TIMONIUM, Md. — Despite several days of record heat during the 12-day run of the 137th Maryland State Fair, there was an approximate 3 percent increase in attendance since last year with 572,008 guests and exhibitors.
“The excellent weather during the first weekend of the Fair and the return of schools after Labor Day increased our attendance and reduced the stress on our 4-H/FFA and Open Class livestock exhibitors, staff and leadership who previously had to juggle schedules to participate in the fair,” said Maryland State Fair General Manager D. Andrew “Andy” Cashman.
The theme, More Than A Fair, We’re A Culture, highlights the many cultures that make the Maryland State Fair a fun, educational, relevant, popular and integral community event. AgriCULTURE, HorseCULTURE, RideCULTURE, HortiCULTURE, FoodCULTURE, VitiCULTURE and FriendlyCompetitionCULTURE are just a few of the cultures that attract more than a half million fairgoers and exhibitors each year. Along with thousands of 4-H and Open Class, Home Arts, Farm & Garden, Livestock Exhibits and Horse Shows, Live and Simulcast Thoroughbred Horseracing, Horseland, Nature Play Space, Bullriding, the Innovation Station, U-Learn Farm and other traditional fun and educational favorites, the Maryland State Fair provided a variety of new exhibits and events. The traditional and new combination drew the interest and support of Fairgoers as evidenced by packed parking lots and admission gates and broad smiles of families and individuals enjoying themselves. Among the exciting new events were:
Maryland State Fair FOX-45 FAMfest Preview Night with Ridemania featured fun family activities in the State Fair Park including cooking s’mores around campfires w/fire safety tips from local firemen, local recreation councils overseeing Corn Hole and other games, Floyd’s Rock & Roll Barbershop provided back to school haircuts and more. Ridemania gave participants an idea of the fun in store on Deggeller Attractions’ new Midway layout and expanded Kiddie Land.
The LIVE! OnTrack! Concert Series presented by M&T Bank featured sold-out concerts by Country Sensation Chris Janson and Pop Band Smash Mouth, as well as concerts by Country Artists Chase Bryant and Chris Lane and Rock Legends Jefferson Starship. And, local band fans enjoyed more than 20 local acts and a Latino Festival on the Maryland State Fair Park Free Stage.
Charm City Helicopter Rides, for an additional fee, gave many fairgoers an once-in-a-lifetime bird’s eye view of the Maryland State Fairgrounds and surrounding area.
Roadrunners, Corvettes, El Caminos and approximately 40 other collector cars rolled in to the LIVE! OnTrack! Infield for the Maryland State Fair Classic & Muscle Cars Under the Stars Car Show.
Nine $1,000 college scholarships were awarded at the first College Day at the Races. College students stopped by the Maryland State Fair Grandstand for a day of horseracing fun with friends and a close up view of the Thoroughbred horses.
The Crabby Patty, a Maryland crab cake topped with a soft shell crab on a fresh bun and served in the Maryland Foods Pavilion, received national attention from foodnetwork.com and the distinction of being named by people.com as one of The Craziest Fair Foods You Can Find at State Fairs across America.
Fairgoers were fascinated as they watched Mobile Glass Blowing Studio artists make art before their eyes. During the final weekend of the Fair, a glass art auction was held that raised more than $4,500 for the F.Grove Miller Maryland State Fair Scholarship Fund.
The local Giant Food Store in Timonium won the trifecta at the Maryland State Fair Youth Livestock Sale with winning bids for the Grand Champion Market Steer, the Grand Champion Market Hog and the Grand Champion Market Lamb. The Sale is the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and competition by 4-H/FFA youth. The youth learn responsibility for their animals and how to make wise management decisions. The Sale proceeds, from Maryland businesses and individuals, provide the financial support for the youth and encouragement necessary to meet future goals.
The Classic Plastic Bricks Interactive LEGO® Exhibit that featured iconic Maryland State Fair, city and ocean themes drew large numbers to the Exhibition Hall where fairgoers shopped at the Bulk Candy store and vendor booths and enjoyed visits to the Negro League Baseball, Maryland State Agencies and other exhibits.
The Port Discovery Here We Grow! Hands-on activities helped children to explore farming through themes of science and technology, history, local ecology, global economics and art.
The Undeniably Dairy Celebrity Milkshake Contest hosted by American Dairy Association North East, Maryland Farm Bureau Young Farmers and the Maryland State Fair drew a crowd as the NFL Team of former Ravens player Qadry Ismail and former Eagles player Jason Avant went milkshake to milkshake against WMAR-TV 2 Anchor Team Skyler Henry & Mallory Sofastii and Dairy Farmer Team Mackenzie Underwood & Tracey Edmundson. The TV Anchor Team’s salted caramel milkshake was the winner.
The 138th Maryland State Fair is scheduled for Aug. 22-Sept. 2, 2019. For more information, go to www.marylandstatefair.com.
— Maryland State Fair