It will be held on weekends in late August, early September.
Timonium, Md. (KM) – The start of the Maryland State Fair in Timonium is less than ten days away.
This year, the Fair will taking place on the weekends. General Manager Andy Cashman says this change is to accommodate young people who display at the Fair, but can’t be there on the weekdays because they’re in school. “We’re going to attempt it and see where it goes, and we’re certainly going to look at it,” he says. “I think this is a really good move for all of us.”
The dates for the Maryland State Fair are Thursday, August 25th through Sunday, August, 28th; Thursday, September 1st to Monday, Labor Day, September 5th; and Thursday, September 8th to Sunday, September 11th. Buildings will open on Thursdays from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM. The Carnival Midway will be open from 5:00 PM until closing. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and Labor Day, Monday, September 5th, buildings will open at 10:00 AM until 9:00 PM, and the Carnival Midway opens at 10::00 AM until closing. Gates will open early on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day at 9:00 AM.
He says young people and other agriculturalists from all over the state display at the Maryland State Fair. “Everything from indoor which is for the vegetables, flowers, baked goods and crafts to our livestock,” says Cashman. “And we’ll have Garrett County to the Eastern Shore Counties, they’ll be here and exhibiting.”
Visitors to Fair come from all over Maryland, and surrounding states, he says.
Cashman says there will be a lot to do at the Maryland State Fair, including an event being put on by the J Bar W Ranch in Union Bridge in Frederick County. “Sonny Williams and the J Bar W Ranch will be here with a bull riding, and I think they have barrel racing,” he says. “They also have some things for the kids.”
The bull racing will feature 25 professionals from the International Bull Association who will compete on some of the toughest bulls in the world of rodeo, says a news release from the Maryland State Fair. There will also be a Cowgirl Barrel Racing Competition. It all takes place on Thursday, September 8th beginning at 7:00 PM in the Horse Show Arena.
Other events include racing pigs, a Paul Bunyan Show and strolling acts like stilt walkers and a strolling piano. “It’s a kind of a mechanical thing. It just runs up and down the blacktop in front of the Cow Palace playing songs,” Cashman says.
There’s a also a birthing center, bulk candy stores, odyssey axe throwing and a celebrity milkshake contest.
Musical entertainment, as part of the Maryland State Fair Concert Series, includes Rap Superstar Nelly on Friday September 9th beginning at 7:30 PM; country music sensations Niko Moon and Lauren Alaina on Saturday, September 10th beginning at 7:30- PM; and legendary rock band STYX on Sunday, September 11th beginning at 6:30 PM.
More details on the Fair can be found at www.marylandstatefair.com , or by calling 410-252-0200.
With all of these activities and others taking place, Cashman says the Maryland State Fair is all about the state’s largest industry. “Our whole goal is about agriculture. That ‘s what we’re here for. Our mission statement is about agriculture. Everything we do here is the Maryland State Fair and Agriculture Society,” he says.
By Kevin McManus