All's Fair

By Michael O'Sullivan
Friday, August 4, 2006

Where else but at the fair would you find something as decidedly retro as a "Produce Parade" listed under the heading "New for 2006"?

Let's be real. Fairs aren't entirely immune to the march of time. Loud rock music does more than occasionally blare from the midway rides, even as the proliferation of glow necklaces after dark can make the average fairgrounds resemble a giant outdoor rave.

Yet still we cling to the simple things that make fairs fairs: pie-eating contests, livestock shows and competitions for the county's largest potato. If only once a year, perhaps more than a few of us really do need to be reminded where that burger and fries we just ate came from.

Maybe it's time to look a prize-winning heifer in the eye. Maybe you just want to try your hand at winning a SpongeBob SquarePants doll from the squirt gun racing booth. Whatever it is, our annual guide to the area's state, county and local fairs -- where you'll find a little bit of today mixed in with a lot of yesterday -- will get you started.

MARYLAND

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY FAIR
Sept. 13-17

Where: 1450 General's Hwy. (Route 178), Crownsville. Take U.S. 50 east to Route 3 north to Route 97 south to Exit 5 (General's Highway). After the third traffic light, fairgrounds are about a half-mile on the right.

For more info: 410-923-3400. http://www.aacountyfair.org/ .

Hours: Open Sept. 13 from 4 to 11; Sept. 14 from 10 to 11; Sept. 15 from 4 to 11; Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sept. 17 from 9 to 8.

Prices: $5; $2 ages 6 to 15; ages 5 and younger free. Free admission Sept. 13-14 for ages 10 and younger accompanied by paying adult; on Sept. 13 for Scouts in uniform; and on Sept. 14 from 10 to 3 for seniors 55 and older and the disabled. Free parking.

You don't see that every day: Watermelon-eating contest (Sept. 17 at 10 a.m.).

CALVERT COUNTY FAIR
Sept. 27-Oct. 1

Where: 140 Calvert Fair Dr., Barstow. Take Pennsylvania Avenue/Route 4 south to Prince Frederick, turn right onto Route 231 and proceed two miles to fairgrounds on left.

For more info: 410-535-0026. http://www.calvertcountyfair.com/ .

Hours: Open Sept. 27 from 4 to 9; Sept. 28-30 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Oct. 1 from 10 to 6. Closing times may vary, depending on crowd size and weather.

Prices: $5; ages 11 and younger free.

Free parking.

You don't see that every day: Antique tractor pull (Oct. 1 at 10 a.m.).

CARROLL COUNTY 4H/FFA FAIR
 Friday

Where: Carroll County Ag Center, Westminster. From Baltimore Beltway, take I-795 north to Route 140 north toward Westminster. Turn left onto Center Street and proceed past Carroll County General Hospital, turning right onto Gist Road. At stop sign, turn right onto Smith Avenue, which dead-ends at the Ag Center.

For more info: 410-386-2760. http://www.carrollcountyfair.com/ .

Hours: Open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Prices: Admission and parking are free.

You don't see that every day: Chick parade (Friday at 5).

CHARLES COUNTY FAIR
 Sept. 14-17

Where: 8440 Fairground Rd., La Plata. Take Pennsylvania Avenue to Branch Avenue/Route 5 south, which becomes Route 301 south. Fairground Road is on the left, about three miles south of La Plata on Route 301.

For more info: 301-932-1234. http://www.charlescountyfair.com/ .

Hours: Open Sept. 14 from 4 to 11; Sept. 15 and 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sept. 17 from 9:30 to 7.

Prices: $5; ages 10 and younger free; Sept. 15 from 9 to 5, all schoolchildren admitted free; four-day pass $10. Free parking.

You don't see that every day: Queen Nicotina Pageant (coronation ceremony Sept. 14 at 7).

GREAT FREDERICK FAIR
Sept. 15-23

Where: 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Take I-270 north to I-70 east and proceed to Exit 55 (East South Street). At the end of the exit ramp, turn right and proceed to the three-way stop. Turn right onto Franklin Street. Proceed to the end of the street and turn right onto East Patrick Street, then left onto Monroe Avenue to entrance at Gate 3 on the left.

For more info: 301-663-5895. http://www.thegreatfrederickfair.com/ .

