MD State Fair 2023: Dates, Concerts, Racing, Foods And Rides

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Visitors to the Maryland State Fair — which opens Thursday, Aug. 24 — 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. 24 to Sunday, Aug. 27
• Thursday, Aug. 31 to Monday, Sept. 4
• Thursday, Sept. 7 to Sunday, Sept. 10

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.

See the full schedule of state fair events.

Concerts set for the final weekend will feature pop-punk band All Time Low on Friday, Sept. 8, and QUINN XCII on Saturday, Sept. 9. Tickets to these shows start at $49.

HORSE RACING AT THE FAIR

Seven days of thoroughbred horse racing takes place Friday, Aug. 25, to Monday, Sept. 4. 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 OTB Center inside.

Purses of $287,000 daily will be at stake, WJZ reported.

There will be two additional races to bet on this year:

Saturday, Aug. 26: The $100,000 Timonium Distaff for fillies and mares going for 61⁄2 furlongs; 3-years-old and up, going 61⁄2 furlongs.

Saturday, Sept. 2: The $100,000 Timonium Juvenile for 2-year-olds going 61⁄2 furlongs. Both races are $75,000 guaranteed, plus $25,000 for Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired.

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.

From Interstate 83 North: Take Exit 17, Padonia Road, East to York Road, continue South on York Road to the Fairgrounds entrance on the right.
or Take Exit 16A, Timonium Road, East toward Fairgrounds. Cross over the Light Rail tracks to the Fairgrounds entrance on the left.

From Interstate 83: Take Exit 16, Timonium Road, East toward Fairgrounds. Cross over the Light Rail tracks to the Fairgrounds entrance on the left.

No Left Turns: During the 12 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 Timonium Light Rail Stop is located 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. Because convenient parking is limited, use of the Light Rail or the No. 93 bus line is encouraged. For detailed schedule information call 410-539-5000.

PARK AND RIDE: Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Park and Ride lot on Deerco Road, with pedestrian access to the fairgrounds through the gate opposite the Cow Palace.

UBER/LYFT: The Uber and Lyft drop-off and pick-up location is on the Deerco Road Park and Ride Lot. Customers may then enter the fairgrounds through the Light Rail admission gate.