Many young people, bored and tired of being at home all the time, stuck in floods of homework and unfinished projects, flocked to the 154th edition of the Great Frederick Fair (GFF) at the end of September. Started in 1882 to celebrate agriculture in Frederick County, the GFF has grown to be the largest county fair in the state of Maryland. I went to the fair to check it out, and here’s what I found.
First of all, the exhibits were fun, but also educational and showcased the rich agricultural heritage of Frederick County. Whether you went to see the quilts, the cakes, the animals, or any of the many other exhibits, there was something for everyone. The Maryland Agricultural Fair Board (MAFB) provided a portion of the premium money for exhibitors, so there were tons of prizes and ribbons for participants.
Personally, I enjoyed the open class livestock exhibits. There were a wide variety of animals, and I saw a group of adorable baby piglets and goats, which melted my heart because I absolutely love pigs, especially the tiny little babies!
Rides were definitely a highlight. The Artic Blast was a pretty good starter ride, and the bumper cars were fun, but a nice fast roller coaster really got my heart pumping. I definitely recommend the Zipper and of course, the Ferris wheel.
No trip to the fair is complete without spending half your paycheck for the goodness that is fried Oreos and funnel cake, carnie games, and random items you want but don’t need. I also got a henna tattoo which came out beautifully, and I’m gonna miss it when it fades.
I didn’t see everything, but the grandstand was always filled with activity from the demolition derby to the musical acts. The music wasn’t my style, but I hear many people enjoyed the different groups, especially Clutch, a local band from Germantown who made it big. Mrs. Goad went to see them and said the concert was great.
I talked to a few other teachers to see what they liked about the GFF. Mrs. Cassels enjoyed seeing the students show off their craftsmanship during the exhibits. Mr. Van Bloem enjoyed riding the Ferris wheel and expressed his love for the pulled pork. Mrs. McElwee said carnival rides make her sick, but she loved the funnel cake and recommended going to go see the animal exhibits.
I think the consensus is that the Great Frederick Fair was really a lot of fun. I don’t go to the fair much, and it’s always magical to me whenever I do go. When the fair comes around again next year, take my word and spend HALF of your paycheck on it. You heard me: half of your paycheck. Nothing more, nothing less. It’ll be worth it.