Hours: Grounds open Sept. 15 at 5 p.m.; 9 a.m. thereafter. Grounds close daily at 10 or later, depending on crowd size.

Prices: $5; ages 9 and younger free; ages 18 and younger free Sept. 22 until 5; $45 per carload Sept. 20 from 2 to close. Tickets for concerts are $30-$45; motor sports $20. Parking is $5, beginning Sept. 16

at 9 a.m.

You don't see that every day: Demolition derby (Sept. 19 and 20 at 7).

HOWARD COUNTY FAIR
Saturday-Aug. 12

Where: 2210 Fairgrounds Rd., West Friendship. Take I-95 north to Route 32 west toward Columbia. Turn left onto Route 144 west (Frederick Road), then right onto Fairgrounds Road.

For more info: 410-442-1022. http://www.howardcountyfair.com/ .

Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Prices: $4; $2 seniors 62 and older (seniors free on Tuesday); ages 9 and younger free. On Saturday, military personnel with valid ID free (includes spouse and children younger than 18); on Monday and Wednesday, unlimited-ride tickets are $18; on Tuesday and Thursday, all rides are $1 each day. Parking is free.

You don't see that every day: Cow-milking contest (Sunday at 2:30).

MARYLAND STATE FAIR
Aug. 25-Sept. 4

Where: Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium. Take I-95 north to I-695 west to I-83 north to Exit 17/Padonia Road east to York Road, then south on York Road to fairgrounds entrance on the right.

For more info: 410-252-0200. http://www.marylandstatefair.com/ .

Hours: Demonstration and exhibit halls open daily 10 to 10; livestock and horse shows open daily 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; midway open weekends 10 to 10 and weekdays noon to 10.

Prices: $6; ages 11 and younger free. Limited free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Park and Ride location on Deereco Road, west of the fairgrounds.

You don't see that every day: "The Battle of the Beast" pro bull riding (Aug. 28 at 7).

MONTGOMERY COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Aug. 11-19

Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Gaithersburg. Take I-270 north to Exit 11 (Montgomery Village/Fairgrounds), then turn left onto Montgomery Village Avenue. At the next light, make a right onto Route 355 south, then a right onto Perry Parkway to fairgrounds entrance, a half-mile on the left. $5 parking is available at the public parking lot off Perry Parkway, across from CompUSA. Free parking is available at Lakeforest Mall, with free shuttle service from the mall to the fairgrounds from 7 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily.

For more info: 301-926-3100. http://www.mcagfair.com/ .

Hours: Open Aug. 11 from 3 to midnight; Aug. 12-19 from 10 to midnight.

Prices: $7; $3 ages 2 to 7; younger than 2 free. Season passes, good for unlimited daily admission, are $45 (available through Aug. 11).

You don't see that every day: Cheese carving contest (Aug. 15 at 10:30 a.m.).

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY FAIR
Sept. 7-10

Where: Prince George's County Equestrian Center, Upper Marlboro. Take Pennsylvania Avenue/Route 4 south to the Water Street exit for Upper Marlboro. Turn right off the exit ramp into the Equestrian Center complex.

For more info: 301-952-0270 during the fair; otherwise 301-579-2598. http://www.countyfair.org/ .

Hours: Open Sept. 7 from 4 to 10; Sept. 8 from 5 to 11; Sept. 9 from 11 to 11; Sept. 10 from 11 to 6 (ride stay open until 8).

Prices: $5; $4 ages 6 to 17; ages 5 and younger free; $25 for unlimited-ride wristbands (sales stop at 4 on Sept. 9 and 10); seniors admitted free Sept. 7.

You don't see that every day: Cruisin' the Fair Car Show (Sept. 9 from 11 to 4).

ST. MARY'S COUNTY FAIR
Sept. 21-24

Where: St. Mary's County Fairgrounds, Leonardtown. Take Pennsylvania Avenue to Branch Avenue/Route 5 south. The fairgrounds are two miles south of Leonardtown on the left.

For more info: 301-475-2256 or 301-475-8434. http://www.somd.com/smcfair .

Hours: Open Sept. 21 from 3 to 9; Sept. 22 and 23 from 9 to 9; Sept. 24 from 9 to 6.

