MD State Fair 2024: Dates, Concerts, Racing, And Getting There

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Visitors to the 2024 Maryland State Fair — which opened Thursday, Aug. 22 — can take in food, rides, concerts, animal judging and horse racing this year. Organizers have set the 2023 fair dates to run over three long weekends, including the Labor Day holiday.

The 142nd state fair will be open on these dates:

• Thursday, Aug. 22 to Sunday, Aug. 25
• Thursday, Aug. 29 to Monday, Sept. 2
• Thursday, Sept. 5 to Sunday, Sept. 8

Buildings open on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the carnival midway opens from 5 p.m. to close. Buildings are open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day Monday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the carnival midway opens from 10 a.m. to close.

Gates open early at 9 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day Monday. For details, visit www.marylandstatefair.com, where you can buy tickets in advance. The Maryland State Fair is at 2200 York Road in Timonium.

Parking at the fairgrounds costs $15 per car, but you can find free parking lots nearby.

The fairgrounds will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day Monday.

Maryland State Fair admission prices are: Adults ages 12+, $10; seniors ages 62+, $8; children 6+, $5; children ages 5 and under, free admission. Rides are individually priced.

Tickets at the gate cost $12 for adults (ages 12 to 61), $10 for seniors (age 62 and older) and $7 for children (ages 6 to 11). Kids 5 and younger get into the fair for free. Tickets can be purchased online in advance for $2 less.

Check the fair's Deals and Discounts page for other savings.

Kids younger than age 18 can't enter the fair after 6 p.m. unless they're with a parent, legal guardian or chaperone age 21 or older.

Concerts set for the final weekend will feature Big Time Rush with special guests Crash Adams on Saturday, Sept. 7, with general admission lawn tickets at $55 each. On Friday, Sept. 6, you can catch Let’s Sing Taylor – A Live Band Experience Celebrating Taylor Swift. General admission lawn tickets are$25 each.

HORSE RACING AT THE FAIR

Seven days of thoroughbred horse racing takes place Aug. 23-25 and Aug. 30-Sept. 2. Post time is set at 12:40 p.m. Fairgoers may watch and wager on the races in the grandstand seats or relax in the air-conditioned off-track betting center inside.

Races are free to watch. Post times are at 12:25 p.m. on each race day and continue until all races are completed.

DIRECTIONS, WHERE TO PARK, BUS/TRAIN ACCESS

Vehicle access gates are located on York Road between Padonia and Timonium Roads and on Timonium Road about 1/4 mile east of Interstate 83 and just past the Light Rail tracks.

Paid Parking: Limited parking is available on the Fairgrounds and is $15 per car. Both cash and credit card are accepted. Parking is first-come, first-served. Admission into the fair is additional.

Free Parking at Park & Ride Lot: Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Park and Ride lot on Greenspring Drive. Guests may then access the Fairgrounds by crossing the light rail tracks and entering through the Light Rail Gate. Admission into the fair is additional.

Free Parking at the Kaiser Permanente Parking Garage: Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis on levels 4, 5, 6, & 7 of the Kaiser Permanente Parking garage on Greenspring Drive. Guests may then access the Fairgrounds by crossing the light rail tracks and entering through the Light Rail Gate. Admission into the fair is additional.

No Left Turns: During the 13 days of the State Fair, the Maryland State Police will not allow drivers to make left turns into the gates. Drivers should approach the York Road gate from the north (from Padonia Road) or the Timonium Road Gate from the east (from York Road) during the fair.

LEAVE THE DRIVING TO MTA: The Fairgrounds Light Rail Stop is a short walk from the entrance to the Fairgrounds near the Cow Palace. The MTA No. 93 bus line also serves the Timonium Park and Ride/Light Rail Stop. For detailed schedule information, contact MTA directly at 410-539-5000.

UBER/LYFT: The rideshare drop-off and pick-up location is on the Greenspring Drive Park and Ride Lot. Visitors may then enter the Fairgrounds through the Light Rail Gate.

Find a map of the Fairgrounds online.