Visiting the Frederick County Fair each year is just what we do for us Fredericktonians.
Even the Frederick County Public School system gives school children a day off during Frederick County Fair week so everybody gets a chance to thoroughly enjoy it before the week is up.
After all, the Frederick County Fair has a very long, rich history, with over 156 years and counting!
In the words of it’s President, Colby D. Hubble, “The Great Frederick Fair is the agricultural heart of Frederick County, a community gathering for socializing and a place for exhibitors to showcase and share their success.
Not only are there over 18,000 exhibits, a majority of which are by 4-H and FFA youth, volunteers, sponsors, employees and concessionaires, but also nearly 250,000 people visit the fair annually.”
Hence, we decided to give YOU 10 reasons to visit the Frederick County Fair!
Frederick County Fair: Why Everybody Should Go
1. Food At The Frederick County Fair
Firstly, where else but the fair can you have a great excuse to enjoy corn dogs, pit beef sandwiches, BBQ, ice cream, cotton candy, whoopie pies, and candy apples, just to name a few!
Our “biggest food line” award goes to Hemp’s Meats, a Frederick County full service country butcher shop located in Jefferson, Maryland.
Notably, Hemp’s Meats has been providing top quality meats to Frederick County since 1849!
Needless to say, they know what they’re doing!
In addition, another Frederick County favorite, JB Seafood, located in Myersville, Maryland, serves up the best seafood around.
They pride themselves on being able to obtain the freshest seafood on the East Coast.
2. Spirits
With Frederick County quickly becoming the go-to destination for wineries, breweries, and distilleries, the Frederick County Fair is the perfect place to showcase them!
Check out Visit Frederick’s lists of all of the Frederick County Wineries , Breweries, and Distilleries.
Clearly, there’s something for everyone in this showcase!
3. Animals At The Frederick County Fair
You absolutely cannot go to the Fair without enjoying all of the amazing animals!
Not only will you find sheep, goats, swine, cattle, and equine, but also you’ll see poultry, alpacas, llamas, and rabbits all throughout the fairgrounds.
Unquestionably, they’re all just so cute!!
Furthermore, there’s a birthing center, a milking facility, and shearing and spinning demos.
4. Competitions
There are so many fun competitions throughout the 9 days.
Particularly, entries are judged in the categories of spirits, 4-H Baked Goods, Home Arts & Crafts, Farm & Garden, Plan & Plant, and Garden & Field Crop.
Also, there’s an Equine Showcase/Expo, 4-H/FFA Pretty Cow Contest, Rabbit Judging, a Horse Pull, Texas Roadhouse Eating Contest, and SO much more!
Check out their event info for all of the competitions.
5. Demonstrations At The Frederick County Fair
Not only are there animal related demonstrations all over the fairgrounds, but also there are demonstrations in the categories of Home Arts & Crafts, Farm & Garden, a Sulky to Saddle Tack Room Display, an FCPS S.T.E.M. Showcase, a Huntsman & Hounds Demonstration, and much more!
Indeed, it’s a great way of seeing how hard all of the participants have worked all year to show off their skills to the community.
6. Cool Tractors & Cars
This happens to be my husband’s favorite part of the Fair.
Along with being a vintage garden tractor and vintage car enthusiast, it goes without saying that the Fair is the perfect place to go to see all things on wheels!
From small vintage garden tractors to HUGE combines, you will be able to peruse tractors to your heart’s content.
Along with tractors, there’s also a Parade of Antique Cars on Old Fashioned Day.
7. Races At The Frederick County Fair
The Fair has races throughout the entire 9 days of its annual event.
Undoubtedly, with Horse Pulls, Demolition Derbies, Harness Racing, Kids Harness Pedal Races, and Tractor & Truck Pulls, the excitement never ends.
8. Rides
The carnival rides are always a hit with the kiddos!
Incidentally, Fair has welcomed Reithoffer Shows for over 24 years.
Without a doubt, there are plenty of thrill rides, kiddie rides, and even rides for those of us who prefer something tame.
Obviously, for me, my favorite ride is the ferris wheel!
9. Grandstand Events At The Frederick County Fair
The big acts each year never disappoint!
For example, one year I went to see Loretta Lynn perform live.
Clearly, it was a never-forget experience.
This year they’re having Lonestar & Terri Clark, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Mercy Me, The Temptations, Randy Houser & LANCO, and Montgomery Gentry & Mo Pitney.
Now that’s quite a lineup!
10. Specials
Lastly, there are so many opportunities during the 9 days of the Frederick County Fair to enjoy specials:
- Senior Citizen Days
- Military Appreciation Day
- Fair Friday (Kid’s Day)
- The Lunch Bunch
- Carload Special
Tickets purchased in advance by 5pm, 9/13/19:
- Jack Pass: $30 each ONE single admission & carnival ride wristband
- Jack’s Pack: $110 ($27.50 each) FOUR single admission & carnival ride wristbands
- Retail Mega Passes can be found at Weis Markets. Each $30 Mega Pass grants one admission and unlimited rides on ANY one day of the Fair
Note that any free admission offers do not include the cost to park your vehicle.
Finally, be sure to check the Great Frederick Fair website for days and times for all of these offers.
Hope to see you at the Fair!
Need more ideas for things to do in Frederick?
Check out our posts on:
Free Things to Do in Frederick Md During the Summer
Fun Date Night Ideas in Frederick, MD
Kids Eat Free in Frederick, Maryland
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I am sure that a lot of people may find me a tad pathetic but…I have lived in Frederick since 10/31/1992 (Montgomery County transplant). In 1994, my then-fiance took me to the GFF on a date. For reasons that remain a mystery to me, I have NEVER been to the fair since then This includes the fact that I have two sons, born in 1997 and 2000, respectively, and I have never taken them to the fair. While not opposed to going, if I were to win the tickets, I would give them to my sons with my warm wishes for a great time. <3
We can’t wait to take our first trip to the fair!!
We love going to see all the animals and art! A family favorite!
I would love to take my son to the fair for his first visit. My daughter absolutely loves visiting all of the animals at the fair and her favorite animals to see are the pigs. I love getting a root beer.
I love taking the kids to see all the animals, especially the birthing center.
Love taking my kids to the fair!
Would love to take my kids to the fair this year
We love spening time as a family and the Fair helps bring us together!
Eat all the food!
Taking grandkids to the fair is a day we look forward to every year!
I love the Frederick Fair but I love even more seeing my grandsons so excite to see the farm animals. Can’t wait to go again with them this year!
Would love to take my kids for their first Frederick fair event! To see all the animals, lights, and games! They would love it!
We’ve gone every year with our kids who are now grown. This year we start to take my 14 month old granddaughter!!!
It is my Anniversary on opening night so would love to celebrate it at the Fair!
Love visiting the animals and the exhibits. And, the food selection is great!
I love checking out the exhibits in the 4-H building.
We live going to the fair as a family and having the kids go on the rides and see all of the animals.
Our family loves going to The Great Frederick Fair.
We enjoy going through the 4-H and FFA buildings checking out all the different exhibits and fair entries. As well as watching some of the livestock shows.
Would love to win. Love hemp food an taking my granddaughter to see the animals
We love going to the fair! Every year, I take my daughter for a special Mother/daughter day. It makes great memories and every year we look forward to it!!
I loved going to the dairy when I was younger. Now love taking the grandkids would be great. Haven’t been in a few years.
I would love to be able to take my girls and son! They are getting older and I don’t have much time to spend spend with them as I’d like too. I bust my butt to provide and my son will be leaving in December it would just Ben nice to win !! Good luck all