The 80th annual Howard County Fair is six days away from taking over western Howard County, bringing midway rides, livestock shows, live music and enough fair food to make dinner plans feel unnecessary. The eight-day run starts Saturday, Aug. 8, and gives residents from Dayton, Glenelg, Glenwood and beyond a familiar summer ritual with a milestone anniversary attached.
The fair runs through Saturday, Aug. 15, with admission open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and free parking for visitors, according to the Howard County Fair. Admission is $10 for visitors ages 13 through 61, $5 for those 62 and older, and free for children 12 and younger with a supervising adult.
This year's edition also arrives as Maryland and the rest of the country mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Visit Howard County is promoting the fair's mix of agricultural exhibits, carnival rides, animal barns, children's activities, live entertainment and a beer and wine garden.
Local Schools And Clubs Are Serving The Fair Food
The food lineup is also a community fundraiser, not just a test of how many fried things one person can reasonably eat in a week. The Baltimore Sun reports that Glenelg High School boosters, the Glenelg Marching Band, Marriotts Ridge High School and the Glenwood Lions Club will sell food, with proceeds returning to local organizations and community projects.
The agricultural side gets its biggest spotlight during the 4-H Champion Baked Goods Auction at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, where award-winning cakes, pies and cookies will go under the hammer. The official fair schedule also lists the 4-H and FFA livestock sale for 5:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14.
Those sales help keep the fair tied to more than rides and funnel cake: young exhibitors can use animal-sale money toward their next project or future college costs, according to the Baltimore Sun report. For visitors, it is a chance to see the work behind the ribbons before wandering back toward the midway.
Pie Eating, Sheep Dogs And A Final Parade
Several days have their own built-in draw. Visit Howard County highlights Sunday's pie-eating contest and honey-bee demonstrations, Monday's Wild West re-enactments and sheep-dog performances, Tuesday's Senior Day with free admission for visitors 62 and older, and the closing-day parade of floats at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15.
With gates opening at 8 a.m., free parking outside the fairgrounds and activities running into the evening, the Howard County Fair is set up as both a day trip and a full-week community calendar. The fairgrounds are located at 2210 Fairgrounds Road in West Friendship, and organizers note that the schedule can change.