Prices: $5; $1 ages 6 to 17; ages 5 and younger free; on Sept 22, students through high school admitted free. Free parking.

You don't see that every day: Draft horse pull (Sept. 22 and 23 at 7).

PENNSYLVANIA

YORK FAIR
Sept. 8-17

Where: 334 Carlisle Ave., York. From the Baltimore Beltway, take I-83 north to Exit 15 (South George Street/Business 83). Turn left at the second traffic light onto Country Club Road, then right onto Richland Avenue and left onto Market Street to the fairgrounds.

For more info: 717-848-2596; http://www.yorkfair.org/ .

Hours: Gates open Sept. 8-10 and Sept. 15-17 at 10; Sept. 11-14 at 3. Exhibitions buildings remain open until 9; commercial buildings until 10; midway often later, depending on crowd size.

Prices: $5; $2 ages 6 to 11; ages 5 and younger free; $18 for unlimited-ride wristbands. Free admission Sept. 8 from 10 to 3 for seniors with Medicare cards; Sept. 9 from 10 to noon for visitors with a Comcast cable bill; Sept. 10 from 10 to 11 a.m. for all; Sept. 12 from 3 to 8 for students and Scouts; Sept. 13 from 3 to 6 for all; Sept. 15 from 10 to 3 for one adult accompanied by a preschooler. On Sept. 17, receive $2 off one regular adult admission with a neck hanger from any Coca-Cola product. Parking $6.

You don't see that every day: Sandscapes sand sculpture (ongoing).

VIRGINIA

ARLINGTON COUNTY FAIR
Aug. 17-20

Where: Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 S. Second St., Arlington. Free shuttle buses run continuously beginning one hour before the fair opens and ending one hour after the fair closes from the Ballston Metro station; the free parking lots at the Arlington Career Center, 816 S. Walter Reed Dr.; and the I-66 Parking Deck, next to Washington-Lee High School, at North Quincy and North 15th streets.

For more info: 703-920-4556 (TTY: 703-228-4743); http://www.arlingtoncountyfair.org/ .

Hours: Outdoor hours are Aug. 17 from 5 to 10 p.m.; Aug. 18 and 19 from 10 to 10; and Aug. 20 from 11 to 10.

Prices: Free.

You don't see that every day: The fair features hundreds of competitive exhibition categories, from best banana bread to best pickled peppers (awards ceremony Aug. 20 at 3:30).

BLUEMONT FAIR
Sept. 16-17

Where: Just off Route 7, at the junction of Routes 760 and 734, in Bluemont. From Route 7, turn onto Clayton Hall Road. When you reach the stop sign at the end, turn left onto Snickersville Turnpike. Pass through the village of Bluemont to the fairgrounds parking lot on your left, at the southeast end of the village.

For more info: 540-554-2367; http://www.bluemontfair.com/ .

Hours: Open daily from 10 to 5.

Prices: $5; younger than 12 free. Free parking.

You don't see that every day: Pony rides (daily from 11 to 4).

FAIRFAX COUNTY 4H FAIR AND FARM SHOW
Saturday-Sunday

Where: Frying Pan Park, 2709 W. Ox Rd., Herndon. From I-66, take Exit 55 to the Fairfax County Parkway/Route 7100 north. Proceed for six miles and turn left onto West Ox Road. Park entrance is 1.4 miles ahead on the right.

For more info: 703-324-5369; http://www.4hfairfax.org/ .

Hours: Open daily from 9 to 5.

Prices: Admission and parking are free.

You don't see that every day: Pet show (Saturday at 1).

FREDERICKSBURG AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Friday-Saturday

Where: 2400 Airport Ave., Fredericksburg. Take I-95 south to Route 3 east toward Fredericksburg to Route 2/Business Route 17 south toward Tappahannock/Bowling Green. Turn right onto Oldfield Street and left onto Airport Avenue.

For more info: 540-373-1294; http://www.fredfair.net/ .

Hours: Gates open Friday at 5; Saturday at 10. Gates close daily at 10, although the midway remains open late, depending on crowd size.

Prices: $12 (includes entertainment, parking and unlimited rides); $6 ages 55 and older not riding on midway; ages 2 and younger not riding on midway free.

