Albany County 4-H Carnival Brings Families Together for Games, Food and Fundraising

The smell of popcorn and the sounds of festive music filled the Activities Building at the Albany County Fairgrounds on Saturday as crowds moved from booth to booth during the 66th annual Albany County 4-H Carnival, the primary countywide fundraiser for Albany County's 4-H program.

Colorful decorations, handmade signs and themed booths lined the inside of the building as youth volunteers welcomed visitors and staffed games for prizes. Families casually strolled around trying different activities while 4-H members worked behind tables collecting tickets and keeping the games ongoing. Booths were designed and operated by different Albany County 4-H clubs, with youth running every aspect of the event floor.

One of the afternoon's more spirited attractions was Ferdinand the mechanical bull, which drew a circle of participants and volunteers as riders took turns testing how long they could stay on.

The carnival, first established in 1961, has grown into the signature fundraising event for Albany County's 4-H program. The 2026 edition marked the 66th time the event has brought together families from across the county inside the Activities Building at the Albany County Fairgrounds. Visit Laramie and other community event platforms advertised the March 7 date in advance, drawing a crowd that the venue described as spanning all ages.

No attendance totals or fundraising figures were immediately available following the event.