 500,000 · 2027
Pennsylvania Auto Show
Automotive, consumer · ~40,000 · 2027
Great American Outdoor Show
Hunting, fishing, firearms, RVs, boats · 1,000+ exhibitors · ~150,000 · 2027
Horse World Expo
Equine · ~40,000 · 2027
PA Home + Garden Show
Home improvement, garden, consumer · 2027
Dates are from each organizer's site. Held here in 2026: the 80th Pennsylvania National Horse Show (October 8–18), which had not posted 2027 dates when we checked. The All American Dairy Show (mid-September) and the Keystone International Livestock Exposition (late September into early October) had not posted 2027 dates when we checked. Farm Show commercial booths are generally limited to Pennsylvania-based companies, sold in 10×10 blocks, and open to new exhibitors through a waitlist.
Where to stay
Hotels near the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex
Book early for January and February, the months of the Farm Show and the Great American Outdoor Show.
5–10 min drive
I-81 interchange hotels
The usual crew block, closest to the complex.
10 min drive
Downtown Harrisburg
Restaurants and the Capitol for client dinners.
25–30 min drive
About an hourHershey hotels
Resort options for client entertainment.
Lancaster hotels
If you are pairing a show at the Lancaster County Convention Center.
Venue guide →Insider tips
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex exhibitor tips: what experienced teams do
Sign the Farm Show contract fast
Booth rates step up with every day the contract sits: a 10×10 selling space in the GIANT Expo Hall is $730.55 if returned within 30 days and $913.19 after 46. The rate counts only once payment, agreement and insurance certificate are all in.
Get the truck out by Thursday
No vehicles may drive into the halls after Thursday, Jan. 7 for the 2027 Farm Show. Heavy pieces and anything on a pallet go in before then; after that it is hand trucks and the Complex's $75-an-hour forklift.
Design for the hall you drew
A 30-foot Expo Hall island will not fit under Main Hall's 13′6″ ceiling. The Farm Show also warns that structural posts may sit inside a rented space, with no refund or discount, so ask for your exact booth location before you finalize a layout.
Do not run sales on the free Wi-Fi
The Farm Show's own exhibitor guide calls the free Wi-Fi unreliable for transactions. Order a wired connection through C&J Catering if your card reader or lead app needs to stay online.
Leave the trailer at Lot C
During the Farm Show, exhibitor trailers park off site at the secured Lot C lots. On-site trailer passes cost $150 a week and are limited to exhibitors who truly need the trailer beside the building.
North and Northwest pack out first
Vendors in the North and Northwest halls must remove everything by midnight on closing day, Jan. 16, 2027. Everyone else can finish tear-down on Jan. 17 and 18, so book return freight to match your hall.
FAQ
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex FAQ for exhibitors
How big is the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex?
More than one million square feet, with 24 acres under one roof across 11 halls and 3 arenas. The largest hall is the 172,000 sq ft GIANT Expo Hall, and the New Holland Arena seats 7,318.
Is the Farm Show Complex union?
The Complex's published event guide sets no union jurisdiction rules. Booth labor is set by each show's general contractor and exhibitor kit (GES serves the Farm Show), so check the kit before planning a self-install. Purple confirms it at kickoff.
What is the ceiling height at the Farm Show Complex?
It depends on the hall. The GIANT Expo Hall has a 30-foot ceiling and the Northeast Hall 19 feet, but the Main, North, Northwest, West and East halls are 13′6″. A booth that works in the Expo Hall may not fit in Main Hall.
When can I ship freight to the complex?
No more than 15 days before the show. Small parcels go to the Security Desk in the Cameron Street Lobby, labeled with show name, booth number and a contact phone.
Can I plug in my own electrical?
No. Only the house electrician makes electrical connections unless the Complex's Electrical Department authorizes it. Cords must be at least 12/3 grounded, and layouts are due 30 days out.
How much is drayage at the Farm Show Complex?
There is no published tariff for the complex; each show's contractor sets it. Plan about $115 per hundredweight and use the show kit's rate once you have it.
Where do exhibitors park?
There are nearly 3,000 on-site spaces and about 8,500 including off-site lots with shuttles. Most events charge $10 per vehicle.
Can I exhibit at the Pennsylvania Farm Show?
Commercial space is sold in 10×10 blocks to more than 250 exhibitors, mostly Pennsylvania-based companies, through an application and waitlist. Out-of-state companies have limited options.
