What you need to know before heading to the 145th Maryland State Fair

The Maryland State Fair is back again this year in Timonium, bringing three weekends of food, competitions, concerts, rides and more.

On the weekends of Aug. 27-30, Sept. 3-7 and Sept. 10-13, Marylanders can enjoy dozens of events on the sprawling state fairgrounds at 2200 York Road. The state fair has been held annually for about 145 years, giving a platform for local farmers, businesses and artists while providing entertainment for families.

“Fairgoers can check out various patriotic-themed competitions, strolling entertainers, a veteran’s showcase, ribbons, game prizes, and more in celebration of America’s 250th,” said Edie M. Bernier, the spokesperson for the state fair.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the fair.

Buy your tickets online, in person or find a freebie

General admission tickets will be cheaper if you buy them before 4 p.m. on Thursday through the Maryland State Fair website.

Tickets for children cost $8.35, adults cost $13.35 and seniors (62+) cost $11.35. You can also buy tickets to other events happening throughout the weekends, like puppy and goat yoga or the Congress The Band concert. Prices for events vary, costing anywhere from $13 to $55.

If you miss the advanced ticket sale window, you can get tickets at the gate when you arrive to the state fair at slightly higher prices. The fair will also host nights where college students, seniors and veterans can get free or discounted entry to the state fair.

Anyone can also get free entry to the state fair on Friday by donating five nonperishable food items at the Baltimore area Chick-fil-A stores. The donations will be given to BKind, Soup for the Soul, and Bright FM Pantry Project.

Rides at the carnival portion of the fair have ticket prices as well. You can buy an unlimited ride wristband in advance online, or you can buy credits on a fair kiosk once you are there. Advanced sale wristbands cost $28, but they do not include carnival games.

If you purchase the ride credits at the fair, the price for ride wristbands range from $35 to $40 depending on the day.

How to get there and where to park

If you’re driving to the fairgrounds, there are free and paid parking options for attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.

Parking on the fairgrounds will cost about $15 per car. Free parking is available at the park and ride lot on Greenspring Drive. Levels four, five, six and seven of the Kaiser Permanente Parking garage on Greenspring Drive will also have free parking spots available.

If you’re walking from the free parking spaces, you can access the fairgrounds by crossing the light rail tracks and entering through the light rail gate.

If you are being dropped off or picked up by an Uber or Lyft, the driver should go to the Greenspring Drive park and ride lot.

To avoid the parking hassle, you can take the MTA light rail to the fairgrounds stop, which is a short walk from the entrance near the Cow Palace. You can also take the MTA No. 93 bus line to the Timonium park and ride or light rail stop.

Events to look out for each weekend

Maryland State Fair will have everything from rock concerts to rodeos during all three weekends.

Some of the events are free, but special entertainment, including the concerts, require extra tickets. Though if you buy a ticket to the concerts, you do not have to buy an additional entry ticket to the state fair.

Most of the competitions are included in a general admission ticket, including the rodeo on Aug. 27 and Sept. 10, the Mullet Madness Competition on Sept. 13 and a wild-caught blue catfish cook-off on Sept. 5. Watching the horse races during the first two weekends of the fair is also free, but you can always place some bets while you’re there. As with every state fair, plenty of agricultural competitions will be underway throughout the weekends.

There’s also dozens of food options. If you want a deal at some vendors, try heading to the fair on Sept. 11 for $5 Friday deals on state fair classics like buffalo ranch fries, burgers, churros and more.

What’s new to the fair

Organizers have added a handful of new events this year.

During the first weekend of the fair, starting at 9 p.m., attendees can watch the new drone light show from the Midway at the fairgrounds. If you’re there the following weekend, you can check out the different bands and dance crews in the M&T Bank Concert Series, which will include everything from rock bands to a K-Pop Dance Party.

New educational programs will run throughout the weekends, like the interactive dinosaur museum in the Exhibition Hall. Or fairgoers can cuddle a cow for an additional fee on Sept. 12 at the Swine Barn in the Mill Arena.

The fair will also hold a new-food competition on Aug. 30, with vendors competing in categories including best new sweet, savory, patriotic and most creative fair food. Plus, you can taste test the finalists.

You can find a map for the vendors on the Maryland State Fair website.