Frederick Fairgrounds - Home of The Great Frederick Fair — Local services in Frederick

September 14, 2024 - What’s the difference between a Fair & Carnival? ( see below)

The Great Frederick County Fair is fun, educational, filling , and Thrilling to all ages! My wife and I joined our adult children , and our Grandkids on Saturday . . . Perfect weather, cool temps, and crowded to a comfortable level😃👍🏼👍🏼

As the sun slipped over the horizon, the colorful LED lights lit up the fairgrounds. The older kids come out, and flash back memories of my “dating years” , return!

Our grandkids jitterbugged their way through the exhibits. First stopping at the animal barns to see roosters, chicks, and bunny rabbits. Then our little guys found climbing on tractors, skid steers , and combines with slides to be entertaining!

Getting hungry. . . Choices are overwhelming, especially that “ fried” smell of funnel cakes, batter dipped Oreos, and corn dogs. . . Tough decision! We tried a little of everything!

Then off to the little tot rides! The lines weren’t bad, and the twirling tea cups, space ships, and flying helicopters were perfect for under 5 years old! Most Kids loved the lights, beeping noises, and lifting motion of the mechanical arms ! I was amazed at the ingenuity & glamour of the modern rides . . . Using centrifugal force and inversion to move the body’s blood supply to one’s extremities so quickly! 🩸 🩸🩸👍🏼

We passed most of the “ carnival barker” games. I recall years ago spending my lawn cutting money for tickets to “ dart” balloons for my date’s favorite fuzzy animal prize! Our little ones weren’t interested yet?

It’s a good sized Fair, and the local community sponsors provide a mixture of educational, entertaining, and thrilling activities to keep folks moving ! That’s the advantage over a CARNIVAL. More to see, eat, and learn at a FAIR . . . It comes once a year, for a week, and ENDS. We did attend a calf judging competition. ( see videos) Towards the end of the week, folks will notice 1st Prize ribbons for best cucumbers, jellies, cows, wool sweaters, pumpkins 🎃, and on, and on ! Hopefully you’ll find the exhibits fun, educational, and tasty ! We happened into an agricultural exhibit . . . with tips on composting, and all facts on DAIRY production , with free ice cream 🍦! ( Delicious)

Approaching 9 pm, the Grandparents getting tired . . . while waiting on the kids last ride, I talked with the ride conductor. He shared information about the Reithoffer company, over 100 years of experience. Reithoffer Co. travels year round with groups of rides on trucks, town to town doing fairs & carnivals! Imagine the life of entertaining folks of all ages in a different town each week? 😃👍🏼

I highly recommend these County Fairs, we’ve tried many over the years. I always learn something, and now it’s FUN through the eyes of my...

Had way to little handicap ♿️ parking I had 3 people in our clearly marked handicap van with plates we even brought our placard for people to see, we have a wheelchair ramp that comes out the side. We paid 3 places for parking and finally the Scots took petty on us and watched us get scamed 4 times and let us park in a paved lot with plenty of room for our van and ramp. We of course gave them a donation. We bought tickets 🎟 at the first place and they scanned them so when we finally got to be able to go in the tickets we're all ready not active I had to explain about the parking before she would let us through. The lady wanted us to pay another $30 for 3 more tickets. We had already paid $30 for tickets but couldn't find a handicap spit. So had to find more lots paid $10 each for 2 more lots which blamed to have handicap spots which didn't. We spent a total of $60 in just parking and tickets just to get in then we walked by the food and the cows and turned around and came back to our van. By the way yes we are handicap I had spinal fusion and use a cane daily, my mom is paralyzed from her waist down, and my dad uses a power wheelchair when going out he can't walk far due to being run over by a tractor. We felt it was very expensive my mom did get eyed up by a cow and that was...

What an amazing Fair! The food is out of this world..the rides light up the night sky..there are magical moments everywhere! ...and German Beer made in Maryland!

Brent Cobb was amazing!

He is a storyteller. It felt like going to the Grande ol' Opry. You can feel his down home warmth...and his spiritual side! His on the road family that supports him are stars too! If you ever get the chance to check him out....as those commercials use to say.. Just Do It!

...and if all that wasn't enough amazingness...I got to twirl out of the fair in a sea of bubbles thanks to a mini glittery girl! It was the cherry on top of a perfect adventure!

2023 Glittery Update!!

Another amazing time this year!

Last year was so amazing we came back to see the Red Clay Strays and Elle King! Shout to my friend Dale! We have now seen the Red Clay Strays three times in three States in 5 months! 3rd time for Elle too in a year! It's kinda of Epic!!

This fair is a world full of wonderful! The entertainment line up does not disappoint (and they caught a rising star with the Red Clay Strays this year!), a huge sparkly ferris wheel, food that's beyond expectations and the friendliest people you will ever meet! This fair has stolen my heart! See ya'll next...