You don't see that every day: Mud bog race (Saturday at noon).

LUCKETTS FAIR
Aug. 26-27

Where: Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Rd., Lucketts. Take Route 7 west to Route 15 north. The community center is on Route 15, eight miles north of Leesburg.

For more info: 703-771-5281; http://www.luckettsfair.com/ .

Hours: Open Aug. 26 from 9 to 6; Aug. 27 from 10 to 5.

Prices: $8; ages 5 and younger free; two-day tickets for $12. Free parking.

You don't see that every day: Produce parade (Saturday at 5).

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY FAIR
Aug. 11-19

Where: 10624 Dumfries Rd., Manassas. Take I-66 west to Route 234 south (bypass). Follow to the fifth traffic light. Turn left onto Business Route 234 and proceed about one mile to the fairgrounds entrance on the left.

For more info: 703-368-0173; http://www.pwcfair.com/ .

Hours: Open Aug. 11 and 18 from 3 to midnight; Aug. 12 and 19 from noon to midnight; Aug. 13 from noon to 11; Aug. 14-17 from 3 to 11.

Prices: $7; $5 ages 3 to 6 and seniors 60 and older; ages 2 and younger free. Free parking.

You don't see that every day: Dave Martin's Rodeo (Aug. 18 at 7).

VIRGINIA STATE FAIR
Sept. 28-Oct. 8

Where: Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E. Laburnum Ave., Richmond. Take I-95 south to I-295 east (Exit 84). Turn right onto Meadowbridge Road at Exit 38B. Proceed to Carolina Avenue and turn left. Gates 7 and 6 will be on your right.

For more info: 800-588-3247; http://www.statefairva.org/ .

Hours: Open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 to midnight; all other days from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Prices: $21.99; $17.99 ages 3 to 6, seniors 60 and older and the disabled; ages 2 and younger free. Admission includes unlimited rides. $10 "Walk Around" tickets, which do not include access to rides, are available Monday-Friday. Monday-Friday after 5, admission prices are $3 off. Eleven-day pass is $31.99. Tickets to amphitheater concerts are sold separately for $10-$40. Free parking.

You don't see that every day: Hog-calling contest (Oct. 7 at 7).

WEST VIRGINIA

JEFFERSON COUNTY FAIR
Aug. 20-26

Where: Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Kearneysville. Take I-270 north to I-70 west to Route 340 south to Route 9 west toward Martinsburg. Proceed about three miles to Bardane and turn left at traffic light onto Wiltshire Road. When Wiltshire ends, turn right onto Leetown Pike, and the fairgrounds are on your right.

For more info: 304-724-1411; http://www.jeffersoncountyfairwv.org/ .

Hours: Aug. 20 from 1 to midnight; Aug. 21-25 from noon to midnight; Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. to midnight. Some events not requiring fair admission may take place earlier.

Prices: $5; $3 ages 6 to 15; ages 5 and younger free. Free parking.

You don't see that every day: Bubble gum blowing contest (Aug. 21 at 7:30).

SHENANDOAH COUNTY FAIR
Aug. 25-Sept. 2

Where: 300 Fairground Rd., Woodstock. Take I-66 west to I-81 south toward Roanoke via left Exit 1A. Proceed to Route 42 via Exit 283 toward Woodstock. Turn left onto Route 42 (West Reservoir Road). Turn left at second stop sign onto Ox Road. Fairgrounds are ahead less than half a block.

For more info: 540-459-3867; http://www.shencofair.com/ .

Hours: Fairgrounds open daily at 8 a.m. Midway opens Aug. 25 at 4; Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 at 1; Aug. 27 at 2; Aug. 28 and Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at 5; Aug. 29 at noon. The fair closes daily at 10:30 or later, depending on crowd size.

Prices: $5; $2 ages 6 to 11; ages 5 and younger free. On Aug. 29, admission is free for ages 18 and younger. On Aug. 30, admission before 4 is $2 for veterans. On Aug. 31, admission before 4 is $2 for seniors 65 and older. On Sept. 1, admission before 4 is $2 for women. Parking is free.

You don't see that every day: Animal sounds contest (Aug. 26 at 10:30 a.m.).

Michael O'Sullivan covers art and film for the Weekend section.