Which airport should I use?
Harrisburg International (MDT), nine miles southeast of the city. Allow 20 to 30 minutes to the complex on the north side.
Is the butter sculpture real butter?
Yes. About 1,000 pounds of it, carved on site and kept chilled in a glass case every January since 1991. Afterward it goes to a farm methane digester.
Exhibiting in Harrisburg?
Start with the booth number. We handle the rest.
Tell us which hall you drew: a 30-foot GIANT Expo Hall island and a 13′6″ Main Hall inline are different builds. Within two business days you get a design brief, a drayage estimate and a timeline that respects the Complex's 15-day freight window and 30-day electrical deadline.
Background photo: "Walnut street walking bridge at night" by Pvasimages, CC BY 2.0 Source
Compare venues
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center vs other Pennsylvania venues
How the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center stacks up against the other Pennsylvania halls we have guides for. Drayage figures are Purple planning rates, not published tariffs.
| Venue | Type | Largest space | Ceiling | Labor | Drayage (plan) | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo CenterThis guide | Fairgrounds | 172,000 sq ft GIANT Expo Hall | 30 ft Expo · 13′6″ Main | Check show kit | ≈ $115/cwt | MDT · 9 mi |
| Bayfront Convention CenterErie | Convention center | 28,800 sq ft Great Hall · 160 booths | 23 ft (Great Hall) | No venue union rule · check kit | ≈ $50/cwt | ERI · about 6.5 mi |
| David L. Lawrence Convention CenterPittsburgh | Convention center | 236,900 sq ft column-free Halls ABC | 30–45 ft (Halls ABC) | Union · self-setup ≤ 400 sq ft | ≈ $160/cwt | PIT · 18 mi |
| Greater Philadelphia Expo CenterOaks | Expo center | 240,000 sq ft, Halls A–E on one floor | 22–35 ft | Check show kit | ≈ $120/cwt | PHL · ~45–60 min drive |
| Hershey Lodge & Convention CenterHershey | Resort ballrooms | 32,004 sq ft Great American Hall | 22 ft (Great American Hall) | In-house decorator · check kit | ≈ $50/cwt | MDT · ~20 min |
| Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono MountainsPocono Manor | Resort ballrooms | 38,000 sq ft Kilimanjaro Ballroom | 16–25 ft | Not right-to-work · check kit | ≈ $120/cwt | AVP · ≈40 mi |
| Lancaster County Convention CenterLancaster | Convention center | 46,508 sq ft Freedom Hall | — | Check show kit | ≈ $120/cwt | MDT · 27 mi |
| Monroeville Convention CenterMonroeville | Convention center | ~44,000 sq ft North Hall | 32 ft (North Hall) | Unconfirmed · check show kit | ≈ $85/cwt | PIT · under 45 min |
| Pennsylvania Convention CenterPhiladelphia | Convention center | 528,000 sq ft contiguous, Halls A–E | 30 ft (A–C) · 29 ft (D–E) | Union · CSA | ≈ $170/cwt | PHL · 8–9 mi |
| Philadelphia Marriott DowntownPhiladelphia | Hotel ballrooms | 34,300 sq ft Grand Ballroom · 31,962 sq ft Franklin Hall | 10.5 ft Franklin Hall · 22 ft ballroom | Union · check kit | ≈ $170/cwt | PHL · SEPTA to Jefferson Station |
| York Expo CenterYork | Fairgrounds | 114,000 sq ft UPMC Arena (74,000 clear span) | 24–30 ft arena · 12–22 ft other halls | Show contractor · check kit | ≈ $90/cwt | MDT · roughly 30 mi |
More Pennsylvania guides
Other Pennsylvania venues
Lancaster County Convention CenterLancaster · about an hour
Pennsylvania Convention CenterPhiladelphia
Greater Philadelphia Expo CenterGreater Philadelphia
David L. Lawrence Convention CenterPittsburgh
Monroeville Convention CenterMonroeville
Written by the Purple Exhibits team. Reviewed for the 2026–2027 season. Sources: Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center 2026–2027 Event Guide, 2027 Pennsylvania Farm Show Commercial Exhibitors Guide, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (complex history, location and parking), Great American Outdoor Show, Wikipedia (Pennsylvania Farm Show; Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center; Harrisburg International Airport), Billy Penn, abc27, local21 News.