What to Expect at The Maryland State Fair

WHAT: Maryland State Fair

WHEN: Aug. 28- Sept. 7

WHERE:  2200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonum, Maryland

The Maryland State Fairgrounds have seen animals, concerts, amusement park rides and even a race track. The fair is opening its gates in Timonium, Md. for another year offering special event days, ride specials and camping.

The 10-day event kicks off Friday with a 4-H/FFA Market Lamb Show at 8 a.m. followed by events throughout the day. Admission for the event is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $3 for children and children under 5 are free.

There are a few nights with ride specials including Preview Night on Thursday Aug. 27 from 5 p.m.-11 p.m., unlimited rides Friday, Aug. 28 through Thursday, Sept. 3. for $23.00, Food Lion ride coupon days and the Labor Day ride special day.

During the fair, there will be live thoroughbred horse racing and simulcasting on its 5/8th mile oval track, which overlooks scenic York Road. Live simulcast racing begins, Friday, August 28th through Sunday, August 30th and Friday, September 4th through Labor Day Monday, September 7th, 2015.  Post time is 1 p.m.

The Maryland State Fair offers two scholarships annually for students and each scholarship is different.

There are many activities to do at the fair including a Home Arts Department. In that department, quilters will be submitting their quilts for judging.

Jane Hauprich from Centreville, Md. will be entering three quilts at the Maryland State fair this year. Hauprich is a longarm quilter and says her customers got her interested.

“There are different categories for the quilts, different judges that judge the piecing, quilting and the overall best quilt,” Hauprich said. “I was at the fair on Monday and there were a lot hanging around.”

A longarm quilter gets sent quilt tops from customers they have pieced and then they do all the decorative stitching, among many other things.

Although this is Hauprich’s first year entering quilts, she has been a longarm quilter for more than 2 years.

“Last year was the first time I went to the fair and I really liked it,” Hauprich said.

Fifth Harmony :

September 5, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Located in the Racetrack Infield.

is an all-female, five member group and winners of Radio Disney’s “2015 Best Music Group” award that will be playing at the Maryland State Fair.

The group was formed on the

 in July 2012, consisting of members Ally Brooke Hernandez, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane Hansen, Camila Cabello and Lauren Jauregui.

The group signed a joint deal with Syco Mysic and Epic Records after finishing in third place behind Tate Stevens and Carly Rose Sonenclar on the show.

Their debut single “Miss Movin’ On” was released and peaked at number 76 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling over half a million digital downloads. Their debut Extended Play, Better Together was released in 2013 with a first week position of number six on the US Billboard 200. Fifth Harmony won MTV’s Artist To Watch award in 2014.

The group released their debut studio album, Reflection in February 2015. The album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, with 80,000 units sold in the first week and was supported by the group’s first major headlining tour, the Reflection Tour. “Worth It”  became the group’s first top 15 hit, after peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Fifth Harmony has emerged as the most successful alumni from the X Factor US franchise and have also been labeled the most influential contestant to come from the series.

History

The Maryland State Fair had its first successful year on a four-acre site in Lutherville, Md. In 1878, however, the Lutherville Fair was short lived because of an extension of the Northern Central Railway that had been constructed in the middle of the fairgrounds. The success of this first fair wasn’t all bad. In fact, it made the Maryland State Fair the way it is today.

The organizer’s success in Lutherville gave the operators drive to establish an annual fair and in December 1878, they incorporated as The Agricultural Society of Baltimore County. After leasing a 37-acre plot of land on the York Turnpike on what was then known as “the Timonium Estate,” the first Fair at its new home was held September 9-12, 1879.

Over the years, the Maryland State Fair has grown and prospered, adding many attractions and exhibits, including an airmail delivery at the 1918 Fair.

In its long and colorful history, the Maryland State Fair has grown from 37 acres to over 100 acres and up to an 11-day event. According to fair organizers, it has continued to stay on top with an ever-evolving array of competitions, events and attractions that have drawn more and more visitors to the arena.

The nearly half-million visitors each year attest to what has become a favorite summer tradition – The 11 Best Days of Summer – The Maryland State Fair.