Maryland State Fair 2018: Full Schedule, Rail, Bus Service

TIMONIUM, MD — If you're planning to head to the Maryland State Fair to sample the food, see performers, view the animals or tackle the rides, there are ways to beat the traffic. The fair, which opened Aug. 23 and runs through Sept. 3 in Timonium, is one of the best values among the 21 top state fairs studied for a new report by HomeToGo, a vacation-rental search engine. Transit officials urge residents to take public transportation for less hassle.

"More Than A Fair, We're A Culture!" is the theme of this year's fair in Baltimore County. Headline concerts at the fair include: Country music performer Chase Bryant and Chris Lane, Friday, August 24; rock band Smash Mouth, Saturday, August 25; classic rockers Jefferson Starship, Saturday, September 1; and country star Chris Janson, Sunday, September 2. All the shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and gates open at 6:30 p.m. A limited number of premium tickets, priced at $20 each, are on sale now online.

Find the full fair schedule here.

MDOT MTA’s Light RailLink, Local Bus and Metro SubwayLink all offer access to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.

Light RailLink

Passengers can board any Light RailLink train for the ride to the fairgrounds. The last northbound and southbound Light RailLink trains will leave the Timonium Fairgrounds at 11 p.m. each day of the fair. On Sunday, August 26, Sunday, September 2, and Monday, September 3, northbound trains to Hunt Valley and southbound trains to Cromwell Station/BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Station will depart from the fairgrounds on the hour from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. These trains will stop at all station stops.

CityLink/LocalLink Bus

Fairgoers can take LocalLink 93 to the Timonium Fairgrounds stop on Greenspring Drive, just a short walk to the fair entrance. Passengers from downtown Baltimore can use the CityLink Red located at Baltimore and Green Streets to the Lutherville Light RailLink stop and transfer to LocalLink 93.

Passengers also can use LocalLink 52 from North Avenue, and LocalLink 53 from State Center Metro Station, to Macy’s at Towson Town Center on Dulaney Valley Road and transfer to LocalLink 93.

Metro SubwayLink

Customers can take Metro SubwayLink to the State Center/Cultural Center Station, walk about one block to the Cultural Center Light RailLink stop and take Light RailLink northbound directly to the Timonium Fairgrounds. For the latest information on MDOT MTA services, passengers are urged to check the MDOT MTA website.

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Maryland State Fair buildings, barns, Thoroughbred horse racing, Midway rides, games and food, and more
will open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, August 24 through Monday, September 3. The fair "recognizes the enduring appeal of Maryland's citizens, students, and 4-H and FFA members to share their talents and compete for ribbons, prizes and bragging rights. The Fair's buildings, barns and stages provide space for thousands of fairgoers to appreciate the exhibits, learn from the exhibitors, and consider entering a future fair, the organization says.

"Thousands of talented individuals and fun-loving fairgoers from our great state, cities, towns, farms, mountains and shores make up MY Maryland State Fair," said Maryland State Fair CEO Andy Cashman in a news release. "Our goal is to provide a variety of safe, enjoyable and educational experiences to help make memories for a lifetime."

The Maryland Foods Pavilion and Dairy Bar will showcase fresh from the farm and Chesapeake Bay food and drinks. Fairgoers may also watch and wager in the grandstand on live Thoroughbred horse races as they round the 5/8 mile Timonium track Aug. 24-26 and Aug. 31-Sept. 3. Post time is 1 p.m. Admission to the racetrack is included in the fair's admission price.

Other entertainment includes:

MY MARYLAND STATE FAIR LIVE, LOCAL BANDS & ENTERTAINMENT - on the MD State Fair Park Free Stage. A variety of popular bands/entertainers are scheduled daily, among them: The Beach BUMZ; Billy Harrison & The Haywire Band; Chubby Hoo Hoo Band; The Cultivated; Crawdaddies; Deni Starr Band; Gayle Harrod Band; Great Train Robbery; Half Serious; Jokers Wild; Josh Christina Band; Mark Bray & The Steel Soul Cowboys; Paul Soroka Trio;Rat Pack; Rob Fahey and the Pieces; Ronnie Wayne & Tidewater ; Route 66 Band; Spellbound; The Tobin James Band; The Uncommitted ; and, Jarrett Lembach Karoake.

CLASSIC AND MUSCLE CARS UNDER THE STARS CAR SHOW – See Muscle and Classic Cars under the
Maryland State Fair stars, Sunday, August 26, Gates open at 6 PM, in the LIVE! OnTrack! Infield.

CHESAPEAKE CRAFT BREW & WINE STATION – Enjoy the flavor of local craft beers EVO and Full Tilt, local wine selections from Gunpowder Wine Trail’s Harford Vineyard & Winery, Fiore Winery, and Royal Rabbit Vineyards, and other beer and wine favorites at the Chesapeake Craft Brew & Wine Station. Mon. – Fri., 5 PM – 9 PM and Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day Monday, Noon – 9 PM. in the bottom of the Mosner-Miller Building across from the Sheep Barn.

LEGO Interactive Display – Baltimore’s Classic Plastic Bricks will transform tens of thousands of LEGO
pieces into a walk-around, interactive, lighted display featuring sections with iconic Maryland, fair, and ocean themes. Fairgoers may push buttons to make the LEGO®trains run, the Ferris wheel rotate, farm animals move, underwater scenes light up, and more. Mon. – Fri. 12 Noon – 10 PM. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 AM-10PM, Labor Day Mon, 10 AM- 8 PM, Exhibition Hall near Bulk Candy.

MOBILE GLASS STUDIO – Experience the artistry and education of the lost art of glass making when Mobile Glass Studio artists manipulate hot glass into various shapes during live glass blowing demonstrations daily from 2 PM – 8 PM in the Maryland State Fair Park. Some items will be available for purchase.

UME MASTER GARDENER LEARNING GARDEN – Learn organic vegetable gardening techniques and tips, how to find and naturally eliminate garden pests, how to improve your garden soil and more, when University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners provide hands-on teaching activities in the UME Master Gardener
Learning Center, in the MDState Fair Park. Friday, August 24 – Monday, September 3, 2018 from 1 PM – 7 PM on Fridays – Sunday and 10 AM – 7 PM. on Saturdays.

PHOTO: Racing pigs 'Barack O Ribs Obama' (L) and 'Hillary Rod Ham Clinton' get to ready to race on a circle track at the Maryland State Fair in 2009. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)